Arch Linux

bmentink

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 442

No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Hi There,

I am trying to do an install on a new Dell T1600 but cannot proceed due to the lack of ethernet support for this machine (Needs Latest Intel e1000e)

The standard install ISO does not have the latest e1000e kernel module  for this ethernet.

So my initial workaround was to install a testing ISO from here -> http://releng.archlinux.org/isos/2011.06.10/
... but these images get part way through the boot of the ISO and then the screen goes blank (udev stage)

Any Ideas,

Cheers,
Bernie

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,796

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Have you tried downloading the package you need to a flash drive, and then importing the package from the drive by placing the file in /var/cache/pacman/pkg, then doing a pacman -S on the package?

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bmentink

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 442

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Have you tried downloading the package you need to a flash drive, and then importing the package from the drive by placing the file in /var/cache/pacman/pkg, then doing a pacman -S on the package?

Sounds like a good idea .... where would I get the kernel module from though ...

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

e1000e is not available outside the kernel tree.

See if you can find any recent live cd/usb that boots successfully and supports your NIC - once you have that, you can do this.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,796

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

e1000e is not available outside the kernel tree.

Of course, that is true.  I should have thought that through more thoroughly.  Sorry...

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Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine. -- Alan Turing
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How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

bmentink

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 442

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

e1000e is not available outside the kernel tree.

See if you can find any recent live cd/usb that boots successfully and supports your NIC - once you have that, you can do this.

Thanks, but that link sounds far to complicated ... can I not just get the e1000e driver from the other Live install disk onto a USB disk, then use the standard Arch install CD and copy the module to the correct place and modprobe it during/before the network setup stage?

Don't suppose anyone can send me an e1000e kernel module from a recent Ubuntu box (or other distro with an upto-date kernel ..)?

Last edited by bmentink (2011-07-11 23:02:53)

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Eh.. no. THey would have different kernels.

Also - what's "the other Live install disk" anyway?

If you're talking about the test releases of the next installer, you should just start again and use one of those - forget about the 2010.05 release altogether.

Last edited by tomk (2011-07-11 23:04:27)

bmentink

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 442

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Eh.. no. THey would have different kernels.

Also - what's "the other Live install disk" anyway?

If you're talking about the test releases of the next installer, you should just start again and use one of those - forget about the 2010.05 release altogether.

As I already mentioned, I get a blank screen on boot (udev stage) of those test releases (I tried 3 of them ..), also an Ubuntu ISO(The other Live install disk) has the same blank screen issue.
If I can find out how to get around that, I would be good to go ...

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Perhaps while using 2010.05 .iso, you could use FTP internet install and thereby have the latest kernel installed.EDIT: oops not applicable!

Last edited by lilsirecho (2011-07-12 00:01:57)

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bmentink

Member

From: New Zealand

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 442

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

Eh.. no. THey would have different kernels.

Also - what's "the other Live install disk" anyway?

If you're talking about the test releases of the next installer, you should just start again and use one of those - forget about the 2010.05 release altogether.

I can load a different kernel module with "modprobe -f" can't I ??

EDIT: Tried it and it failed miserably with un-resolved symbols ..... bugger.

I think I might put an old ethernet card in the machine, do the install, upgrade,  then remove it ..

Last edited by bmentink (2011-07-12 01:05:00)

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: No Ethernet driver for Dell T1600

As I already mentioned, I get a blank screen on boot (udev stage) of those test releases

Apologies - I wasn't paying enough attention.

The old hardware idea would seem to be your best option - hope it works out for you.