Ethernet connection - driver needed for Realtek PCI device

[cobaka]

Woof to all!

A PC (not this PC) is not connecting to the internet - Realtek PCI device.
This is a wired (internet/cable) connection to the telephone line.

One PC (the one I'm typing on now!) connects by RJ45 cable to a 'box/modem' under the desk. The 'box' has x4 RJ45 sockets - until now only one has been connected to the internet. (These modems are everywhere.)
I now have a second PC - a 'gift' from my neighbour. "Take it if it's any use - otherwise it's in the trash".
It was an offer too good to refuse.

According to PSI - Pup system info - I have a realtek 8168 PCI internet "device".
The connection wizard advised that "it seems you need a driver module." None of the drivers offered match the r8169. (The device is 8168, but the driver is r8169 - so no, you aren't reading a 'typo'.
(Isn't life sad? Here I am, in the 21st century and my computer is missing an ethernet driver module ...)

This is the first time I Puppy did not 'load and connect'.

Help appreciated.

cobaka

Also: Running uPupBB32 - 19.03. Newly installed from trusted CD.
Fact: This (working PC) has the r8169 module loaded.
Thinks: Maybe the hardware in the non-working PC is 'sus'.

[ozsouth]

@cobaka - please run in a terminal: lspci | grep thernet
(command starts with lowercase L) If that returns nothing, please run lspci
and post result here.

[cobaka]

@ozsouth

# lspci | grep thernet
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 02)
#

cobaka

More info from PSI:
Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller [10ec:8168] (rev 06)
• Kernel Driver: r8169
• Memory Used: 65.15 KB
• Path: /lib/modules/4.9.163-lxpup-32-pae/kernel/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169.ko
• Driver Version: 2.3LK-NAPI
• Description: RealTek RTL-8169 Gigabit Ethernet driver

[ozsouth]

@cobaka - seems the r8169 is a generic driver which doesn't work well if at all with this adaptor.
I got the r8168 source from the realtek site & have attached it below. Latest kernel usable with it is 5.6.x.
I need to match your kernel specs to compile it. Might take a while.
Need to unload (or blacklist) r8169 then install r8168, once I compile it.

[cobaka]

@ozsouth

Thanks for your help/this info. The PC of interest is a 'project-on-the-side' and can sit for some days without a connection to the internet.
I will be interested in the process of compiling the C code. I am learning C. (Not formally - just following lessons posted on You-tube.)
I think some of the instructors on You-tube are as good as any IT instructor you might hear at a university lecture theatre.

One interesting point is that the driver in this PC - the one I'm using now - appears to have the r8169 driver.
It connects to the internet daily - and has been for many months. See info from PSI (below) about r8169.
I found another driver (from realtek) with a number close to 8169. Didn't work.

Read your code using grep (with a pipe) with some interest. I rarely use grep with a pipe.

Again, thank you

cobaka

[ozsouth]

@cobaka - I found the compiling files I needed. .pet attached below.
Install by clicking on it in ROX-Filer. It should uninstall r8169 & set blacklist for next boot
(if you save) then install & load r8168. Wait a few seconds after install & try to connect.

If it doesn't work, delete /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-modem.conf, uninstall .pet & reboot (saving)
to return to previous state.

[bigpup]

Do exactly what ozsouth is telling you.

He is the Puppy Linux driver compiling and finding expert!