Setting the NIC parameters (speed/mode)

[ionutn]

Hello guys,

I have a Mandrake 8.1 i386 system, a SMC1211TX NIC.
The network is supported by a 100Mbps Hub.
The SMC1211TX is a 10/100Mbps card.

The default mode for the card is to autonegotiate speed
and duplex mode. However, due to incompatibility (as you
probably know) the negotiation adds down-time (though the
network usually works well). But from time to time,
time-outs occur due to that.

It seems the driver I use (rtl8139too) does not have
support for setting the speed/duplex mode. I tried to use
an utility called mii-tool to do that. On RH 7.1 (kernel 2.4.2-2) the utility is working fine (with SMC1211).
On Mandrake 8.1(2.4.8) however the utility 'sees' the card as: "eth0: 10 Mbit, half duplex, no link".
Obviously the card has link and it's on 100Mbps.

Does someone know why mii-tool doesn't work on Mdk8.1 with my card?
Also 'twould be helpful to know what I can use on other cards (the ones that do not support SIOCGMIIPHY).

Thanks,
I