NIC detection issue in CentOS 8
 

I've some servers having CentOS 7 installed. When I try to do a fresh installation of CentOS 8 stream (latest iso file), only 4 NICs getting detected. Actually, the server has 6 NICs. How can I identify and resolve this issue?

I can see 6 NICs now (from already installed CentOS 7). NIC eno1 and eno2 are showing along with other 4. Here is the screenshot-
https://i.stack.imgur.com/P29uz.png

When I try to install CentOS8 (fresh installation using iso) in the same machine, it shows only 4 NICs. eno1 and eno2 are not showing. Here is the screenshot -
https://i.stack.imgur.com/SlyX4.png


**Note that the servers are in remote place and I'm using ILO to install OS

Are the motherboard NICs different in some way? Like 10Gb interfaces that need specific drivers?

Yes, different. Those two are 10Gb interfaces. I've just done a fresh install using CentOS7 iso and all 6 NICs are detected.

[shoeb@localhost ~]$ lspci |grep -i ethernet
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3) (rev 01)
04:00.1 Ethernet controller: Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3) (rev 01)
21:00.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Backplane Connection (rev 01)
21:00.1 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Backplane Connection (rev 01)
21:00.2 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Backplane Connection (rev 01)
21:00.3 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Backplane Connection (rev 01)
[shoeb@localhost ~]$

So, it is seen that these two 10Gb NICs driver is available in CentOS7 but not available in CentoS8 stream. Any way forward to the soltuion?

According to RedHat a bunch of OneConnect drivers were removed: https://access.redhat.com/documentat...dopting-rhel-8

So looks like your favourite search engine is going to have to be your friend if you want to use them.

Thanks. Can’t I install driver manually?

Probably, assuming there's a RHEL8 compatible driver available. Normally there's options in the install process to add necessary drivers manually, or you may need to do the initial install fully then add drivers.

You'll need to do a bit more research.

Will it be ok if I upgrade to CentOS8 from CentOS7?

There's no official upgrade path from CentOS7 to CentOS8. There are a number of unofficial guides but most of them are of the opinion "use this on a production server at your own risk"

Personally I'm not even looking at CentOS 8 as their support for it is now severely crippled with their involvement with RedHat.

Are you prepared to upgrade again in a couple of months, because CentOS 8 is EOL at the end of the year (i.e. no security updates from that point).

If CentOS 8 Stream doesn't work, but CentOS 7 does work, you should probably defer the upgrade and stick to 7 - it is actually supported for longer.

If you really do need to upgrade, investigate the CentOS alternatives instead - for example AlmaLinux has committed to support "until 2029" - presumably the original v8 EOL of 31 Dec 2029)

In summary:
* CentOS 8 maintenance ends in ~4 months - 31st December 2021.
* CentOS 8 Stream maintenance ends in ~2 years 9 months - 31th May 2024.
* CentOS 7 maintenance ends in ~2 years 10 months - 30th June 2024.
* AlmaLinux 8 maintenance ends in ~8 years.

Try package kmod-be2net from ELRepo.

Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC on RHEL 8
 

the solution was provided by shruggy !! thank you.

Recap: EL8x, RHEL 8x, AlmaLinux 8.7 "Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3)" no driver.
The package kmod-be2net from ELRepo solved the issue Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3) that I have on IBM/Lenovo System x3650 M4, 7915.

% lspci | grep -i ethernet
...
0c:00.0 Ethernet controller: Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3) (rev 02)
0c:00.1 Ethernet controller: Emulex Corporation OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3) (rev 02)

% lshw -C network
*-network:0 UNCLAIMED
description: Ethernet controller
product: OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3)
vendor: Emulex Corporation

% yum install -y kmod-be2net

% modprobe be2net

% lshw -C network
...
*-network:0
description: Ethernet interface
product: OneConnect 10Gb NIC (be3)
vendor: Emulex Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:0c:00.0
logical name: eno6


% ethtool enp12s0f1
Settings for enp12s0f1:
Supported ports: [ FIBRE ]
Supported link modes: 1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
Supported pause frame use: Symmetric
Supports auto-negotiation: No
Supported FEC modes: Not reported
Advertised link modes: Not reported
Advertised pause frame use: No
Advertised auto-negotiation: No
Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
Speed: 10000Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Auto-negotiation: off
Port: Direct Attach Copper
PHYAD: 0
Transceiver: internal
Supports Wake-on: g
Wake-on: d
Current message level: 0x00002000 (8192)
hw
Link detected: yes

% modprobe -r be2net
% modprobe be2net


Found 2 10GB interface but one interface is named enp12s0f1 and the second is named eno6 and I am not sure why !

mostly solved anyways.