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Old 01-26-2009, 01:36 PM   #1
paidbythehour
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Registered: Jan 2009
Posts: 20

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Can't install Network Card Drivers


Hey there,

I'm having trouble installing the latest driver for my network card on Fedora. Here is the are the details:

==============================
OS: Fedora Core 6
Kernel: 2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen
Network Card: D-Link DGE 530T
Driver Name: sk98lin
==============================

In the read-me for the driver, it says the following:

Quote:
1. Login as 'root'.
2. Unpack the driver installation package using the command

# tar xfvj install-???.tar.bz2
3. After the driver installation package is unpacked, type the following
commands to start the sk98lin driver build process:

# cd DriverInstall
# ./install.sh
So when I run the install script, I get the following error:

Quote:
<snip>

Check kernel header files (not found) [ failed ]
Kernel header not found. Please install the linux header files
development package or crate a symbolic link from the
/usr/src/KERNEL_VERSION directory to linux
Example: ln -s /usr/src/KERNEL_VERSION /usr/src/linux

Installation of sk98lin driver module failed.
So this is where things start to go off the rails ... please correct me if I'm going in the wrong direction here ...

Quote:
# yum install kernel-devel

<snip>
Installing:
kernel-devel i686 2.6.22.9-61.fc6 updates 4.6 M
<snip>
So YUM is trying to download a kernel that is newer than the one I have installed. I tried specifying the correct kernel name, but it doesn't appear to exist in the repository.

Being that this a different kernel, I managed to get my hands on the correct source for my Kernel through other means, and loaded it via USB. I ran the RPM as follows:

Quote:
rpm -ivh kernel-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.src.rpm
This created a /usr/src/redhat/ directory, with subdirectories of BUILD, RPMS, SOURCES, SPECS, and SRPMS.

As per the error message from the driver install, I tried creating a symbolic link to this directory:

Quote:
ln -s /usr/src/redhat /usr/src/linux
I tried running the script again, but it failed with the same error. I also tried creating a link to the /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/ directory, but that failed as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this?
 
Old 01-26-2009, 02:06 PM   #2
TB0ne
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paidbythehour View Post
Hey there,

I'm having trouble installing the latest driver for my network card on Fedora. Here is the are the details:

==============================
OS: Fedora Core 6
Kernel: 2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen
Network Card: D-Link DGE 530T
Driver Name: sk98lin
==============================

So YUM is trying to download a kernel that is newer than the one I have installed. I tried specifying the correct kernel name, but it doesn't appear to exist in the repository.


I tried running the script again, but it failed with the same error. I also tried creating a link to the /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/ directory, but that failed as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this?
Upgrade! FC6 is ancient..FC10 is the latest. Chances are, your network card will be supported right off the bat, and you won't need to do anything else. If you *DO* need to compile/install a newer driver, you'll be able to get what you need to do it.
 
Old 01-26-2009, 02:35 PM   #3
paidbythehour
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Registered: Jan 2009
Posts: 20

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by TB0ne View Post
Upgrade! FC6 is ancient..FC10 is the latest. Chances are, your network card will be supported right off the bat, and you won't need to do anything else. If you *DO* need to compile/install a newer driver, you'll be able to get what you need to do it.
Thx for the reply TBOne,

I agree that the machine should be upgraded, but I don't have that luxury. The box belongs to someone higher up on the totem-pole than me, and we're trying to troubleshoot a connectivity issue.

I've explained the situation to my peer, but I've been asked to explore every possibility without upgrading the core.

If anyone has suggestions that stay within FC6, it would be muchly appreciated.

Thx.
 
Old 01-26-2009, 03:44 PM   #4
farslayer
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Manually download the src RPM and install maybe...

http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat...98.fc6.src.rpm


And Yep the reason you are having issues is that FC6 is no longer supported.

if this is for a Server you should consider switching hte machine to something Like Centos that is Redhat Based but has a longer lifecycle. Fedora's lifecycle is too fast for server use imho.. you install it and a year later it's done..

If it's a workstation then upgrade to FC10 and be done with it.

Last edited by farslayer; 01-26-2009 at 03:46 PM.
 
Old 01-27-2009, 09:39 AM   #5
paidbythehour
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Registered: Jan 2009
Posts: 20

Original Poster
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Thx for the reply Farslayer,

I think the problem is related to the link I created. I've run into another issue though ...

For the forum's sake, here are the steps I used to create the headers:

Quote:
# cd /usr/src/redhat/
# rpm -ivh kernel-$(uname -r).src.rpm
# rpmbuild -bp --target $(arch) --rmsource --rmspec SPECS/kernel-2.6.spec
# cd BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18
# cp configs/kernel-2.6.18-i686.config .config
# vi Makefile

In the Makefile, replace EXTRAVERSION = -prep with EXTRAVERSION = -2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen

# make oldconfig
# cp /usr/src/kernels/2.6.22.14-72.fc6-i686/Module.symvers .
# make prepare scripts
Make note of the different kernel version in bold.

If you don't understand what's going on there, please check out The Complete Fedora Kernel Headers. This is article I followed to get this far.

So in my original post, the install script for the driver requested I make a link to the Kernel Headers. The script kept giving me an error saying the headers could not be found. Here's the link I created to get around this error:

Quote:
# ln -s /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18.i686 /usr/src/linux
So this stage of the install passed without error. But now I'm running into something different:

Quote:
<snip>
Check kernel header files (/usr/src/linux) [ OK ]
Unpack the sources (done) [ OK ]
Check sources for .config file (/usr/src/linux/.config) [ OK ]
Copy and check .config file (done) [ OK ]
Check the mem address space (highmem) [ OK ]
Change IOMMU (enabled) [ OK ]
Create new .config file (done) [ OK ]
Execute: make oldconfig (done) [ OK ]
Check kernel header version (not recognized) [ warn ]
Check kernel functions (Changed: nothing) [ OK ]
Compile the kernel (error) [ failed ]

An error has occurred during the compile proces which prevented
the installation from completing.
Take a look at the log file install.log for more informations.
Installation of sk98lin driver module failed.
And from the install.log file:

Quote:
<snip>
misc/Configure.help
misc/Kconfig
common/sk98lin.txt

+++ Compile the driver
+++ ====================================
make: Entering directory `/usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18.i686'
Building modules, stage 2.
MODPOST
make: Leaving directory `/usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18.i686'
+++ Compiler error
So I'm not sure where to go from here. One thing to note, is that I had to create my own Module.symvers. Since I am not building the kernel or any modules and since I have not modified the default kernel configuration, I used the Module.symvers file which is included in the official fedora kernel-devel RPM.

In my original post, I was having trouble downloading the correct kernel-devel for my kernel version. I have bolded the newer kernel version in my code above.

Moving forward, these are the questions I have:

- Would a Module.symvers file from a newer kernel cause this compiler error?
- Can I get a Module.symvers from my installed kernel? Maybe /lib/modules ?
- How can I get further details regarding the Compiler error?
- Does anyone else have any ideas?

I'll keep working on it today, and update this thread if I figure anything out. Again, I appreciate the hand.
 
Old 01-27-2009, 01:14 PM   #6
paidbythehour
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Registered: Jan 2009
Posts: 20

Original Poster
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Just a short additional note:

I believe I got the correct Module.symvers by doing the following:

Quote:
# pwd
/root
# cp /boot/symvers-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen.gz /root/symvers-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen.gz
# gunzip symvers-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen.gz
# cp /root/symvers-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6xen /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18.i686/Module.symvers
# cd /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-2.6.18/linux-2.6.18.i686/
# make clean
# make scripts
I believe that should be the correct Module.symvers. Please let me know if I'm way off track here.

Even with the new Module.symvers, I get the same compile error when running the install script.

Anyone know how I can get more information on these compile errors? The install script I run has a log file, but it doesn't tell me very much (see previous post).

Thx!
 
Old 01-27-2009, 01:29 PM   #7
TB0ne
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paidbythehour View Post
Just a short additional note:

I believe I got the correct Module.symvers by doing the following:



I believe that should be the correct Module.symvers. Please let me know if I'm way off track here.

Even with the new Module.symvers, I get the same compile error when running the install script.

Anyone know how I can get more information on these compile errors? The install script I run has a log file, but it doesn't tell me very much (see previous post).

Thx!
Just out of curiousity, have you tried a different network card, whose drivers may already function under that older Linux?

If all you're trying to do is diagnose a connectivity problem, that may do it, unless you absolutely have to use the dLink card.
 
Old 01-28-2009, 08:56 AM   #8
paidbythehour
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Registered: Jan 2009
Posts: 20

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Thx TBOne,

I probably haven't done a very good job explaining my situation. Here's a summary:

- I look after a variety of OS's for a 'development department'.
- This machine has five NICs, and is used to mirror ports. Each NIC sees a lot of traffic.
- One NIC kept failing. Was getting funky errors on boot.
- Replaced the NIC, and the issue is now resolved. No more connectivity issues on the machine.
- Before closing my ticket, user asked to update drivers for three cards (all D-Link 530T's)
- I started having problems getting the driver installed, so I posted on this forum.

So, moving forward:

- I'm not allowed to upgrade the core (development department requirement)
- The machine works fine. I just can't get the updated driver installed.

I hope that clears things up. I'm just need to get some better logging on this machine to see why the compile is failing. If anyone has suggestions, articles, or links on how to do this, it would be greatly appreciated.
 
Old 01-28-2009, 09:22 AM   #9
TB0ne
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Distribution: SuSE, RedHat, Slack,CentOS
Posts: 26,553

Rep: Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946Reputation: 7946
Quote:
Originally Posted by paidbythehour View Post
Thx TBOne,

I probably haven't done a very good job explaining my situation. Here's a summary:

- I look after a variety of OS's for a 'development department'.
- This machine has five NICs, and is used to mirror ports. Each NIC sees a lot of traffic.
- One NIC kept failing. Was getting funky errors on boot.
- Replaced the NIC, and the issue is now resolved. No more connectivity issues on the machine.
- Before closing my ticket, user asked to update drivers for three cards (all D-Link 530T's)
- I started having problems getting the driver installed, so I posted on this forum.

So, moving forward:

- I'm not allowed to upgrade the core (development department requirement)
- The machine works fine. I just can't get the updated driver installed.

I hope that clears things up. I'm just need to get some better logging on this machine to see why the compile is failing. If anyone has suggestions, articles, or links on how to do this, it would be greatly appreciated.
Gotcha...was just curious, and I've been in your shoes before. It's always difficult when you have to work with older stuff, and you're not allowed to upgrade it.

Do you still have the FC6 media hanging around? I'd shove it on a spare machine at the office, and not risk harming the environment that's apparently sensitive. Also, on pbone (http://rpm.pbone.net), I found a xen kernel devel rpm (http://rpm.pbone.net/index.php3/stat....i686.rpm.html) that matches what you've got installed. Perhaps that could help?
 
  


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