[realtek] Asus CUSL2 (i815 chipset) mainboard and 8139c cards

Stephen Gutknecht (vw) VW@i405.com
Sun, 12 Nov 2000 18:34:01 -0800


Howdy,

I have two different Realtek RTL8139 cards to work with.  One is a SMC
1211TX with unknown revision, the other is a Encore ENL832-TX with RTL8139c
chip on it.

My mainboard is an Asus CUSL2 - i815 chipset, I put the most recent 1004.03
(beta) BIOS on it.

My problem?  I can't get the 8139 cards to work.  I started out with a clean
(format) install of Redhat 7.0.  This is kernel 2.2.16-22 -- the included
rtl8139.o driver didn't want to work.  Reading about how this driver is out
of date, I next took on the task of building the 2.2.17 kernel.  Same
problem.  For fun, I even updated my modutils package (.19-2.rpm) and built
myself a 2.4.0-test10 kernel :)  The 2.4.0-test10 kernel is my intended
platform.

The 2.4.0-test10 uses 8139too.o driver.  That wouldn't work either.  It
suggested "try pci=biosirq" -- is this a parameter you pass it?

I'm new to Linux, but not new to hardware.  I suspect the problem lies in
how the Asus CUSL2 mainboard is assigning resources to the card.  I've tried
every setting I can to "disable Plug and play" -- but this board doesn't
seem to have any option for that.  Disabling power management is the best I
can do (it is an ACPI BIOS, the board has only been on the market for a few
months).

What information do I need to track this down?  Anyone else using a i815
chipset board?

P.S.  I built my system LILO config so I can select the kernel at system
start... I have the original 2.2.16-22 that came with Redhat 7.0, my own
2.2.17, and my own 2.4.0-test10 -- I'm willing to test different drivers or
do whatever will help.  Just make sure you give step-by-step instructions on
any driver compiles :)

Thanks.

  Stephen Gutknecht
  Renton, Washington



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Gutknecht (vw) [mailto:VW@i405.com]
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 7:02 AM
To: realtek@scyld.com
Subject: [realtek] OT: realtek 8139c cards from Compgeeks for $10 each


A little off topic, but I thought of possible interest to this list.

I just ordered a couple RT 8139c cards from Compugeeks for $10 each.  They
are Encore ENL832-TX and the Compgeeks web page says 8139a/b/c, but both of
mine came with 8139c chips (I suspect all of them are 8139c, just that
Compgeeks copies generic literature for their web site.)  $10 for a new card
in box is a good deal, I got 3 of them.

 http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=205-1832

I have ordered before from them.  Their shipping is high, they seem to
charge $7 for UPS ground even if one item.  The good news is that if you
order 3 or 5 items the shipping is still $7 for UPS ground.  Suggestions for
other purchases: They have 50 pack 80min 12x CD-R disks for $9.50 (search
"80 min").  Just take care that they do sell used stuff, read the
descriptions.

Not affiliated with them, just a customer...

  Stephen Gutknecht
  Renton, Washington

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