CentOS 5 Networking :: E1000e Driver And 80003ES2LAN Nic Dropping Connections?

After doing a clean base install of CentOS 5.3 on a test server, I started having problems with network disconnects. While SSH into the box, I would be intermittently disconnected from the SSH session. At first I thought it was my workstation, but after running ping tests from multiple machines on the network to the test box, it became apparent that the test box was dropping packets. When I lose my SSH connection, the pings also start timing out, for a few seconds, then start again. I increased the console logging and I can see when the ethernet port goes up and down when I physically disconnect the cable, but it does not go down or lose link when the disconnects occur. I changed the NIC ports being used and had the same result. I tried with a different switch with same result. I reinstalled CentOS 5.2 and the problem went away.

Upon further investigation, I found that CentOS 5.2 is using the e1000 driver for my NICs and CentOS 5.3 is using the e1000e driver. I resinstalled CentOS 5.3, and tried using the e1000 driver instead of the e1000e but it no longer detects my NIC's... apparently they moved the support from e1000 to e1000e. I have spent the last 3 days googleing for info on this problem and have not found a solution. Any recommendations? Should I submit a bug report?

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