Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : D-link DFE-530TX+ Three Choices! would appreciate advice


ArtVandelay
12-07-2002, 02:00 AM
Hello Folks. I'm a Newbie!

Anyways, I've got the network card specified in the subject line.
The Red Hat 8.0 installation failed to acknowledge the existance of the network card

I'm been a windows user for 5 or 6 years, by the way, so there's going to be heavy learning curves here!

After doing some research on google, it was determined that I needed to get a kernel module called rtl8139.c

I've never installed one of these "kernel modules" before, and all I know about it is it's a C program, that uses libraries that I, as of yet, don't understand!

I found a web site that tells me how to compile/install this module
in red hat 6.x or 7.x.
http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=488

So for red hat 8.0, which of these two methods (if any) should I use? I can only make an educated guess that the method for 7.x will be the one to go with, since it's the more recent version prior to 8.0. :)

option 3 is to scrap red hat, and install mandrake, since rumour has it that it's install *will* detect this card. I'm leaving this as a last resort though, since I'd rather learn something than just take the easy way out. Also, I'll probably be installing new hardware on a somewhat regular basis, so I'm going to have to learn sooner or later.

Thanks in advance,

Art!

mdwatts
12-07-2002, 10:16 AM
Before we try anything, ensure you have PnP OS disabled in the bios. That alone could be the reason your ethernet card is not being detected.

If that doesn't help (though it should) try these suggestions.

Redhat 8.0 should already include the required module/driver for the DFE-530TX+.

It actually may be the 8139too.o module instead of the rtl8139.o module.

Check to see if any of the networking modules are loaded.

su -
<root password>

lsmod (list loaded modules)

Have a look in /lib/modules/<kernel version>/kernel/drivers/net to see what *8139* modules you have.

DMR
12-07-2002, 10:13 PM
The DFE-530TX+ has been supported in Linux for a while, so changing distros probably isn't necessarily going to help. You probably just have a conflict or configuration problem that needs to be dealt with.

mdwatts is right- turn off Plug-N-Play support in your BIOS before doing anything else; BIOS PNP can cause resource (IRQ and I/O address) conflicts under Linux.

The kernel version shipped with Redhat 7.3 includes the newer 8139too.o module (as opposed to the older rtl8139.o module); I would think RH 8.0 will be the same. The networking section (http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-8.0-Manual/custom-guide/ch-network-config.html) of the RH 8.0 customization guide should help walk you through the process of setting up your NIC.

Sastraxi
12-07-2002, 10:30 PM
I have used the DFE-530TX+ in Linux for nearly half a year now, and it's worked perfectly. Never used RedHat, but since all of my installs have been network ones, I just tell it to configure my 'net via DHCP or BOOTP, and it does it all automatically. Is there somewhere you can do this in a regular install?

ArtVandelay
12-07-2002, 10:54 PM
I had PnP OS enabled, and just disabled it.

After that, I booted up and got a hardware configuration screen for my soundblaster and my ethernet card.

Still not connected to the net, but I have something to work with
now.

Thanks for putting me on the right track, before doing unnecessary things!

DMR
12-07-2002, 11:48 PM
Glad we could help. Let us know if you run into any more problems...

:)