Hi,

I'm a newbie, I installed debian about 5 times, on which the fifth one I thought was a success, but obviously made a few mistakes.

I tried to install a network module for linux but all interfaces seem to take parameters, which is where I got lost, I wasn't sure which interface to install and what params to put in.

In the end, I found a forum that said to stick in the Dummy net driver support, SLIP Protocol and maybe one more.

I have gone through document after document after document, with no clear solution or walk through of how to install a NIC after Linux installation (I don't want install the whole linux system again).

I can't seem to get my debian box network ready.

The network card is:
MAKE: NET GEAR
MODEL: FA311 REV-C1

Any ideas would be much appreciated

Also can anyone point me in the right direction of how to configure my X Server to support VGA, that has too been configured incorrectly.

Thanks in advance.

Try this (as root)and then configure your network using ifconfig. To have them loaded at boot time, add them to /etc/modules.

Cheers,

mj

Wow swift reply, thanks, this is what happens on the command line

insmod natsemi
Using /lib/modules/2.2.20-idepci/net/natsemi.o
/lib/modules/2.2.20-idepci/net/natsemi.o : unresolved symbol pci_drv_unregister
/lib/modules/2.2.20-idepci/net/natsemi.o : unresolved symbol pci_drv_register
/lib/modules/2.2.20-idepci/net/natsemi.o :

Hint: You are trying to load a module without a GPL compatible license and it has unresolved symbols. Contact the module supplier for assistance, only they can help you.

insmod pci-scan:

Using /lib/modules/2.2.20-idepci/net/pci-scan.o

then goes back to the command line

when I put ifconfig after, it then seems to have removed the dummy network driver, I assume because it was looking for the real one...

Thanks for your time much appreciate

Insmod doesn't usually return any messages when the module was inserted into the kernel, so pci-scan went in ok (try lsmod | grep pci). Natsemi may even be ok, despite the errors (lsmod | grep natsemi). To complete the setup, you'll either have to supply arguments to ifconfig (man ifconfig) and route, or add a new entry to /etc/network/interfaces.

Anyway, if you run into too many problems (and this isn't for a server) I would seriously consider upgrading to at least a 2.4 series kernel, or even re-installing with the new net-installer for Sarge (http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer if you have the time. -- From the looks of it, you're using a 2.2 series kernel under Woody.

Cheers,

mj

> (try lsmod | grep pci)

I get from this is bash: Ismod: command not found

as to the second part, I know how to add the ip into the interfaces doc, but do I have to do Ismod | grep pci first?


> Anyway,if you run into too many problems (and this isn't for a server) I would seriously consider > upgrading to at least a 2.4 series kernel, or even re-installing with the new net-installer for > Sarge (http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer if you have the time.

I'm trying to run a test server locally, just to build my skills would sarge be appropriate

> -- From the looks of it, you're using a 2.2 series kernel under Woody.

I downloaded the intel 86 debian 3.0r3 or 3.0r0 I think...

Thanks again

Apolagies -- the command is lsmod | grep pci (first letter is a lower case L, for "list modules"). No, you'll only need to have the modules inserted into the kernel (either by running insmod, or adding the modules to /etc/modules such that they are loaded at boot time). lsmod is only used to double-check that the module is there.

Yes. The "testing" tag that Sarge comes with has been debated may times on LQ -- the overall feeling is that it's far more stable than most other distributions. Obviously, once you have the network card up, you could just edit your sources.list, then run an apt-get update, apt-get dist-upgrade.

Cheers,

mj

sorry, my bad,

results of lsmod | gre...

pci-scan 3580 0 (unused)

sounds like a plan to go with sarge.

and now I would configure the interfaces?

with eth0...

I will make a go of this tomo morning with a fresh mind I think

Thanks again for the help mj

If you do end up using the Sarge installer, it will ask you for all details and put them in the correct format in /etc/network/interfaces automatically.

Incidentally, assuming you are using a standard 32 bit pc, then the iso you want is http://cdimage.debian.org/pub/cdimag...86-netinst.iso.

Cheers,

mj

I have put this into the interfaces congfiguration:

iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.2.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.2.0
broadcast 192.168.2.255
gateway 192.168.2.1

is this okay?

If so I have no connection, when I try to ping 192.168.2.1 it repies:

ping: sento: Network is ureachable

Yes, it looks fine. It is usually better just to replace the i.p. addresses with ##'s when posting to a public message board though, just to be on the safe side (you may want to edit this last post, and do this).

Is this for your existing Woody setup, or from a new Sarge installation ? Either way, to check the status of your network interface, run (as root)If the response is that eth0 is currently down, then you can bring it up (assuming all modules were successfully installed etc.) by issuing:Cheers,

mj

Thanks, a lot. I have just managed to move 10 steps forward.

I went looking on other forum pages and found other people having similar problems with NETGEAR, with the same model NIC. I swapped it out, and using the code lines you showed me managed to get internal network connectivity. Next step shouldn't be too hard hopefully: internet access.

Thanks for the security tip (bit stupid of me), will change the network IP address, small network

Take care mate

You may need to change the gateway i.p. to the address of the machine acting as firewall (etc.) to the outside world - unless your own system is also the one with the direct link to the outside world.

Great to hear that things are working otherwise, however !

Cheers,

mj