Linux + riser card = ???

[83n]

I have an old IBM Aptiva (2168 model) that I'd like to put to work as a Linux firewall or Linux play box. My problem is that I can't get RedHat 6.2 to recognise my Netgear FA311 network adapter. I've tried all the different methods suggested by Netgear Tech support but every time I try to insmod the fa311.o file I get the following error:

fa311.o: init_module: Device or resource busy

A friend has recently told me that Linux doesn't recognise riser cards and I'm wondering if this is correct? My box has all of its expansion slots on a riser card so I'm kind of stuffed if this is true.

I'm pretty new to Linux so I hope I've given enough info for someone to help me. Oh, and my system is very low spec, that's why I've loaded such an old distro of RedHat: P100, 16M RAM, 1G HDD.

Thanks in advance.

[mdwatts]

I once installed Redhat 6.2 on a older Compaq Prolinea server at work that had a Riser card and didn't have any problems at all.

Does the Aptiva have the option in the bios to disable PnP OS? Do so if it does.

Are any of the other cards on the Riser card detected?

[jesperht]

Worked fine for me! (with the drivers included on the floppy that comes with the card...). I suggest you upgrade to 7,3/8...they have built in support for it, plug n play! :)

[83n]

Thanks for your help gang.

Unfortunately some further testing has shown that the riser board is faulty and nothing on it is being detected. Very annoying. So much for using this as my Linux play box!

Cheers.