Onoard NIC Driver Installation~?@?

[jessejlt]

Man I hate having to ask this, but I'm a complete linux newb just trying to learn...so be gental

Anyways, I have a Soyo Dragon + with the onboard nic, and it's not recognized by Mandrake, so I'm gonna install the via drivers that are linux compatible; however, I can't make heads or tails out of how to do this. Included are the via directions on how to do this...but I read them, and I'm still clueless. God I feel like a do0b for having to ask how to install a driver!

==================================

Contents of the Subdirectory:

=============================

linux.txt This file.

vialinux.tar Tar file includes following files

Makefile Makefile for generating driver object file

linuxfet.h The linux driver header file

linuxfet.c The linux driver source code file

Kernel Supported

================

This driver support linux kernel version 2.2.x and 2.4.x now.

Installation

============

Please enter the following commands at the UNIX prompt. Remember, UNIX is

case sensitive.

1) Create a temporary directory:

mkdir /temp

2) Change to the temporary directory:

cd /temp

2) Copy driver (vialinux.tar) from DOS disk, (mcopy below is one tool in

mtools, if you didn't install mtools, you can type

'mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt' and use 'cp /mnt/vialinux.tar /temp'

command to copy the driver to the temporary directory):

mcopy a:vialinux.tar .

3) untar the archive file:

tar xvf vialinux.tar

4) Compile the driver source files and it will generate linuxfet.o, and

copy it to correct driver installation path (The installation directory

is different in different kernel versions. In 2.4.x kernel, the path is

/lib/modules/KERNEL_VERSION/kernel/drivers/net/, and in 2.2.x kernel,

the path is /lib/modules/KERNEL_VERSION/net/, the KERNEL_VERSION (see

above) means the kernel version of your Linux distribution. If you don't

know your kernel version , please run 'uname -r' command in command

line. The kernel version will look like '2.2.16', '2.4.2-2smp' etc.) :

make install

5) Check configuration file (/etc/modules.conf or /etc/conf.modules,it

depend on your Linux distribution) for loading kernel modules. Make sure

there is the following content in the configuration file, where # is

interface number (eg: alias eth0 linuxfet):

alias eth# linuxfet

6) Reboot now:

shutdown -r now

7) Install your driver module (If the driver module is in the wrong place,

an error message will appear, and say that can't find the driver

module):

insmod linuxfet

8) Use ifconfig command to assign the IP address, where # is network

interface number:

ifconfig eth#

9) Check the interface works:

ping

================================

Okay and here are the parts I have a problem with...besides all of them ;)

Copy driver (vialinux.tar) from DOS disk, (mcopy below is one tool in

mtools, if you didn't install mtools, you can type

'mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt' and use 'cp /mnt/vialinux.tar /temp'

command to copy the driver to the temporary directory):

mcopy a:vialinux.tar .

(What is mtools? Is it in the via folder? Or do I just type mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt then cp /mnt/vialinux.tar /temp?)

Compile the driver source files and it will generate linuxfet.o, and

copy it to correct driver installation path (The installation directory

is different in different kernel versions. In 2.4.x kernel, the path is

/lib/modules/KERNEL_VERSION/kernel/drivers/net/, and in 2.2.x kernel,

the path is /lib/modules/KERNEL_VERSION/net/, the KERNEL_VERSION (see

above) means the kernel version of your Linux distribution. If you don't

know your kernel version , please run 'uname -r' command in command

line. The kernel version will look like '2.2.16', '2.4.2-2smp' etc.) :

make install

(huh?)

Check configuration file (/etc/modules.conf or /etc/conf.modules,it

depend on your Linux distribution) for loading kernel modules. Make sure

there is the following content in the configuration file, where # is

interface number (eg: alias eth0 linuxfet):

alias eth# linuxfet

(wha?)

Install your driver module (If the driver module is in the wrong place,

an error message will appear, and say that can't find the driver

module):

insmod linuxfet

(wtf?)

lo0l

These are pretty much my problem.

jesse ;-)

[neowin_hipster]

Ok. To install this you must have gcc on your system. To do a check type gcc -v in the console. You also need make.

Log on as root!!!

Stick the floppy into your computer. Drag and drop the files from the disk to a temporary folder. If you're using KDE or gnome then it should be as simple as windows.

Open the console and untar the file (must be in same directory as file) you can navigate their typing cd /home/usr/blah/blah

Type ./configure or make configure if you need to. If it doesn't work then you don't need to.

Type make (sometimes make install). That will make the source code into a machine executable file.

Now you have a module and you must insert it. open (/etc/modules.conf or /etc/conf.modules) it with kate or advanced text editor or even conqueror to read it. A module is a seperate file from the kernell that adds support for a device or function.

Now I get lost because I don't know crap about linux networking and harware config. I'm a newbie too and have only used Linux for 1 week untill i got rid of it for frustration and lack of usefullness. I found it hard to install any program esp. update kernell)

Try this anyways if it doesn't work no loss: Type in console

alias eth0 linuxfet -device 0, try also 1 but insert 1 below instead of 0 too!

insmod linuxfet -inserts module linuxfet (the one you just created)

ifconfig eth0 (whatever your IP is. Don't know how to do dynamic assignment using DHCP cuz some ISP require it)

Hope this helps

[Randy026]

Ok, try this I tried to make it sound a little more easier for you but here it goes

put the floppy in your computer

Then do as he said and drag and drop the file to your Home folder.

and as he said you need gcc and make installed.

also don't log on to KDE or GNOME as root that's bad

Open the console.

type:

tar -zxvf vialinux.tar

cd vialinux

ls

If you see a "configure" file in there then do

./configure (if you don't see it skip this step)

make

su (and enter root password)

cp linuxfet.o /lib/modules/KERNEL_VERSION/kernel/drivers/net/

(After you type /lib/modules/ hit the Tab button and it should auto-complete the Version number folder for you)

make install (if that doesn't work then doesn't need to be done)

then type:

vi /etc/modules.conf

Press: i

type in: alias eth0 linuxfet (Put it at the bottem somewhere)

Push ESC

type this --> :wq (make sure you type the : )

(Can't figure out VI? then read the VI Crash Course )

then reboot and open console and su to root again

type: insmod linuxfet

If that goes ok then at this point you can use Mandrake to configure your ISP to your modem with there tools.

Or you can do as it says and do ifconfig eth0 < IP>

for the IP address

you can also try using linuxconf or linuxconf-auth which ever one you have to setup network also or via the Mandrake control center.

By the way your Nic is now known as eth0

Hope it works

Don't let that get you fusterated normally it's easy to install hardware if the driver are included it's normally as easy as modprobe drivername

if you are having really bad troubles you might want to post it on Linux Newbie there is alot of people there that can help you make it easier.

[jessejlt]

You guys are nothing short of awesome! Thank you so much for your help.

Status:

Everything is going great. Got 'make' installed off of the Mandrake cd1, and now trying to compile the *.o file from the *.c and *.h file. Problem now is, the make command is telling me that the default /usr/src/linux/ kernel isn't there...so I have to edit the Makefile header so that it matches where the Kernel is...I think thats what I have to do. Anyways, does this sound correct to you? If so, where is the Kernel located?

After I get that figured out, I should be ready to start using linux as my primary OS...and oh yeah I'm excited.

Next issue:

I installed XP a long time ago on my primary hdd, and then when I installed linux, I did so on a test hdd that is completely seperate from my primary...in fact I completely unplugged the primary when installing linux. I just now put the two in tandom, my primary drive (XP) as master and my secondary (linux) as slave. Now since I installed the two OS's seperately, they are unaware of each other in the boot.ini, so needless to say I can now only boot into XP...I have not linux option. To make matters worse, the XP drive is formatted using NTFS 5.0, so BootMagic cannot install on it, because there is no primary fat32 partition. So my question is...how can I change the boot.ini file to let me load either OS? Or any other work around for that matter.

Thanka Thanka

jesse ;-)

[Randy026]

Okay, the awnser to your first question is, you need to install the Kernel Source rpm off one of the Mandrake Cd's i'm not sure which one it is cause I don't use Mandrake but I'm sure it starts out something like kernel-source-versionnumber.rpm after you install that it will show up in /usr/src/linux-versionnumber or something like that and now you need to make a symbolic link from /usr/src/linux-ver to /usr/src/linux

to do this open console and su to root.

then type

ln -s /usr/src/whatever-linux-folder /usr/src/linux

:)

[Randy026]

Okay.. Now about the using the Windows boot loader. this is kind of complex to do and it probably will require you to reinstall Mandrake to set it up and I'm pretty sure it will work with NTFS but it's not as easy as just putting it in the boot.ini but if you want to know how then here is the steps to doing it. this is for a Mandrake based install.

also it's for win2k but it will work for XP to im sure.

I don't know might just want to use a boot disk :)

OK. Here's how you do it. No 3rd party boot managers required.

1. Install W2K first. Leave enough room for Linux. (2 Gb +) This can be on the

same disk, or a separate disk.

2. Install Linux, using "expert" mode. This gives you greater control over

your installation.

3. When you install your Linux boot loader, choose LILO, not grub. DO NOT

select MBR. Choose first sector of your root ( / ) partition. This will be

/dev/hda2 if on the same disk, or /dev/hdb1 if on your second disk, etc.

4. Make the boot floppy, during the Linux installation.

5. When the Linux install is complete, reboot using the floppy created during

installation.

6. With Linux up, insert a fresh DOS formatted floppy and mount it with "mount

-t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy".

7. Enter "dd if=/dev/hdb1 of=/mnt/floppy/bootsect.lin bs=512 count=1". This

may vary, depending where your / partition is. Unmount the floppy & reboot.

8. W2K will come normally. Copy a:bootsect.lin to c:bootsect.lin

9. Edit c:boot.ini to include: C:bootsect.lin="Linux"

10. Done ! You should now have the option of booting W2K or Linux, using the

W2K bootloader.

I have tested this with W2K Pro and Mandrake 7.2 and it works great.

Good luck.

[MulletRobZ]

Hmpf! Isn't the driver supposed to install automatically during install? :s