[PLUG] Help with large file samba file transfer

[Eric Pratt]

I have a RedHat 6.2 machine running samba.  Until recently, I have had no
problems with it.  Now, I cannot copy large files from the Linux machine
to a PC on the same local LAN (10.0.2.0 network via the eth1
interface.  eth0 is the gateway device to the internet.)

To be more exact, it happens with large data transfers via eth1.  If
I try to transfer a file the size of an mp3, it will take about one minute
to do the transfer.  I only have a 10Mbps hub, but it should still only
take about 3 or 4 seconds to transfer a song (it used to.)  Watching the
hub, I see that during file transfer, the activity lights will go crazy
for about a second, and then will go dead for about 15 - 30 seconds, and
then become active for another second and go dead again.  It will do this
until the file is transferred.  But, I can transfer small files (in the KB
range) with no problem and I can stream mp3s all day.  I cannot however
stream a 3Mbps mpeg video.  I also experience this problem when
starting and XDM session with the Linux machine.  The Linux machine is
acting as a  firewall.  When this is going on, all access to the internet
is stopped as well including telneting into the linux machine.  All
services come back during the 1 second burst of activity, but then go away
again.  I have checked samba logs and syslogd logs, I have checked to make
sure that all services are still running using ps, and I cannot find
anything wrong.

I have a feeling it has something to do with the way eth1 is setup but
cannot figure out what else to look at.

Any ideas?

Eric