NIC for Linux

[Ynog]

Can someone recommend a good NIC that is supported by linux.

Thanks

 

[Soybomb]

I don't think I've ever put in a pci nic that wasn't supported. All the intel and 3com ones I've used have been, as well as the cheap realtek 8139 based ones.

 

[skyking]

intel pro/100, that is my recommendation.
As stated above, there are drivers for most anything, but I have had great service out of intel pro 100's.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I have tried: 3com (ISA and PCI), Intel (mostly PCI), and Linksys (tulip driver). They all work fine. I recommend Intel or Linksys, but really, it doesn't matter. I just recommend staying away from Realtek 8139 chipsets, I will never purchase one (read about too many performance and driver issues, but no real life experience).

 

[Nothinman]

I really like DE500s, they're semi-old so they're cheap but they're tulip based and work really well.

 

[GigaCluster]

Netgear FA311, natsemi driver, PCI arch -- immediately works in EVERY Linux distribution I've tried thus far.
3Com EtherLink III, 3c509 driver, ISA arch.

 

[Haden]

For better performance I would go Intel or 3Com, however I haven't got single problem with Realtek 8139, and I'm using them in 4 servers + my desktop...

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

8139's are crap but work like champs for me. If you want a *good* card grab an intel or 3com, but unless you're doing crazy things, you'll likely never justify spending ~$20 more.

 

[HappyCracker]

If you decide to go wireless, check compatibility first. I have a Linksys WLAN PCI card that uses a newer chipset and is completely unsupported. I e-mailed Linksys and they came up with nothing for me.

 

[cmetz]

Ynog, Intel Pro/1000MT (ca. $41) and Netgear GA302T (ca. $33) are inexpensive and reasonably architected 10/100/1000 boards that are supported by recent versions of Linux (back-ported drivers are available). You're going to pay as much anyway for a good board, might as well get gig while you're at it.

The 3C905 boards and Intel Pro/100 boards also work well, as do any REAL Tulip (21140, 21143, etc.) boards.

The RealTek, Tulip clones (Macronix, et al.) and such - the $5-$15 kind of NICs - do tend to work, but just not as well. The vendors of said boards switch chips all the time and between new chips and new revs, it's often a major driver headache ("oh, this month's D-Link DFE-123 uses the RTL-8139 rev. Q, which needs driver 1.42, just apply this diff..") - just spend a few bucks more and get a good board.