[SOLVED] Atheros ethernel module not in Squeeze kernel...any other options?

barnac1e · 06-15-2012, 11:08 AM

Hi, I need to find a way to either get the correct firmware installed into my current Squeeze kernel for my Atheros ethernet device to work. I already know for sure it is not in the 2.6.32-5-amd64 kernel which I am running. I had the exact same issue in Slackware64 and it was confirmed in that kernel as well that my device is not supported. However, I know it is supported in the Debian backport kernel 3.2. I've tried installing it but am getting dependency errors for Linux Base package. How can this be worked around? Or is there a package that will work that I can install to support my driver. Here is a list from lspci:

Code:

root@asusK53E:/home/kevin# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Sandy Bridge DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Sandy Bridge Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Cougar Point HECI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 05)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller (rev 05)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b5)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b5)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b5)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cougar Point PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev b5)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 05)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Cougar Point LPC Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Cougar Point 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 05)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation Cougar Point SMBus Controller (rev 05)
02:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
03:00.0 USB Controller: Device 1b21:1042
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Device 1083 (rev c0)
root@asusK53E:/home/kevin# uname -r
2.6.32-5-amd64
root@asusK53E:/home/kevin# 2.6.32-5-amd64

It is the last one listed there that I need support for. Formally it was named "Attansic Ethernet device" but Atheros bought it out. I know its supported in other distros under the driver "at1lc". If anyone can assist in some suggestions that would be great!

Again to some up, I am looking for one of two options:
1) Either find a work around for dependencies to install the backport kernel
or,
2) I need to find the current Debian Squeeze module package name to install to add support to current kernel.

Also, here is my current ifconfig (missing eth0) and what is pan0?:

Code:

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:158 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:158 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:10060 (9.8 KiB)  TX bytes:10060 (9.8 KiB)

pan0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 16:8c:06:ac:0b:9f  
          BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)

wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:08:ca:22:12:cd  
          inet addr:192.168.20.11  Bcast:192.168.20.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::208:caff:fe22:12cd/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:3577 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:3785 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:3085942 (2.9 MiB)  TX bytes:775857 (757.6 KiB)

Thank you!

radiodee1 · 06-15-2012, 11:25 AM

have you considered updating to wheezy? you could get a more recent kernel that way.

barnac1e · 06-15-2012, 11:33 AM

Yes, I had Wheezy last night but experienced a bug or two in Chromium. I like Wheezy but I prefer a Stable distro per se if I can get it. If I can just install that backport kernel, it will solve my troubles. But stupid dependency issues about. Which is weird because I have installed that Backport kernel in other debian based distros without the dependency issues.

radiodee1 · 06-15-2012, 11:38 AM

you could try a liquorix kernel. I don't know if it's the best idea, but you could give it a try. it might have similar dependency issues. you could always remove the package if it breaks something.

http://liquorix.net/

Oh, btw, do you have the security updates for squeeze enabled in source.list ? they may help you out.

barnac1e · 06-15-2012, 11:41 AM

Actually, you know, I may go back to Testing. It may work better upgrading from Squeeze directly rather than fresh installing it like I did yesterday. I will try that.

barnac1e · 06-15-2012, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiodee1

Oh, btw, do you have the security updates for squeeze enabled in source.list ? they may help you out.

Yep, I do have security updates enabled.

Code:

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free

deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib non-free

deb http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free

deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main

---------- Post added 06-15-12 at 11:45 AM ----------

I am marking this solved for now. Going to update to Wheezy. Thanks all.