Linux networking trouble

[samwichse]

Ok, I've got a Compaq hne-300 fast ethernet card (10/100 mbps) I'm trying to install on a dell inspiron 3500 laptop running fedora core 1.

I put it in and booted and the link next to the 10mbps light came on, sans activity. So I found out the module that comes with the kernel sucks majorly (this is a realtek based card, and the module is called "8139too" and fails to load every time). Anyhow, I found out that at scyld (the beowulf guys) they're responsible for upkeep on this chipset and I downloaded their comprehensive network driver package and built it.

Well, suddenly the activity light was working and so I tried adding eth0 as a new network connection and BAM, it fails trying to get info from the DHCP server every dang time.

So close, but no cigar.

Any ideas on stuff to try?

Sam

[krohnjw]

Can you manually specify the IP settings using ifconfig?
Can you ping the DCHP server?

[samwichse]

I definately cannot ping the DHCP server. The only thing I can ping is the loopback device.

I'm a little afraid of angry network admins here if I try and specify an IP address like that.

[krohnjw]

Any chance you just have a screwed up routing table?

[nukes]

does the module register in dmesg?
do:

dmesg |less

and look for any reference to the network card driver.

[samwichse]

Here's the part of dmesg that applies to the network card

pci-scan.c:v1.12 7/30/2003  Donald Becker <becker@scyld.com> http://www.scyld.co
m/linux/drivers.html
rtl8139.c:v1.23a 8/24/2003 Donald Becker, becker@scyld.com.
 http://www.scyld.com/network/rtl8139.html
pci-scan.c:v1.12 7/30/2003  Donald Becker <becker@scyld.com> http://www.scyld.co
m/linux/drivers.html
rtl8139.c:v1.23a 8/24/2003 Donald Becker, becker@scyld.com.
 http://www.scyld.com/network/rtl8139.html
Linux Kernel Card Services 3.1.22
  options:  [pci] [cardbus] [pm]
PCI: Found IRQ 11 for device 00:04.0
PCI: Sharing IRQ 11 with 00:04.1
PCI: Found IRQ 11 for device 00:04.1
PCI: Sharing IRQ 11 with 00:04.0
Yenta IRQ list 0298, PCI irq11
Socket status: 30000006
Yenta IRQ list 0298, PCI irq11
Socket status: 30000020

And I must admit to ignorance as to what routing tables are?

Sam

[CMonster]

I had all kinds of similar problems with Rehat 9 installed on an i845g chipset on a POS Dell that a musician wanted to use as a FTP server to share files -just wouldn't properly load the module for the built-in RT8139 NIC -tried a couple other PCI NICs (intel Pro100 etc) in this box, and played with BIOS settings, with the result that if the NIC worked the sound didn't and so on -finally got PO'd enough to blow out RH and tried SuSE 8.2 on it -everything worked the first time out.

[samwichse]

Hm... you wouldn't happen to have a spare copy of SuSE lying around would you .

But really, thanks, I guess I'll see if anyone in the cs department has it.

Sam

[CMonster]

YGPM