enable ethernet protocol in linux

zg13454 · 12-25-2013, 07:22 AM

Hi
I am a beginner in linux and network.
please help me,
How enable ethernet protocol in linux? is it enabled by default?
could you please explain to me about linux and network protocol?

I would appreciate if anyone can help

sycamorex · 12-25-2013, 07:29 AM

Hi and welcome to LQ.

Your question is very vague. I'm not sure if that' what you mean but support for network cards is enabled by default. Unless you've got a very esoteric card, a relevant (for your ethernet card) module will usually load at the boot time.

Here's a link about Linux networking:
http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/w...e#.UrrcyvHIBQI
If you google linux networking you'll get tonnes of information.

Hope this helps. If not, please ask more specific questions.

zg13454 · 12-25-2013, 11:43 PM

Hi
thanks for your response

so, all linux os support ethernet protocol?

wildwizard · 12-25-2013, 11:45 PM

The answer to your question is Yes, but I don't think you understand your own question.

Do you know what Ethernet actually is?

zg13454 · 12-26-2013, 12:03 AM

thanks
yes I know a little
I know this protocol is a data link layer protocol and i know format of it's frame too .
and some other things
what is necessary to know about it?
as I understand all linux os can create a ethernet frame and other relative work, is it right ?

thanks in advance

wildwizard · 12-26-2013, 12:44 AM

If Linux is compiled to support an Ethernet device of some sort than yes that code will exist.

You do need to understand that Ethernet is not the only way of talking to the world and some devices are not designed to talk to anything so it is possible to have a Linux kernel containing no Ethernet code at all.

Your normal desktop/server distribution will naturally have Ethernet support as in those cases it is normally expected that an Ethernet card would be present.

zg13454 · 12-26-2013, 06:59 AM

thanks a lot
I understand exactly
which library is responsible for ethernet protocol in linux os?

frankbell · 12-26-2013, 09:45 PM

Ethernet support is in the kernel. Many drivers for network cards/wireless devices are included in the kernel, but some drivers, such as Broadcom, to pick one, need to be installed separately.

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/colla...rking/ethernet

zg13454 · 12-29-2013, 07:47 AM

Hi
Thanks a lot
And, is there Ethernet driver in the first kernel (0.01) too?

wildwizard · 12-30-2013, 05:11 AM

In v0.1 there is only very basic support for the keyboard / screen and filesystem, Ethernet is nowhere to be seen.

Please don't ask when it did make an entry as probably no one can remember, if you really want to find out you can go through all the old versions.

All pre 1.0 is under here :- ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/

And 1.x is here :- ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v1.0/

zg13454 · 12-31-2013, 07:37 AM

Thanks again
I see these source , But I can't understand any information from these links.
How I can find the capabilities of each version? (e.g which version supports some protocols and devices ?)
please guide me,