problem on: Updating realtek driver from r8169 to r8168?

**GnuKian** · December 29th, 2012

I followed an instruction mentioned on this topic: Ubuntu 12.04 and realtek at #3 answer:

Code:

sudo gedit  /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

Adding line: blacklist r8169

Code:

sudo update-initramfs -u && cd ~/Downloads && tar xvf r8168-8.035.00.tar.bz2 && cd r8168-8.035.00 && sudo sh autorun.sh

But I get this error:

Check old driver and unload it
rmmod r8169
Build the module and install
make: *** /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build: No such file or directory. Stop
make[1]: *** [clean] Error 2
make: *** [clean] Error 2

**chili555** · December 29th, 2012

make: *** /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build: No such file or directory.

I suspect the required build tools aren't yet installed:

Code:

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-generic

Then try to compile and install the driver again.

**GnuKian** · December 30th, 2012

I installed "build-essential" and "linux-headers-generic" packages. But I still get that error:

Code:

 Check old driver and unload it.
Build the module and install
make: *** /lib/modules/3.5.0-17-generic/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make[1]: *** [clean] Error 2
make: *** [clean] Error 2

**chili555** · December 30th, 2012

I wonder if the dependent linux-headers matching your running kernel are correctly installed. Please do:

Code:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall linux-headers-`uname -r`

Those backticks are on the left side of my US keyboard on the same key with ~.

Then try to re-compile r8168.

**GnuKian** · December 30th, 2012

Code:

 sudo apt-get install --reinstall linux-headers-`uname -r`

[sudo] password for kian:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 220 not upgraded.
Need to get 946 kB of archives.
After this operation, 11.2 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://ubuntu.trumpetti.atm.tut.fi/ubuntu/ quantal/main linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic amd64 3.5.0-17.28 [946 kB]
Fetched 946 kB in 51s (18.4 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic.
(Reading database ... 169034 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic (from .../linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic_3.5.0-17.28_amd64.deb) ...
Setting up linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic (3.5.0-17.28) ...

Code:

sudo update-initramfs -u && sudo sh autorun.sh

Check old driver and unload it.
rmmod r8169
Build the module and install
Backup r8169.ko
rename r8169.ko to r8169.bak
DEPMOD 3.5.0-17-generic
load module r8168
Updating initramfs. Please wait.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic
Completed.

Code:

nm-tool

NetworkManager Tool
State: connected (global)
- Device: eth0 [Wired connection 1]
Type: Wired
Driver: r8168
State: connected
Default: yes
Capabilities:
Carrier Detect: yes
Speed: 100 Mb/s
Wired Properties
Carrier: on
IPv4 Settings:
Address: 192.168.1.2
Prefix: 24 (255.255.255.0)
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DNS: 192.168.1.1

================================================

I done and it worked (:
pleaes receive my best regards, @chili555.
(It solved at last after one week!)

Just, I want to know what happened with the last command? -> linux-headers-`uname -r` vs linux-headers-generic

**chili555** · December 30th, 2012

linux-headers-generic is supposed to have as a dependency and correctly install the actual headers matching your running kernel, in your case 3.5.0-17-generic. For some reason, it doesn't always go as smoothly as it should and all the parts are not installed correctly. You verified that -generic was installed. We fixed 3.5.0-17.

Now that it's working, you might just double-check -generic:

Code:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall linux-headers-generic

Glad it's working!

**GnuKian** · January 1st, 2013

Reinstalled. thanks for the help.

Another question:
Updating from r8169 (internal driver within the kernel) to r8168 (the latest driver released by RealTek for my net card) is recommended as I done?

**chili555** · January 1st, 2013

The built-in r8169 works perfectly well for many. If it does, I wouldn't change to r8168. If it doesn't work perfectly for your card/router/modem/service provider combination, then I suggest you change the driver.

**GnuKian** · January 1st, 2013

0. How can I understand r816x is working perfectly well for mine or not?
1. Is there a way to benchmark r8169 vs r8168?

Originally Posted by chili555

If it doesn't work perfectly for your card/router/modem/service provider combination, then I suggest you change the driver.

I checked my network card here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...rkCardsRealtek

And this is my card:

Code:

lspci -vv |grep Ethernet

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)

**chili555** · January 1st, 2013

You might check here: http://fixunix.com/networking/527067...rformance.html

netperf is in the Ubuntu repositories.

Generally, if you connect, download, upload,etc. seamlessly, I'd think you're all good. Changing drivers is typically an option in the case where r8169 doesn't work at all.