Kernel (2.4.X series) not doing the initial boot.

[Thomas Lange]

Is the computer connected to a switch ? There were problems when
connected to a Cisco switch, because packets from the computer did not
pass the switch directly. I think it was a 2.2.18 kernel when I had
this problem but in 2.2.19 the parameters were changes so this problem
disappeared.


Try increasing these parameters (found in the 2.2.19 kernel sources)

net/ipv4/ipconfig.c:
#define CONF_OPEN_RETRIES       2       /* (Re)open devices twice */
#define CONF_SEND_RETRIES       6       /* Send six requests per open */

Also try it using a hub, not a switch.

-- 
 Thomas