[olug] Network Card Problems

[Mike Peterson]

The problem is at a college classroom where I teach hands-on System
Administration like the labs at AIM.

The NIC cards are SIS7016.
The driver used for these cards on Linux is sis900.
Redhat 8.0 has a sis900-old also.
Neither one works.

The cards are seen but an IRQ cannot be resolved.
The 10-25% is that out of 21 machines 4-5 will work with the NIC card during
2 boots and then after that they no longer see the card again.

The systems have removable drives so that several courses can be taught with
different drives and different OS's.
Each class installs their own Network Operating System.
Win2k Server Linux, WinNT Server, Novell, etc.

The current solution is to remove the SIS cards are replace them with 8029
cards.
This should be completed by Monday PM.

I had planned to use Network Installs of Redhat 8.0.
Hopefully once the NIC card issue is resolved this will work.

Then I will have my own mini Installfest next week.
Once every spring class.
Some people mess up their drives and we have to install again however.

Everyone at the Installfest have fun.

Maybe someday I can find time to go to one.

I look forward to the February meeting if there is one.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Penne" <epenne at yahoo.com>
To: <olug at olug.org>
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2003 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [olug] Network Card Problems


> If I was having this many problems with a network card I would go buy a
> new network card and install it.  Network cards are very cheap less
> than $15 with realtek chips using the 8139too module.  They are
> extremely easy to install.  I think www.ditcorp.com has them for less
> than $10.
>
> If I was in your position right now the things holding me back would be
> if I could install the card because I don't have access to the
> internals of the machine.  Another would be the expense of outfitting
> lots of machines with the card.  Even with these problems, if you can't
> get a realiable driver, then you need to use a different card no matter
> what the cost.  How much will it cost for the new cards plus
> installation vs. 10% uptime and constant hassles?  Otherwise your best
> investment (saving time and getting sleep) would be to buy a new card.
>
> Eric
>
>
> --- Michael Peterson <mpeterson at mail.charlesfurniture.com> wrote:
> > Has anyone had luck finding a reliable driver for SIS 7016 network
> > cards?
> >
> > I have tried Redhat 7.2, 7.3, and 8.0 and pre 8.1 beta.
> >
> > 7.2 works 10-25% of the time if you are lucky.
> >
> > I teach System Administration.
> >
> > I use Redhat because it is the major business supported distribution
> > in
> > the U.S.
> > I cannot download iso images for SUSE full blown or I would look to
> > using
> > that.
> > I have the iso's and CD's for United Linux but it is not working
> > great in
> > tests I have run with it either.
> > Mandrake 9.0 and 8.2 have not worked out good either.
> >
> > I would try FreeBSD, but I would like to stick with Linux because
> > that is
> > what the current book I have chosen covers exclusively.
> > I wanted to do network installs via http from my own deployment
> > server but
> > the boot diskettes do not contain a driver that works either.
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > I am pulling my hair out and not getting any sleep either.
> >
> > The class starts next week and this is only my part-time work that is
> > taking up much of my time.
> > Sorry if this is to much info or just the same old for some of you.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OLUG mailing list
> > OLUG at olug.org
> > http://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
>
>
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