Intel Ethernet I217-V intermittent connection loss (under use)

[apklaus]

Hey,

maybe someone can help. This problem is bugging me now for a long time.

I'm frequently losing the network connection when under [heavy?] use. If I'm not downloading much or streaming, I won't lose the connection the whole day, but otherwise (also during skype or online gaming) it gets lost for no apparent reason and I have to disable/enable it to get it back.

Same problem under Ubuntu 14.04 and Windows 7 64-bit.

My specs:
- Intel Ethernet I217-V
- ASRock Z87 Pro4

What I tried already:
- installed the newest drivers for the Intel ethernet adapter and the Intel chipset
- replaced the network cable
- switched the ports on the router
- same problem on Win7 + Ubuntu

No other devices connected to the router have this problem.

My next guess would be a BIOS update, but since I need the PC also for work I don't want to risk a downtime with levity.

It sounds to me like the on-board network chip is faulty, but I don't hope so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Kewlx25]

The Intel drivers have some basic network card tests built into them. May want to try to use that feature.

 

[apklaus]

Thank you for your help Kewix25! Unfortunately these tests tell me that everything is ok..

 

[Kewlx25]

The only other idea is to try another network card in your computer and see if the issue persists. It sounds like you've already done most of what can be done to test. Different OS, ports, network devices. That pretty much limits the issue to the local machine in some way.

 

[apklaus]

Yes, I think I'll have to get a network card and try that. Thanks for your time!

 

[apklaus]

Ok, I bought a TP-Link TG-3468 and I'm still facing the same issue with the new network card. How is that possible? Must be a problem on the mainboard then I guess.

EDIT: I disabled flow control and green ethernet on the new card and it seems stable now. Will report again later with more evidence.

 

[Kewlx25]

Flow control is not very useful. It defaulted on? Same for your Intel NIC? I have a managed switch and have flow control disabled in the switch itself. Even then, it's disabled in my NIC drivers by default. Hmmm...

Good find though.

 

[apklaus]

Yes, it defaulted on on both. I can't find an option to disable it in my router though. It probably doesn't even support flow control.. It's a Thomson TWG870UG.

My success from yesterday didn't hold on for long - I had another connection loss about 10 minutes ago while d/l a large update on steam. I will probably try a BIOS update in the following weeks. My only other idea is another mainboard if the BIOS update won't work. I find it quite strange though, that the new NIC didn't resolve the issue, but I'm probably too inexperienced with hardware to see the "bigger picture" 😉

 

[apklaus]

Update

* BIOS Update to [Z87 Pro4(2.30)WIN] didn't resolve the issue
* Tried out fixed IP -> no change

What really bugs me though, is that the situation that I can provoke the issue somehow, but when the connection is interrupted I don't know of a good way to investigate the issue.

Does anyone know of a good tool or something that tells me what is going on exactly?