Error loading rtl8139

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 07:21 PM

Heya all,
I am running Fedora Core 6 on my computer. I recently installed a Dynex Dx-E101 card. Everywhere is telling me to use the rtl8139 driver. When I do, I get an error "Failure /sbin/modprobe rtl8139" I tried loading it manually and it told me there is no module by this name. Anyone know how to fix this?

suid0 · 01-30-2007, 07:38 PM

You can try: 8139too or even 8139cp

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 07:41 PM

Try "8139too" or "8139cp". Ahh, someone beat me.

By the way, when I'm looking for stuff like this, I often use "modprobe -c |grep xxx" in this case xxx was 8139.

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the info. How do I set up the card now using the new module. The 8129 in the gui manager still tried to load the rtl8129. Thanks again

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 09:23 PM

"The 8129 in the gui manager still tried to load the rtl8129."

Can you be more specific? What gui manager? What 8129?

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 09:37 PM

Sorry for being so vague, I seem to do that a lot

The network gui I am using is the system-config-network.
What happens is when I attempt to add hardware with the "RealTek RTL8129 Fast Ethernet"
When I click on the ok button I get a popup with the error

Code:

Command failed: /sbin/modprobe  rtl8129

Output:
FATAL: Module rtl8129 not found.

If i try to use the "RTL8139, SMC EZ Card Fast Ethernet" No popups happen, but when I try to activate the device, it cannot be found.
/sbin/lspci lists the Ethernet card as "Ethernet device: Unknown device"

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 09:44 PM

Have you tried running "modprobe 8139too" and "modprobe 8139cp" as root? I'm sorry but I don't understand what gui you're running.

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 09:49 PM

The gui is the network admin in the gnome gui. System->Admin->Network
Also I did those modprobes, what should my next step be?

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 09:56 PM

Bring up a terminal and run the following "sudo network-admin". Is that the gui you're talking about? Tell me what you see under the "Connections" tab. And does "lspci" still show "Ethernet device: Unknown device"?

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 10:04 PM

network-admin comes up command not found.
Also the lspci comes up the same as before, device unknown. The driver is installed it seems, as my integrated lan works and runs of the 8139, not sure which one, but the lspci shows "Realtec Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+"

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 10:30 PM

"network-admin comes up command not found."

You just don't have it installed. No biggy.

I think I may have found what's confusing me. Was this an old card you had laying around the house? Apparently, the Dynek driver was a hack of the rtl8139 driver. And I think that has been renamed and worked on until it's now the "8139too" and "8139cp" depending on which works for you.

Quote:

Much code comes from Donald Becker's rtl8139.c driver,
versions 1.13 and older. This driver was originally based
on rtl8139.c version 1.07. Header of rtl8139.c version 1.13:

Unfortunately, the Dynek driver is for a 2.4 kernel. I have a bright idea: spend $15 and get a new card that works with recent kernels.

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 10:42 PM

Thanks for the help. I will have to pick up a new card, any recommendations?

Quakeboy02 · 01-30-2007, 10:45 PM

"Thanks for the help. I will have to pick up a new card, any recommendations?"

I wasn't much help, I'm afraid. Anything recent should work. 3c-5xx cards, SMC-1211, I dunno. Anything except for that !@#$ Dynek I think.

rfleming · 01-30-2007, 10:49 PM

I spent the past 3 days messing with this thing, so you telling me that it is not usable is very useful.

UhhMaybe · 04-21-2007, 12:14 PM

Try an 3COM Ethernet NIC. Go to www.outletpc.com or www.pcsurplusonline.com for about $5.00 each. Suggestion,...3COM 30905b. Most Linux Distro's have the drivers included. Setup networking during the install. Good to go after first boot with DHCP.