eth0: Unknown host

From: Nesquik (tknapic_remove__at_inet.hr)
Date: 02/29/04 

Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 00:49:10 +0100

Hello folks!

My linux box (Debian GNU/Linux 3.0) runs samba as primary domain
controller and some other services (jabber, DNS, TeamSpeak etc.).

Recently I had some problems with my NIC which was configured as eth0
device (Realtek 10Mpbs PCI lan card). The problem was that my linux
box just stopped communicating with other hosts on network. At first I
thought it's some samba-related problem but then I realised no traffic
is going to nor from my linux box! Not even ICMP echo (ping) packets.
Only thing it was able to ping was itself (127.0.0.1 via intefrace lo
and 192.168.1.2 via interface eth0). All other machines are on same
subnet (192.168.1.0) but noone can ping this linux machine nor it can
ping them!

I also noticed that I have strange system messages every now and then
saying "eth0: Unknown host" (e.g. on system boot sequence or when I'm
running some network tools like ifup/ifdown/etherconf). Haven't looked
at system log files for details.

After spending some time trying to figure out what happened and why
isn't it working any more I decided to replace LAN card and I did so.
I replaced it with similar Realtek based card and everything seems to
work fine. Ping works fine now, samba is working as PDC as usual and
other installed other network services are operational) but I still
(!?!) get those messages "eth0: Unknown host" What does that mean?

My new ethernet card is configured as eth0, I had a look at linuxconf
and my host is still configured with IP address 192.168.1.2 on
interface eth0. ipconfig reports it as eth0.

Sorry for long post, can somebody tell me what does that mean "eth0:
Unknown host"? Is my old card really broken or is it something with my
debian?

Note: I don't use firewall rules so it's not anyting related to
firewall.

Thanks,

Tomislav

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