Slackware 9.1 (Kernel 2.4.22) installed on 1RU server w/ ibase IB800 P4 "computer on a card" w/ Intel 845 chipset w/ integrated ICH2 Intel Ethernet controller.

First problem was that immediately after linux install (first reboot off hard disk) the computer ID'd the NIC as an

eth0: Intel Corp. 82801BA/BAM/CA/CAM Ethernet controller

and then totally locked up, couldn't get to a login. Have gotten around that by typing at Lilo:

Linux init 1

which seems distressingly obvious after the fact, anyway NOW I'm trying to load the NIC drivers, I type

modprobe e100

and it locks up again, so then I go in search of better drivers, I go here:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...0&DwnldID=2896

and get the e100-2.3.38.tar.gz file, then burn it to a cd on my Win98 box, then go through figuring out how to mount cd-roms from Linux (no floppy drive on this 1U - but I'm learning, it's not that hard) and now I've done the steps through 1-9 below, copied from:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherb...3099-prd96.htm

8. At the command line type (make) enter. This will build the driver as
a loadable module.
9. At the command line type (insmod e100.o) enter. This will test load the driver. This should return to a command line prompt.

Except that it doesn't it locks the system up again, the last things it says follow:

Intel (R) PRO/100 Network Driver - version 2.3.38
Copyright <blah blah>

PCI: Found IRQ 10 for device 02:08.0
e100: eth0: Intel (R) PRO/100 Netowrk Connection
Hardware receive checksums enabled

and then it returns to the prompt:

root@(none):/tmp/e100-2.3.38/src#

except that the cursor is a solid white rectangle, and the machine is locked.

Checked the Award BIOS:

PNP OS Installed [No]
Resourced Controlled By [Auto(ESCD)]

and those seem correct...

I have placed a call into the motherboard manufacturer re: a Linux driver for the onbard nic (they include drivers for all M$ versions but not Linux), but they are 14 hours ahead and I won't know anything until tomorrow morning.

I mentioned I tried the e100-2.3.38.tar.gz file for drivers that would work, I also looked at the c559vx files but they're for Vxworks (which seems like a development thing?). I don't know where else to get drivers except from the mb and chipset/nic manufacturers.

Have also tried looking for 82801 drivers (this is what was originally ID'd, and is also appearantly the subset of the 845 chipset that controls things like sound and lan) but can't find anything on Intel's website. Google'd = I guess the controller chip is used in lots of different apps, but I still couldn't find anything re: LAN.

Have confirmed that is still won't boot normally, have duplicated the errors above.

Going further - running around in /tmp/e100-2.3.38/src# and typing

insmod e100_test.o

and that returns lots of lines like this one:

e100_test.0: unresolved symbol e00_eeprom_read

and then this:

Hint: You are trying to load a module without a GPL compatible license and it has unresolved symbols. The module may be trying to access GPLONLY symbols but the problem is more likely to be a coding or user error. Contact the module supplier for assistance, only they can help you.

"Help me module supplier-obi, you're my only hope"

TIA -

ReallyWildStuff