I installed Slackware 9.1 on a HP/Compaq D530 CMT without any major problems. Only needed to download and install the driver for the Broadcom ethernetcard (bcm5700). But I have two little problems:

1
Remote logging in on the machine (FTP/SSH/TELNET) doesn't work the first time after booting the server. The second or third time I get in.

2
After a while of inactivity while being logged in with FTP/SSH/TELNET the connection is closed by the server. I think it stops after a minute of inactive connection. Using putty I can keep the connection open by "sending null packages" every 30 seconds. This is not what I want. My question is: where can I change this option on the server? Can I turn it off or change the time after which I'm disconnected?

Sorry to bump this question, but is there really nobody who can help me out here?
I'd very much appreciate it.