Edited to capture problem summary:

 

I have recently built a small unRAID server.  I can see the shares and all the files I set up beforehand via SMB, but can't access any of them (eg pictures say they are corrupt).  Any share I created after the fact can be accessed and any small files can be accessed via SMB, however large files cannot.  I can write to all shares.

I installed unmenu and the file browser in that gives me access to everything.

 

It seems these are all known issues surrounding the built in LAN device on the Asus M4A78L-M LE motherboard.  I am currently using a PCI LAN card as a work around.

Turns out I didn't do anything silly.

 

I have found the "Asus M4A78L-M LE" bug.  Any further news of this other than using a separate NIC?

Nothing I have read. I would contact Tom about updating the driver for this board.  Refer him to the posts you found about this Atheros NIC.  It is supported currently, but it may not be the latest revision...

Up and running now with a borrowed Realtek PCI 100baseT card.  Not an ideal choice, but it was free, and until my gigabit switch arrives and I get the time to install some new wires it will do. 

 

Apart from this LAN issue, everything else has worked perfectly.  I have found no data corruption in files copied with the Atheros NIC.

 

Not had any reply about my email from support yet, but it's only been a couple of days - I can wait a little longer now it's working with acceptable network performance.

 

The only difference I can find in the syslog is here:

 

Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower kernel: atl1c 0000:02:00.0: atl1c: eth0 NIC Link is Up<100 Mbps Full Duplex>
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower ifplugd(eth0)[1284]: Executing '/etc/ifplugd/ifplugd.action eth0 up'.
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/ifconfig eth0 hw ether 20:CF:30:6B:52:77
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower ifplugd(eth0)[1284]: client: SIOCSIFHWADDR: Device or resource busy - you may need to down the interface
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.23 broadcast 192.168.0.255 netmask 255.255.255.0
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower logger: /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1:  /sbin/route add default gw 192.168.0.3 metric 1
Nov 25 21:19:31 Tower ntpd[1324]: ntpd [email protected] Wed Jan 14 23:46:25 UTC 2009 (1)

 

Notice the but about the device being busy...  This doesn't happen with the Realtek card.

 

The only other difference is when the nmblookup command is used the Atheros NIC does not ever return a proper MAC address - just 00-00-00-00-00.  The Realtek one of course works properly.

 

Seems odd that http works well over the Atheros NIC.

 

Hopefully this will be useful info for someone!

Fairly well documented here http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=6304.0

 

As you have discovered, a separate NIC card from the list of recommended hardware works. The board seems to be rock solid on all other respects. 

What is the difference between this board and the M4A78LT-M LE?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

Of course I picked up the MOBO before I read this post of course it has a $10 rebate so It is hard to pass up at $49.00.

 

This is because the biostar was DOA and new egg was out of stock. I am reading about the NIC issue this board only states that it has PCIe gigabit lan. How do I find out if this has the same lan chip as the L-M LE? Thanks

What is the difference between this board and the M4A78LT-M LE?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

Of course I picked up the MOBO before I read this post of course it has a $10 rebate so It is hard to pass up at $49.00.

 

This is because the biostar was DOA and new egg was out of stock. I am reading about the NIC issue this board only states that it has PCIe gigabit lan. How do I find out if this has the same lan chip as the L-M LE? Thanks

 

Look at the LAN driver req'd. (both have the Atheros 8131)

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=exJL00uovTJaDqxR

 

 

That answers that question. Thank you. I am off to read the other thread to find out what NIC card to get.

What is the difference between this board and the M4A78LT-M LE?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

Of course I picked up the MOBO before I read this post of course it has a $10 rebate so It is hard to pass up at $49.00.

 

This is because the biostar was DOA and new egg was out of stock. I am reading about the NIC issue this board only states that it has PCIe gigabit lan. How do I find out if this has the same lan chip as the L-M LE? Thanks

 

I think the "T" version uses DDR3 memory and has an AM3 socket, while the "non T" version users DDR2 memory and has an AM2+ socket.