Linux/ethernet

[Sean Casey]

I just completely erased Windows and installed RedHat 7.0. The Netgear 311 Ethernet card I was using in windows, is not recognized in Linux. On the back of the card it says it supports it, but when I look for modems, the computer doesn't recognize it. Furthermore during my configuration it gave a list of Network Cards to choose from, and my NetGear card wasn't there. Does anyone know which card I should purchase that supports Linux, and does anyone know which one is supported by ATT road runner? Please help. Other than that Linux is pretty nice, but a little foreign to me. I think once I get hooked up to the internet, I'll be able to learn more about my new os, and the linux community.
Thanks,
Sean

[Frank Carver]

I hope the "when I look for modems" was a typo... In the meanwhile, look for the details of the actual chipset on the card, rather than the manufacturere. I've got a load of Netgear 310 cards which Linux insists are "tulip" cards!

[Sean Casey]

Yes Frank, that was a typo. I still have yet to be able to reach the internet on my computer. I'm using a Netgear FA311 card, and I'm having a real difficult time with it. My computer doesn't recognize the card. I called Netgear, and although they were very nice, they explained to me that they are new to RedHat Linux 7.0, so they don't know how to get my card detected, but they assured me that it works because they use that particular card there on this particular platform. I real didn't understand that but such is life. I bought Bill McCarty's book on RedHat Linux, and although I found it informative it really didn't help me with my current problem. I've looked at several linux usergroups, but most of them assume you're a linux guru, which I am far from. My other option would be to buy another card and hope that it get's detected by my system. the only problem there is that the card I'm using is already configured with At+t Broadband, and they've informed me that they only support Microsoft Windows (the hypocrisy!) and that they couldn't provide me with any technical support regarding Linux. So I'm off to the bookstore to find another Linux book. I have to admit that I am really excited to get this running correctly, because the more and more I read, I realize the potential of Linux. I also vow to create a tutorial for the complete linux beginner specifically designed for idiots(like myself) who decide to completely erase windows and install linux, instead of installing it over their already working windows environment. At any rate, if anyone could provide me with any help, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!
Thanks,
Sean

[Frank Carver]

From my net researches It does look complicated to use the FA311. See: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?threadid=312 and http://digistar.com/luclist/2000-06/0008.html , but at least there seems to be some possibility of getting it working.

[Sean Casey]

Thanks for all your help Frank. You're posts are very helpful, and you're links are very true. I must say the woman I spoke with at Netgear (after waiting for 40 minutes) was incredibly nice. The problem was she didn't know anything about linux either. She tried though. She kept putting me on hold and asking the resident "linux guru". I asked her if I should just purchase another card, and she assured me that it wasn't necessary, and that infact they use the FA311 on there own systems, and they indeed run Redhat 7.0, but they were very new to it, and they were still learning. With all my trouble, I've learned quite a bit about linux. I think in the long run it'll help me out because I don't think I would have spent so much time on every little detail. I'm going to give the FA311 one more try. If it works it works, if not so be it. I'm going to read the section on modifying the kernel, and see if that helps. My sister works for At&t (my cable isp) and I could have her find out which card I should switch too if the FA311 fails again. I'm pretty stubborn though, so I'll probably play around with the FA311 a bit more, since I know that it is at least possible. Thanks again for all your help.
Sean
By the way, have you heard anything on 3Com ethernetcards? My sister informed me that they would work fine with At&t. Thanks.
[This message has been edited by Sean Casey (edited February 20, 2001).]

[George Brown]

I've stuck to 3Com 10BaseT 10Mbit ethernet cards in most of the linux boxes that I've built, and although I did have trouble with some old second hand 3com ethernet combo cards a while back, I find that the TP versions work well. I think as long as you check what cards are supported by the linux distribution before you install, and make sure that you have one of those, installation becomes relatively painless.

[Frank Carver]

I also used to use 3Com Etherlink III TP cards in all my systems, but last year I changed to 100M and bought a netgear switch which came with four free Netgear FA310 PCI cards. These have worked fine on all the systems I have built or upgraded since then.
More and more machines are coming with 10/100 ethernet on the motherboard these days though.