Here's the full contents of the README file:
3Com (R) Corporation
3CR990 Network Interface Card
Driver for Linux
This file describes the 3CR990 network interface card (NIC) driver for Linux.
It includes the following topics:
* Supported NICs
* Getting the Sources
* Unzipping the Sources
* Building the Driver as a Module
* Installing the Driver as a Module
* Configuration options for the Driver Module
* Support Information
* Additional Information
CAUTION: 3Com has not yet verified functionality of the 3c990
driver on platforms, architectures, or configurations other than
those specified in this file. Although it may operate correctly
on other configurations, users are encouraged to exercise caution
when using the driver with other configurations.
DISCLAIMER: 3Com makes no warranties or guarantees, expressly,
implied, or otherwise. Usage of this driver is solely at the
risk of the user.
* Supported NICs
----------------
The 3C990 NIC driver for Linux supports the following EtherLink NICs:
* 3Com 10/100 PCI NIC w/3XP (3CR990-TX-95)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 9902 (in hexadecimal)
* 3Com 10/100 PCI NIC w/3XP (3CR990-TX-97)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 9903 (in hexadecimal)
* 3Com 10/100 PCI NIC w/3XP (3C990B-TX-M)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 9904 (in hexadecimal)
* 3Com 10/100 PCI Server NIC w/3XP (3CR990SVR95)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 9908 (in hexadecimal)
* 3Com 10/100 PCI Server NIC w/3XP (3CR990SVR97)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 9909 (in hexadecimal)
* 3Com 10/100 PCI Server NIC w/3XP (3C990BSVR)
This NIC has PCI device ID of 990A (in hexadecimal)
The 3c590/3c592/3c595/3c597 and 3C905 Families are supported
with the 3c59x driver from Donald Becker.
* Getting the Sources
---------------------
Sources are in the file 3c990-1.0.0a.tar.gz. This file can be obtained
from
http://www.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/linuxdownload.htm
* Unzipping the Sources
-----------------------
To unzip the 3c990-1.0.0a.tar.gz, run the command -
#tar zxvf 3c990-1.0.0a.tar.gz
* Building the Driver as a Module
----------------------------------
To build the 3c990 driver as a loadable module, you can either:
+ make
to build the driver for the Uni-processor machine
+ make up
to build the driver for Uni-processor machine
+ make smp
to build the driver for SMP (symmetric multi-processor) machine
+ Compile the 3c990.c source file with the following command:
gcc -DMODULE -D__KERNEL__ -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes \
-I/usr/src/linux/include -O6 -c 3c990.c \
`[ -f /usr/include/linux/modversions.h ] && echo -DMODVERSIONS`
Additionally, you can modify this compile line by:
+ Adding -D__SMP__ to the command line for SMP support
+ Adding -I/usr/src/linux/include to the command line if you've
upgraded the kernel (assuming kernel source is in /usr/src/linux/include)
* Installing Driver as a Module
--------------------------------
To load the 3C990 driver module on a RedHat 6.1 or 6.2 system,
place an "alias" in the file named /etc/conf.modules.
The alias instructs the kernel module loader to use the
3C990 driver module for a specific Linux Ethernet interface.
When the system attempts to use this Ethernet interface, it
causes the kernel module loader to load the 3c990 driver
into the system automatically, and initialize it for use.
The alias listed below associates the Ethernet device "eth0" with
the 3c990 driver module. If you have one of the EtherLink NICs
that is supported by the driver, place the following line in the
/etc/conf.modules file:
alias eth0 3c990
To enable additional supported EtherLink NICs, create additional
aliases, such as:
alias eth1 3c990
alias eth2 3c990
To install a loadable module by hand, enter the following command:
#insmod 3c990.o
Note: If PATH does not include current directory and module is in
the current directory, use
#insmod ./3c990.o
* Configuration options for the Driver Module
---------------------------------------------------------
The 3C990 driver supports the following options, which can be
supplied as command line arguments to the insmod command or in the
/etc/conf.modules file. Unless otherwise stated, all settings take
the form of:
force=value [,value ]
value can be
1) 0 [10 Megabit Half Duplex]
2) 1 [10 Megabit Full Duplex]
3) 2 [100 Megabit Half Duplex]
4) 3 [100 Megabit Full Duplex]
5) 4 [Default option: Auto]
NOTE: If you use the conf.modules file to load the driver at
boot time, include the word "options" when configuring the driver.
For example: options 3c990 force=0
If you use command line insmod, do not include the word "option"
when configuring the driver. For example: #insmod ./3c990.o force=0
will force the 10 Megabit half duplex settings.
If you have multiple adapters, settings can be done by specifying the
value of force for each adapter. For example -
a) #insmod ./3c990.o force=0,2
This will force the settings for first NIC to 10 Megabit Half Duplex
and the second NIC to 100 Megabit Full duplex.
b) #insmod ./3c990.o force=0,,3
This will force the settings for first NIC to 10 Megabit Half Duplex,
second NIC to autonegotiation and third NIC to 100Megabit Half Duplex.
* Support Information
---------------------
E-mail Support:
- USA or Canada:
linux_support@3com.com
- Mexico and Latin America:
AMI_HD@3com.com
- Brazil:
br-nicsupport@3com.com
- Europe, Middle East and Africa:
European_Technical_Support@3com.com
- Asia Pacific Rim:
apr_technical_support@3com.com
- Source/binary name/location
(
http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/linux.htm )
Knowledgebase Support:
-
http://knowledgebase.3com.com
Enhancement Requests:
- To request or submit driver modifications for 3Com consideration, go
to
http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/linuxrequest.htm to obtain
the form.
* Additional Information
------------------------
- Linux network driver site:
http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers
- Detailed instructions for building a driver:
http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/misc/modules.html
/usr/src/linux/Documentation
========
The part I am not getting is the "building" and the "compiling" of the drivers...
