Topic: problems with D-Link DFE-538TX nic

[Simon Wood]

anybody managed to use one of these for the external interface with e-smith 4.1?

I have tried the rtl8139 driver (for which the nic's supplied floppy included source which I took as a big hint - although have not tried compiling the version supplied) but no go.  Also tried the "via-rhine" (D-Link 530TX) and "tulip" (D-Link DFE-540TX) drivers but with same result.  All fail the internet connection test very quickly (as if the device not found).  Works fine with different card (Realtek 8029AS based), all other config the same.

Anybody got any ideas?

Thanks

slw

[Des Dougan]

Simon,

I've had problems with this card and e-smith too. If you want a serious suggestion, go and buy Intel EtherExpress Pro NICs. They work flawlessly and are worth the extra cost. I've just taken delivery of a new server with two of them.

Des Dougan

[Simon]

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind...  Was sort of coming to a similar conclusion myself but was hoping to make do with what I've got

cheers

slw

[jules]

i was going crazy with a couple of dlink cards. they'll change the chipset on a revision without changing the model number, so you'll find someone on the web who got the card to work under linux, but their verson of the card will have a true realtek chipset.
my dsl isp (Sympatico) provides d-link cards
my solution was a cheap aOpen card, but anything with a true realtek chipset will load perfectly.

[Dan Brown]

Yep, it will, but the realtek chipset is garbage anyway--you can find tulip cards almost as cheap, and it's a much better design.

[Charlie Ashmore]

I also use the D-Link DFE538Tx and it did not work originally. Here is what I did:

1) Insert the 8139too module (driver) by running: "insmod 8139too". The module was present in the default installation of SME V5 in /lib/modules//drivers/net/.
2) Modify the line in /etc/modules.conf that says "alias eth0 rtl8139" to read "alias eth0 8139too"
3) run "depmod -a" to update /etc/modules.conf
4) configure the interface with "ifconfig"
5) if necessary, add a default gateway with "route default gw..."

Seems to work OK.

Charlie

[Paul Nesbit]

Charlie Ashmore wrote:
>
> I also use the D-Link DFE538Tx and it did not work
> originally. Here is what I did:
>
> 1) Insert the 8139too module (driver) by running: "insmod
> 8139too". The module was present in the default installation

The proper way to configure the ethernet drivers for an e-smith/SME Server is as follows:

  /sbin/e-smith/db configuration setprop EthernetDriver1 8139too

(EthernetDriver2 for eth1.)

Once the driver is set, update the system:

  /sbin/e-smith/signal-event console-save
 

Paul