On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 5:18 PM, Roshan George <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hmm, you're right, there are some files under > the /lib/firmware/(kernel-name) subdirectory. But I'm not too sure what > to do with that. I think I'll just settle for installing an older > (version 8.04) Ubuntu for now, because everything seems to be working on > it.
The card needs both the driver in the kernel and a binary firmware in order to run. IIRC, the binary firmware has not been changed in a while and will work identically no matter what recent kernel is used, and can therefore be copied from the Ubuntu 8.10 live cd or wherever it is to the appropriate path on the Debian Etch box, though I'm not sure what that path is. Of course, all this still leaves you with the problem of downloading the kernel sources needed to compile the driver given the lack of 'net connectivity in the first place. Hence my suggestion about connecting to the router by ethernet in order to download the sources, which you say won't work. > >> BTW, nowadays most motherboards have integrated ethernet >> cards. >> Routers too often have an ethernet port or two, so you could connect >> the box directly to the router to get connectivity, and then download >> the sources etc. > > Ah, but there lies the problem. This desktop is an old one without > integrated ethernet. I'd bought a PCI ethernet card a long while ago, > but it was one of those fakes masquerading as a RealTek RTL8139D. > You mean the ethernet card pretends to be a RealTek RTL8139D but none of the kernel drivers work with it, neither 'rtl8139' or '8139too' (don't remember the exact names) ? That's very interesting to learn. The card masquerades as the 8139 but not well enough for the drivers to work! Anyway, the whole thing is academic if Ubuntu works with the wireless card without problems and you are planning to install that. Regards Amartyo _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, email [email protected] with "unsubscribe <password> <address>" in the subject or body of the message. http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
