Networking :: National Semiconductor DP83815 PCI Fast Ethernet



I have two cards: one wireless, and one wired.  I can't get either to work, so I'm starting with the wired, as it should be more straight-foward.  

I'm not getting an IP address from my router.  If I assign a static address then I still can't ping my router.  

Where should I start?  Should I expect the card to work out of the box, or should I find a driver?  Is there a way to see what Linux knows about my card or to see what driver is loaded?

In Windows, the card is listed as: National Semiconductor DP83815 PCI Fast Ethernet.

I see that National has driver source here: http://www.national.com/appinfo/networks/0,1804,829,00.html  I don't have a way to compile, so it is not of much help, and I'm not even sure I need a driver yet (that is, I don't know if DSL ships with a driver for my card).

Help much appreciated.
Try this. Open an xterm and type:

sudo su
modprobe natsemi
netcardconfig
exit
exit

If it doesn't work then my advice is to download DSL version 0.7.x and give it a try.  This version seems to play nicer with your Network card as it is based on KNOPPIX 3.3 instead of KNOPPIX 3.4

Good Luck.
Quote (cbagger01 @ April 14 2005,13:31)
Try this. Open an xterm and type:

sudo su
modprobe natsemi
netcardconfig
exit
exit

If it doesn't work then my advice is to download DSL version 0.7.x and give it a try.  This version seems to play nicer with your Network card as it is based on KNOPPIX 3.3 instead of KNOPPIX 3.4

Good Luck.

Thanks for the suggestion.  Unfortunately, I can't get it to work in 1.0 or .7.  sigh...

Here are a couple of observations.  First, Linux seems to be automaticaly loading natsemi, so I think it is finding the card OK.  Second, when I go through DHCP broadcast step in netcardconfig, the light on my router for the card's port flashes in several spurts.  It then stop flashing when the wizard fails.  

So I think the card is loading and sending packets, but the DHCP broadcast step nevertheless is failing.  

Does netcardconfig log anything?  Any other suggestions?

original here.