[ubuntu] RTL8111/RTL8168 Network Connection Fix

[nausicaavow]

This is guidance for those with integrated Realtek RTL8111 series gigabit Ethernet, built in to motherboards such as the ASRock G41M-LE.

Ubuntu 8.10 (and may other versions) have been reporting problems with connectivity. Here is the solution in a walk-through format. You must be root (sudo su -).

1) Check to see if the r8169 module is loaded
-> lsmod | grep r816
r8168 41104 0
-> lspci -v
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Device 8168
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

2) Download the official Realtek driver
Realtek RTL8111/RTL8168

3) Remove the r8169 module
-> rmmod r8169
-> mv /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/net/r8169.ko ~/r8169.ko.backup
( the ` is a backtick, it is not an apostrophe or single quote )

4) Build the new r8168 module for the kernel
-> bzip2 -d r8168-8.009.00.tar.bz2
-> tar -xf r8168-8.009.00.tar
-> cd r8168-8.009.00
-> make clean modules
-> make install

5) Rebuild the kernel module dependencies
-> depmod -a
-> insmod ./src/r8168.ko

6) Remove the r8169 module from initrd
-> mv /initrd.img ~/initrd.img.backup
-> mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-`uname -r` `uname -r`

7) Add r8168 module to /etc/modules
-> echo "r8168" >> /etc/modules

Reboot, You are done!

9) Examine that ONLY the r8168 module is loaded for the interface
-> lspci -v
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Device 8168
Kernel driver in use: r8168
Kernel modules: r8168

If you need to, configure your /etc/network/interfaces for dhcp or static address then `sudo ifup eth0`

[eombah]

Thanks a lot, this saved me from buying a new network card for my brand new Dell Vostro 420.

One typo though:

5) Rebuild the kernel module dependencies -> depmod -a -> insmod ./src/rr8168.ko

should be:

5) Rebuild the kernel module dependencies -> depmod -a -> insmod ./src/r8168.ko

I guess I have to redo this for every kernel update that gets released?

-Bart

[nausicaavow]

Yes, unfortunately this will have to be done for each kernel upgrade. Luckily, it takes only a few minutes.

Thanks I will update the post

[Deflatarat]

Thanks for your post.

I am having trouble compiling the realtek driver. The directory:
/lib/modules/2.6.24-22-server/build
is missing on my system. The Makefile is trying to switch to that directory.

I am assuming that the driver tarball is expecting something in the build directory, probably kernel module sources. I already installed the linux-source-`uname -r` package. What package do I need to install?

I had to download individual .deb pkgs and transfer it to my linux box. Thank goodness for USB flash drives

[Deflatarat]

I should have searched some more before posting. But if you install the following two packages, the build directory will be there.

linux-headers-2.6.24-22-server_2.6.24-22.45_amd64.deb
linux-headers-2.6.24-22_2.6.24-22.45_all.deb

Or sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`, but my network was down

Replace version number with your `uname -r`. Mine was 2.6.24-22-server.

[cprofitt]

Why is the default kernel not identifying the right driver?

[dargaud]

Thanks, your instructions worked great. How can I figure out when the issue will be fixed in the kernel ? By looking at the replacement of r8169 by r8168 at kernel.org or somesuch ? I'd like to avoid updating my kernel until this is fixed, so if anyone knows for sure, a note here would be appreciated.

[CFJ0]

I think that this should be included in Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server editions.
I am trying to run a server on a MB with Realtek RTL8111DL (ASRock G41M-LE) and its a pain to do this fix every time.

[BubuXP]

Originally Posted by CFJ0 I think that this should be included in Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server editions. I am trying to run a server on a MB with Realtek RTL8111DL (ASRock G41M-LE) and its a pain to do this fix every time.

Today I installed 9.04 RC.
The motherboard is an Asrock G31M-GS with the same RTL8111DL NIC.
As expected, I had to install the r8168 driver because the r8169 driver included didn't work.
After installing and connecting, I made a system update and an updated kernel was in the list.
And surprise: the r8169 driver included in the new kernel is working out of the box!
I removed every r8168 reference from the system just to be sure and the network was still ok.

[dargaud]

This morning after a reboot and some hardware changes, I lost the ethernet. I could see both drivers in lspci -v: "Kernel driver in use: r8168, r8169"
One small thing to avoid the return of the bad driver, add the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist:

blacklist r8169