e100_phy_init() contains the following code to conditionally enable
MDI/MDI-X Autodetection on newer e100 chips:

         if((nic->mac >= mac_82550_D102) || ((nic->flags & ich) &&
                 (mdio_read(netdev, nic->mii.phy_id, MII_TPISTATUS) &
0x8000) &&
                 (nic->eeprom[eeprom_cnfg_mdix] & eeprom_mdix_enabled)))
                 /* enable/disable MDI/MDI-X auto-switching */
                 mdio_write(netdev, nic->mii.phy_id, MII_NCONFIG,
                         nic->mii.force_media ? 0 : NCONFIG_AUTO_SWITCH);


This code seems to include 4 problems:
1. e100_eeprom_load was called after e100_phy_init...
2. If the chip revision is >= mac_82550_D102 it enables the feature
    unconditionally, disregarding the eeprom.
3. According to Intel's errata, MDI/MDI-X Autodetection should never be
    enabled on 82551ER or 82551QM chips (see
    http://developer.intel.com/design/network/specupdt/82551ER_si.pdf).
4. If the eeprom disables the feature, it should be actively disabled,
    and not left as default.

suggested patch against 2.6.10 attached. An alternative would be to 
forcibly disable the feature for all chips with (nic->mac >= 
mac_82550_D102), as I'm not sure if there are chips for which it IS 
supported.

Signed-off-by: Eran Mann <emann@mrv.com>

-- 
Eran Mann
MRV International
www.mrv.com