Hi,
I am not Linux expert, but trying to build my Redhat Linux (kernal 2.4.20-8 ) server. I got Intel p4 server motherboard with inbuilt 100mbs and 1000mbs ethernet NIC card.. My Redhat installation recognizes, 100mbs (e100) card and seems works fine but complained about 1000mbs (e1000).. All the messages from dmesg command and other tells me that Intel PRO/1000 Network Driver ver 4.4.19-k1 is loaded successfully but no device found..

one more thing, Redhat 9.0 comes with e1000 driver and its loaded but its complaining in lspci command that device not found...I tried to install driver from my motherboard cd, I got from intel but when I am doing rpmbuild its failing after complaining that it doesn't find the linux kernal source... so I can't really load driver came with motherboard...

I am extremly frustrated... and due to my extremly limited knowledge I just don't see it resolving by myself.. So I would really apprciate if you can help me asap...
If you would like to email me.. that will be super great... thanks..
Thanks,
Ajay (hifriend1@hotmail.com)

Is the NIC a PCI one? Is so, it shoudl be visible if you run
cat /proc/pci

To compile the driver (RedHat 9 is quite old, so it may be necessary to use a newer driver) you need the kernel-source package (from your installation cd). Install it and then try to build the driver again.

this is pci be'cos I can see it when I do "lspci". It list my NIC card but with message "unknown device" or similar kinda of message.. I am at work otherwise I would have copy and pasted the output of lspci..

Other thing is I don't think my Redhat 9 cd have kernal source be'cos it didn't ask me anything while installation.. Can I download from somewhere?? or buy newer version of Redhat that contains kernal source... Also do I have to rebuild my driver or can i get away without doin it.. like getting driver from somewhere and installing it...

Thanks Mara,
Aj

You're going to have to recompile your kernel with necessary drivers. You can get the new kernel at kernel.org. There is lots of documentation on how to recompile. Just Google it.

ken

Thanks Ken and Mara too...

If I have to get new kernal then probably I will try to reinstall my Redhat with newer version then 9.0 and also with kernal source.. I am sure there might be website or installation CD that will contain source also..

I think I need to understand about the whole kernal source thingy... Like is kernal source is just part of RH or when you say kernal source it means source code of whole RH OS... As you can guess I am new to this Linux admin stuff..

The kernel source rpm is just for rebuilding the kernel. You can get source rpms for the other programs also but, they aren't needed to rebuild kernels.
While rebuilding kernels is fun and everyone should give it a try, you might find it quicker to install a newer version like Fedora 4.

Thanks.. I will update this thread once I installed new version of RH
Aj