Ethernet Controllers
Contents
Internal Ethernet controller
A variety of Ethernet controllers is integrated into almost all models starting with the introduction of the A, T and X series.
The Ethernet controller is located on either a MiniPCI card, Communications Daughter Card (CDC), or integrated on the systemboard.
3COM Fast Ethernet (10/100)
MiniPCI cards featuring this chip:
Intel Fast Ethernet (10/100)
CDC and MiniPCI cards featuring this chip:
- Ethernet Daughter Card (EDC)
- Intel 10/100 Ethernet Mini-PCI Adapter with 56K Modem
- Intel PRO/100 SP Mobile Combo Adapter
- Mini-PCI Ethernet card
- Xircom 10/100 EtherJet Mini PCI Adapter with 56K Modem
In addition, this chip is integrated into select systemboards of the following machines:
Intel 82550GY
Intel 82558
Intel 82562ET
Intel 82562EZ
Driver: e100
Intel Gigabit (10/100/1000)
Chipset: Intel PRO/1000 MT Mobile Ethernet
Driver: e1000
This chip is integrated into select systemboards of the following machines:
Intel 82540EP
Intel 82541GI
Intel 82573L (PCI-Express)
- T60, T60p
- X60, X60s
- Note: known to freeze the whole system on Ubuntu 8.10 when used with the e1000 driver, while e1000e driver does not recognize the adapter - see https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/226906/
Intel 82566MM (PCI-Express) (w/ Intel Active Management Technology (AMT))
- T61, T61p, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
Intel 82567LM (PCI-Express) (w/ Intel Active Management Technology (AMT))
Note: DO NOT(!!!) use the "irqpoll" boot parameter. This causes the network card to lose it's irq, and makes any stability of the network connection impossible.
Note: There is a known issue with the e1000, t60/t60p and the 2.6.17 kernel. It is unconfirmed if this issue effects other configurations.
Note: This chip supports Auto-MDIX, meaning you will never need a crossover ethernet cable.
Note: The first signs of explicit support for this chip in 2.6 kernels is with 2.6.12-rc2.
Note: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (2.4 kernel based) begins 82573L support with Update 7.
Note: Some users report issues: Problem_with_e1000:_EEPROM_Checksum_Is_Not_Valid. This issue stands behind the symptom, that the intel controller 82573L will only work, if a network cable is attached at boot time (seen at X60 running with ubuntu).
Note: Some users have reported latency problems with e1000 driver. It seems, that switching off Interupt Throttle Rate (ITR) helps.
Note: Additional configuration options from Intel
Note: Another possibility is to use "RxIntDelay=5".
Note: How to repair a destroyed eeprom because of the e1000 Kernel bug (Kernel 2.6.27) -> link PXE-E05
For Gentoo users - compile e1000 as a kernel module and add 'options e1000 InterruptThrottleRate=0,0' to /etc/modules.d/e1000
I had serious performance problems on Ubuntu Edgy (ca. 400 kb/s File transfer rate). I compiled version e1000-7.3.20 from http://sourceforge.net/projects/e1000/ and this solved my problem. All other hints above did not improve the file transfer performance (they did improve the ping latency) for me.
Broadcom Fast Ethernet (10/100)
This chip is integrated into select systemboards of the following machines:
Broadcom BCM5901
Broadcom BCM5751F
Broadcom Gigabit (10/100/1000)
This chip is integrated into select systemboards of the following machines:
Broadcom BCM5752M
Broadcom BCM5751M
Note: There are some problems with the driver since kernel 2.6.17 (at least on a Z61p, Z61m). After an ifdown && ifup it doesn't work anymore. A possible workaround is to build the tg3-driver as a module and reload it when this problem occours. (Adding pre-up modprobe tg3 and post-down rmmod tg3 to the corresponding section in /etc/network/interfaces works fine.) Rebooting the machine would also be possible. This is fixed in kernel 2.6.19-rc5.
The T43 with a stock Linux 2.6.18.1 kernel does not have any problems.
