Keep losing Ethernet LAN connection randomly

[snowdog]

Hello,


As per title, does anyone know why this could happen, I lose my connection for a couple of seconds completely randomly about 5-10 times per day, but it only happens sometimes!

I would have normal internet, then all the sudden I'd get a page not found error or so, I check my LAN icon on my taskbar and it's with a red cross: LAN cable not connected. And within 10 seconds usually it's back as if nothing happened ( without getting a new IP, ''identifying'', or any user action), like it was never gone! This has happened to me while online gaming too and results in a lag spike then back as usual.

None of the other devices ( LAN or WLAN) seem to suffer this problem. It happens on all ports on my router.

Like, I have had this problem before, then it was gone for a month or two, then it is back again. Rebooting the router fixes it temporarily for about 12 hours ?

What do you think, faulty router or fauly lan port (on my mainboard) or some kind of software error ?

My lan setup:

What is odd is that my PC shows an orange LED while the (port that goes to the) switch shows a green LED, anyone knows what it matters ? Sometimes my PC is Green instead of Orange:

Should I ask my isp for a new router? The odd thing is that the disconnects sometimes plague me for like a week, then its all OK for like months then it's back again...

 

[bremen1874]

Green vs orange on the LEDs probably indicates Gigabit vs 10/100. Assuming it does, and it's changing on its own then there's an issue somewhere.

It worth trying a different cable, and also try forcing the PC's NIC to Gigabit rather than leaving it on auto-select.

 

[ChrisD.]

Try booting a Live Ubuntu CD and see if it replicates the issue.

 

[snowdog]

Green vs orange on the LEDs probably indicates Gigabit vs 10/100. Assuming it does, and it's changing on its own then there's an issue somewhere.

It worth trying a different cable, and also try forcing the PC's NIC to Gigabit rather than leaving it on auto-select.

No, the switch is also on gigabit. Speed is never different ( according to windows), ALL cabled connections are gigabit and stuck at that, I know because I reach speeds to the NAS I wouldn't reach with 100mbit...

The only problem is that it randomly goes ''cable is not connected'' for 2-10 seconds.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

No, the switch is also on gigabit. Speed is never different ( according to windows), ALL cabled connections are gigabit and stuck at that, I know because I reach speeds to the NAS I wouldn't reach with 100mbit...

The only problem is that it randomly goes ''cable is not connected'' for 2-10 seconds.

Green and orange indicates speed, 10/100 or 10/100/1000

No matter what Windows says, these hardware lights are more accurate.

Either the cable to your PC is dodgy (most likely), your NIC on your PC is dodgy (likely) or the switch on the Cisco device is faulty (least likely, if other devices are unaffected)

 

[snowdog]

You are correct, amber means 100mbit. And indeed, my windows says 100 mbit now too!
Odd!
So it's sometimes 100 mbit and sometimes gigabit, any ideas what could cause this ?

EDIT:
Replugged the cable into the lan card, and it's now at 1Gbps and both lights are now green. Didn't realise orange/amber meant 100mbit!
Lets see how long it stays this way!

It is odd though, this is the first time I caught it doing 100mbit, I specifically plugged my pc in directly to the router to get gigabit as my switch wasn't gigabit until about 6 months ago, else I wouldn't even reach my max internet speed...
Dodgy cable or simply dodgy plug that doesn't always make the best contact I think!

 

[snowdog]

So far so good, so the fault is on the PC end, either the ethernet plug on the cable or on the network card. Leats I know what to mess with when it happens again!

Thanks for the help, I was sure I checked the speed before and it was gigabit, didn't realise it wasn't when the faults happen!

 

[snowdog]

Bump after ages, just a heads up: it's a faulty cable, never had this before but after a while watched to a different cable and never had the problem any more.

 

[bledd]

Knew it was a faulty port/cable from the title.

Should try a new cable if you get any network issues like this.