Changing IRQ's for ISA nics LINUX

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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I have a kingston NIC in one of my Debian boxes. I need to change the IRQ (I have the proper utility) and IO numbers so that it won't conflict with my other NIC. I set this card up during install and I had to specify IO and IRQ numbers to get it to load the module. It worked, but now I want to change those values. I guess I'm going to have to tell the kernel or the modules or something, to look at different IO and IRQ for this card once I change it.. how do I do that?

----- original, long and complicated post below ---------------


Okay.. some of you may be familiar with my "setting up a debian router" headaches (well, growing pains really).
I have discovered that roger's, my cable modem ISP has changed their policy in regards to DHCP. It used to be that you only needed the client ID as a host name, but now they have it set to MAC address. So, I took the working card out of my current router and sat it in my new router. I have the modules for the 3C509 on both machines, so the swap went smooth and guess what, the DHCP deamon worked!!!
Now I have another problem though (of course). It seems that the IRQ's are conflicting. The other card is a Kingston, and I set it up during the install, and I specified the IRQ (3) and IO (300) during install to get it to work. I used the NE2000 module that should work with a lot of cards, it did. Only when the new 3C509 is in, it doesn't come up. It did come up though when the other 3C509 was in there.
I try
ifconfig eth1 up
I get a "there is no eth1" or some such message. The machine doesn't recognize the card.
How do I change the IRQ's (I tried using different slots) in my working configuration. I can't change the IRQ on the 3C509 because that card will be going back and forth between both systems untill I get mail and web services running again. Whew, there will be lots of hardware swapping as I need to keep myself online to get mail.
I need to change the IRQ of the kingston card, I have the proper utilities, but I think that if I change the IRQ and IO numbers on the Kingston that it will stop working all together, because I configured linux to see it on 3 and 300. What command line arguments can I give it to accept the new numbers?
 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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Edit /etc/modutils/modconf, there should be a line starting with options that has the drive and then the irq number on it.
 

fivepesos

Senior member
Jan 23, 2001
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look at you /etc/modules.conf youll have options for certain modules.

ie for my nic i have the line
options eepro100 irq=17

then i of course have to setup an alias
alias eth0 eepro100/i]

then whenever i load the eepro100 module it uses those values.

man modules.conf for more
 

fivepesos

Senior member
Jan 23, 2001
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is /etc/modutils/modconf the location for debian? if so, use that. i suspect the syntax is at least the same.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Hey thanks guys.

Nothinman, you use Debian right?
I am running 2.2.19 and I don't have an /etc/modutils/modconf

I'm lost.

edit: I do have a /usr/sbin/modconf but that ain't what i'm looking for is it. It's all c I think.

 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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Nothinman, you use Debian right?
I am running 2.2.19 and I don't have an /etc/modutils/modconf


What release of Debian though, that directory would be more dependent on modutils version than kernel version.

See if you can run modconf.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Hmm.. I can run modconf. Cool, I'll post back with the results. Must go to sleep !!! Argh.. :|

edit: Uh.. if I just run modconf and I pick the ne2000 module and pass it the new IRQ and IO .. will the old setting still exist somewhere? Should I worry about the old setting at all? Thanks. Modconf is just like the installer, I guess it's the same program.

editedit: (it's late, sorry) How can I find out what IRQ's and IO's are being used up? I am going to use the util to change the IRQ/IO on the kingston card, but I don't want to change it to something that is being used and just end up with the same (or worse) problem. Thanks.

BTW, this was real quick. I didn't expect to get any replies on this one. Thanks. Love how you can find help at 4:00 AM .. :)
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Hmm.. /etc/modules is a text file.. I like that better.
I'm gonna mess with this tomorrow when I'm not brain damaged. Thanks for the help. I'll update (as I'm sure I'm going to need more help).

/nick smpzzzz
 

Nothinman

Elite Member
Sep 14, 2001
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modconf can't change the IRQ of the card, all it does is let you setup modules to be loaded and their options. Most ISA cards require a DOS program to set the IRQ, or you can set them to plug and play and mess with pnpdump.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Yeah.. I thought I could use it and just go through the thing again where you specify which irq and IO to use with the module.. but then I would have two loaded right? Anyways, it's okay because I'm going to tamper with /etc/modules
I like the text file approach better anyways.

Now i have a new problem.. looks like I killed the kingston card last night somehow I can't get it to register at all. :(

oh wait.. here it is.. weird.. the utility doesn't see it..