> What version of RHEL are you trying to install? > > I believe you have two different problems here. The first is DHCP > related, the second is with your RPM's. Isolate one problem at a time > and life will be much easier. > > I'm not as familiar with the Alcatel switch, I'm a Cisco guy, but the > problem you are describing regarding DHCP sounds like the portfast issue > that we always see on this list. Basically, the NIC cycles itself 3 > different times during a build. The first time is during pxeboot. > After the pxe information is sent, the nic is recycled and must > re-negotiate with the switch. If portfast is not enabled, then the > request times out before spanning tree allows the NIC to begin > communications. > > Steps you can take include assigning the IP on the boot: line instead of > via DHCP, and using ethtool on the boot: line like this: > > ksdevice=eth0 eth0_ethtool="autoneg=off speed=100 duplex=full" > > or > > ksdevice=eth0 eth0_ethtool="speed=1000 autoneg=on duplex=full" > I'm trying to install RHEL4. I will talk to the network guy about whether or not portfast (or whatever it's called in the non-Cisco world) is switched on (fast flooding, maybe?) ... I am going to have to check that RPM again but I'd swear on something valuable it was still intact. Thanks for the suggestions, Chip ... something to work with, finally. Klaus
