Hello,

I have a 3com NIC (model #3c905c-TX-M) and I am attempting to connect to the internet. I have already contacted my broadband company and told them that I would like to be issued additional IP addresses and they have granted my request. I verified on my Windows 2k machine that I have the ability to recieve additional IP addresses, through my hub and cable modem.

The problem I am having is:

1. I don't have much experience installing drivers in Linux.
2. I cannot pick up an IP address with my NIC even though I know that the NIC works.

I have gone to the 3com website and downloaded the driver for my NIC, and I am still unable to pick up an IP address. Additionally when I run netconfig and give eth0 a static address the address does not stick when I attempt to verify (ifconfig eth0)

As you can see I need help. I will greatly appreciate any help I can get.

:smash:

To give an update:

1. I verified that my NIC was on Red Hats HCL.
2. I have run netcfg, netconfig, dhcpcd, and I have statically assigned an IP address but I am still unable to get out.
3. I have also once again verified that I can receive an IP address in a local LAN on the NIC.

After all of this I am still unable to get out to the internet on my linux box.

Help would be appreciated.

A few (very scattered) thoughts:

-What messages do you get regarding eth0 at startup? If eth0 fails at boot, does it hang for a few moments before doing so? Do "dmesg |less" and see what messages you find regarding eth0.

-Can you get an IP if you plug the NIC directly into the cable modem?

-What make/model of hub?

-Have you ever been able to ping anything (including the NIC itself)?

-Redhat has had built-in support for your card's driver for some time (it's the 3c50x module). AFAIK, you shouldn't have to download/compile the module; just assign it as eth0's driver from within whatever network config program Redhat is using these days. Try doing lsmod (LiSt MODules) and see if the module is listed.

-What does ifconfig (or ifconfig -a) have to say about the NIC?

-What does the output of lspci have to say about the NIC?

-Does cat /proc/interrupts list eth0, and does it's IRQ conflict with any other device?

-Post the contents of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 and /etc/sysconfig/network.
Could you clarify that a little, I don't quite understand?

I know it's a lot to chew on, but the pattern of your problem isn't obvious to me, so I'm just trying to narrow down the possibilities.

That module would be the 3c90x, not 3c50x... )

Actually, I would add that I've sometimes see RH try to use the 3c509 driver instead of the 3c90x driver for 3com 905b and 905c cards... and, it usually causes a variety of different problems -- from intermittant loss of network access to dramatically reduced throughput... make sure you have the 3c90x driver, not the 3c509 driver. And yes, that driver should be included in the distribution. Definately try the

lsmod

and see if either driver is in the list... if you see the wrong one... that would be a good place to start... unless you're recompiled the kernel that driver should be in the list someplace...