Getting Debian to load my network adapter...

[Replicon]

I'm trying to install Debian Sarge through netinstall, and installing the 2.6 kernel (linux26).

It's not finding my network adapter. I went into the bios and enabled my onboard LAN, and confirmed in the bios status page (and based on lights on the back) that it's working.

Debian install can't find it. My motherboard is ASUS P5AD2-E, which has an onboard "Marvell 88E8053 Gbit LAN".

I read online that 'sk98lin' works... but it asks me for additional parameters. Does anyone know what to do here?

thanks

 

[xcript]

Run lspci |grep -i eth. Is the ethernet controller listed?

This might be helpful.

Edit: Oops, lspci isn't on the net-install disc. Try cat /proc/pci |grep -i net.

 

[Replicon]

lspci isn't available in the console you get during installation... In fact, /proc/pci plain isn't available, which sucks... Maybe I should get a $15 network card that I know is supported...

What's a highly common, good and relatively recent NIC that Debian consistently supports?

 

[xcript]

Looks like the 88E8053 is supported by the sk98lin module, just not by the older version on the net-install disc.

 

[Replicon]

So I would basically have to go with Debian Unstable, right? Is there a way to streamline a Debian stable net install disk to include the right sk98lin module?

Alternately, if I do get a plain Debian Unstable net install disk, and if I change all my apt sources to stable, and run an upgrade, will it wipe my proper sk98lin?

 

[Replicon]

Hahaha call me stupid, but I can't seem to find Debian SID (not even the jigdo images) anywhere!! All the mirrors and areas where it's supposed to show up are empty!

 

[Replicon]

Well I broke down and Jigdo-ed the Sarge full CD and isntalled it, then downloaded the corresponding kernel source and got the sk98lin source, copied them over via CD and generated an updated sk98lin. Now it loads fine, and if I check /proc/net/sk98lin/eth0, it's got the description of my card... but the interface is down! And I can't bring it up...

ifconfig up ==> Device not found
lspci ==> "Ethernet Controller: MarvellTechnology Group Ltd.: Unknown device 1fa7 (rev 07)"

Any ideas? I'm pretty sure it's enabled, as I manually enabled it in the Bios, and the cable status was showing up fine, etc. And there's the light on the back of the PC hehe.

 

[Replicon]

Problem solved! edited /etc/network/interface =)

thanks for the help