HOWTO_Fix_network_device

Can't find your eth0? And it does appear on the LiveCD? This guide will help you find an ethernet device.

The procedure

Boot normally and run ifconfig -a if eth0 is not listed at all, your kernel module is not loaded.

Proceed as follows:

1. Boot the liveCD and check that networking works. Now run lsmod. Write down or print a list of the module names that are listed. One of them is your ethernet module.
2. Once again, boot normally and run lsmod
3. cross off the list any modules that appear. You don't have an eth0 so nome of these modules provided it.
4. For every module not crossed off the list do:
   • modprobe <module_name>
   • ifconfig -a
   • When eth0 appears, you have discovered your module.
5. Add the module to the list to be loaded at boot with

nano -w /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6

Put the name you used in modprobe on a line on its own at the end of the file, save and exit. Bring up networking with the command

/etc/init.d/net.eth0 restart

if it works you are done, it will work after a reboot. If net.eth0 is not there, read the gentoo handbook.

If your ethernet device is an Ethernet over Firewire device proceed as follows. If it is not, your problems should be fixed by now. Delete the eth1394 module from the kernel modules tree. In future, when you build kernels, ensure that Ethernet over firewire is not selected in make menuconfig - no need to do that just now. run the command

modprobe -l | grep eth1394

to find the file eth1394.ko and remove it with

rm /path/to/eth1394.ko

Reboot. Your real Ethernet will be eth0 and if your /etc/conf.d/net is correct, eth0 will get an IP.