[RESOLVED] Atheros Communications Inc. AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet --unable to compile alx module

[jameslast]

Dear All,

I'm working on a new Dell Vostro 3460.
It has a Atheros Communications Inc. AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet carc that I cannot get to work.

There's no enty in /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net-rules or in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts for wired network.

The laptop has Centos6.3 fully updated, lspci -v shows :

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 10)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0562
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11
Memory at d0400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
I/O ports at 2000 [size=128]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [c0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/16 Maskable+ 64bit+
Capabilities: [d8] MSI-X: Enable- Count=16 Masked-
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [180] Device Serial Number ff-4c-ed-51-5c-f9-dd-ff

I found a CentOs6 post here : http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/atheros-not-working-905849/
that mentions a sollution by installing the AR81Family. I cannot find that.
I did install atl1e.i686 from ATRpms, that did not wake up eth0

Several posts point me to this site : http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/networking/alx

I install thet tarball found here both to /tmp and /opt, but cannot get it compiled !.

I untarred it .
Next I run #./scripts/driver-select alx

Then I cannot get past make. EM :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[root@ndehauwere compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p]# make
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.i686/build M=/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p modules
make[1]: Map '/usr/src/kernels/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.i686' wordt binnengegaan
CC [M] /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/compat/main.o
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:53,
vanuit :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.33.h:58:1: let op: "IFF_DONT_BRIDGE" opnieuw gedefinieerd
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit include/linux/netdevice.h:28,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.29.h:5,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:49,
vanuit :0:
include/linux/if.h:83:1: let op: dit is de locatie van de eerdere definitie
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:53,
vanuit :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.33.h:62:1: let op: "NETDEV_POST_INIT" opnieuw gedefinieerd
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit include/linux/memory_hotplug.h:6,
vanuit include/linux/mmzone.h:690,
vanuit include/linux/gfp.h:4,
vanuit include/linux/kmod.h:22,
vanuit include/linux/module.h:13,
vanuit include/linux/textsearch.h:7,
vanuit include/linux/skbuff.h:27,
vanuit include/linux/if_ether.h:126,
vanuit include/linux/netdevice.h:29,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.29.h:5,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:49,
vanuit :0:
include/linux/notifier.h:210:1: let op: dit is de locatie van de eerdere definitie
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:54,
vanuit :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.34.h:247:1: let op: "sysfs_bin_attr_init" opnieuw gedefinieerd
In bestand ingevoegd vanuit include/linux/kobject.h:21,
vanuit include/linux/module.h:16,
vanuit include/linux/textsearch.h:7,
vanuit include/linux/skbuff.h:27,
vanuit include/linux/if_ether.h:126,
vanuit include/linux/netdevice.h:29,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.29.h:5,
vanuit /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:49,
vanuit :0:
include/linux/sysfs.h:94:1: let op: dit is de locatie van de eerdere definitie
In file included from /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:55,
from :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.35.h:27: fout: static declaration of ?irq_set_affinity_hint? follows non-static declaration
include/linux/interrupt.h:218: note: previous declaration of ?irq_set_affinity_hint? was here
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.35.h:50: fout: redefinition of ?usb_pipe_endpoint?
include/linux/usb.h:1599: note: previous definition of ?usb_pipe_endpoint? was here
In file included from /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:56,
from :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.36.h:102: fout: redefinition of ?no_printk?
include/linux/kernel.h:341: note: previous definition of ?no_printk? was here
In file included from /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:61,
from :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-3.1.h:11: fout: redefinition of ?__netdev_alloc_skb_ip_align?
include/linux/skbuff.h:1572: note: previous definition of ?__netdev_alloc_skb_ip_align? was here
In file included from /opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-2.6.h:62,
from :0:
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-3.2.h:19: fout: redefinition of ?skb_frag_page?
include/linux/skbuff.h:1612: note: previous definition of ?skb_frag_page? was here
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-3.2.h:35: fout: redefinition of ?skb_frag_dma_map?
include/linux/skbuff.h:1729: note: previous definition of ?skb_frag_dma_map? was here
/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/include/linux/compat-3.2.h:46: fout: redefinition of ?skb_frag_size?
include/linux/skbuff.h:148: note: previous definition of ?skb_frag_size? was here
make[3]: *** [/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/compat/main.o] Fout 1
make[2]: *** [/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p/compat] Fout 2
make[1]: *** [_module_/opt/compat/compat-wireless-2012-05-10-p] Fout 2
make[1]: Map '/usr/src/kernels/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.i686' wordt verlaten
make: *** [modules] Fout 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

part of the EM is in Dutch, sorry for that.

Before running "make" it installed gcc, kernel-headers.

Can anyone help met get the alx kernel module or at least get past the make command?

Help would be greatly appreciated.

greetings, James

[toracat]

You need to provide the [vendor:device] ID pair to find the right driver for your NIC:

[code]
lspci -nn | grep -i net
[/code]

Then check it against ELRepo's [url=http://elrepo.org/tiki/DeviceIDs]DeviceID[/url] page.

If you indeed need compat-wireless, ELRepo has the kmod [url=http://elrepo.org/tiki/kmod-compat-wireless]compat-wireless[/url].

[jameslast]

hello Toracat,

thank you for the reply.

I found a sollution 10 minutes ago here :

http://elrepo.org/bugs/view.php?id=306

saying the package found at linuxfoundation.org cannot be compiled on CentOs6 and providing another package.

Indeed I compiled it loaded it with :

#insmod alx.ko

and I have eth0 . I'm very relieved.
and I'm now looking at how to insert the alx module permantently ( after reboot )

so ALMOST solved.

greetings, J.

[NedSlider]

For the alx driver for AR8161/AR8162, please see here:

http://elrepo.org/bugs/view.php?id=306

Eventually this driver will make it into the upstream kernel (at kernel.org) and we will be able to backport it.

EDIT: I see you already found it :-)

[toracat]

[quote]
jameslast wrote:

and I'm now looking at how to insert the alx module permantently ( after reboot )
[/quote]
Look in this [url=https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/docs/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/Deployment_Guide/sec-Persistent_Module_Loading.html]doc[/url] about the use of /etc/sysconfig/modules .

[jameslast]

Hello Toracat,

thanks again for the reply and the advise.

This works !

So these are all the steps I made :

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*verify ethernet controller in use :

#lspci -v

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 10)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0562
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 33
Memory at d0400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
I/O ports at 2000 [size=128]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [c0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/16 Maskable+ 64bit+
Capabilities: [d8] MSI-X: Enable- Count=16 Masked-
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [180] Device Serial Number ff-4c-ed-51-5c-f9-dd-ff

* download .rar file here : http://www.touslesdrivers.com/index.php?v_page=23&v_code=34178&v_langue=en

* yum --enablerepo=rpmforge install unrar

*unrar -e *****.rar

------> replace Makefile : No

* # yum groupinstall "kernel-devel"

*#make

*cp -r /path-to-downloaded-rar/alx.ko /lib/modules/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.i686/kernel/net/wired

*add "alx.ko" to /lib/modules/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.i686/modules.networking

* #depmod -a

*vi /etc/sysconfig/modules/alx.modules

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/sh

if [ ! -c /dev/input/alx.ko ] ; then
exec /sbin/modprobe alx >/dev/null 2>&1
fi

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* #modprobe alx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm happy this new laptop works with CentOs - so I don't have to send him back to Dell !

greetings to All,

James

[toracat]

Great hear you've got it working. I have marked the thread [RESOLVED] for posterity.

[centguy]

I have this problem after downloading alx-linux-v2.0.0.6.rar:

make -C ./src/ install
make: *** ./src/: No such file or directory. Stop.
make: *** [install] Error 2

The full sequence is :

[quote]
[user@2nd-centos61-dell compile-alx]$ unrar e ../alx-linux-v2.0.0.6.rar

UNRAR 4.20 beta 3 freeware Copyright (c) 1993-2012 Alexander Roshal


Extracting from ../alx-linux-v2.0.0.6.rar

Extracting alc_hw.c OK
Extracting alf_hw.c OK
Extracting Makefile OK
Extracting alx_compat_ethtool.c OK
Extracting alf_hw.h OK
Extracting alf_cb.c OK
Extracting alc_hw.h OK
Extracting alx_compat.c OK
Extracting alx_param.c OK
Extracting alx_compat.h OK
Extracting alx_ethtool.c OK
Extracting alx_hwcom.h OK
Extracting alx_sw.h OK
Extracting alc_cb.c OK
Extracting alx.h OK
Extracting alx_main.c OK
Extracting alx.7 OK
Extracting alx.spec OK
Extracting copying OK
Extracting dkms.conf OK
Extracting ldistrib.txt OK

Makefile already exists. Overwrite it ?
[Y]es, [N]o, [A]ll, n[E]ver, [R]ename, [Q]uit Y

Extracting Makefile OK
Extracting pci.updates OK
Extracting readme OK
Extracting release_note.txt OK
All OK
[user@2nd-centos61-dell compile-alx]$ ls
alc_cb.c alf_hw.h alx_ethtool.c alx.spec Makefile
alc_hw.c alx.7 alx.h alx_sw.h pci.updates
alc_hw.h alx_compat.c alx_hwcom.h copying readme
alf_cb.c alx_compat_ethtool.c alx_main.c dkms.conf release_note.txt
alf_hw.c alx_compat.h alx_param.c ldistrib.txt


[user@2nd-centos61-dell compile-alx]$ make install
make -C ./src/ install
make: *** ./src/: No such file or directory. Stop.
make: *** [install] Error 2

[/quote]

[centguy]

Well, now I finally understand the yum install is to install unrar, ... which is not essential part of the instructions.

Now, my Ethernet controller is :

(manually typed here because that is from the laptop that has a Atheros controller)

lspci -nn | grep -i net
02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR8161 Gigabit Ethernet [1969:1091] (rev 08)

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4727] (rev 01)


This is the first time I am facing a problem of not being able to connect to the internet to download network drivers !
Both the Ethernet as well as wireless are not working.

What should be the best course of action to solve this problem. I hit a chicken and egg problem:

I need internet to install drivers, but then my computer has not drivers for the internet connectivity..

Right now I am relying on thumbdrive to transfer files.. I am not sure if the I have all the tools to build/compile the drivers on the new computer.

[centguy]

Question: Can I download a prebuild rpm and install alx with the least of pain ?