Problems configuring Network Card

[tnemeth]

Hello, I'm a super-newbie with linux. I use Redhat 7.2/7.3 (Enigma/Valhalla) I am currently trying to configure my network card. I found a help file which tells me to use the "insmod" command with the parameters "rtl8139". I used this command, but the kernel tells me it can't find the module. I'm not sure how drivers work in linux, I imagine it's very similar to any other drivers. What is a module? And where can I get the rtl8139 module. Is a module the same as a driver? I have a fat32 partition set up so linux and Win2K can read it. I have no eth0 device, just an ifcfg-lo file, which tells me it's a loopback interface file. I pinged 127.0.0.1 and all the packets were recieved succsessfully so I must have a working TCP/IP stack. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I apologize for the rambling. I am a technician so I can pick up on things fairly quickly, I'm just a linux newbie, I've got years of experience in other areas. So feel free to lay it on.

[DSwain]

hm, well this should have been auto detected if thats the network card. are you sure thats the network card? if not, what card do you have? another tip may be to upgrade to a newer version of your distro (say even RH8) just because of bigger hardware support, and software updates, and so on. If that is your network card, i know it's supported by newer distros because i've used it. Post what card you have if that isn't the one and we can probably find some easy to use drivers.

[michaelk]

Instead of the rtl8139 modules try 8193too which is already included.

Yes module is similar to a windows driver.

xf86config is a command line tool for x.

[bwkaz]

Yep, 8139too is an alternate driver for the same set of network cards (those that use the Realtek 8139 chipset, that is). Dunno why the name changed, but I have noticed that a lot of older how-tos still use rtl8139 instead of 8139too (my guess is that the rtl8139 driver stopped getting updated, or something, and the 8139too one was written by somebody else).

Give it a shot, anyway. :)

[sclebo05]

i have an integrated 8139 on my asus motherboard and the 8139too driver works well on that, and another realtek chip card i have.