Using Intel(R) Network Adapters with Linux* --
Information for Specific Linux* Distributions
==============================================

July 19, 2005

Contents
========

- SuSE* LINUX Enterprise Server 8 IA64 cause unresolved symbols
- SuSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 warning message during driver build   
- Red Hat* Linux 7.1 - Creating an RPM from tar / zipped File
- ACPI enable may cause Dual Port Pro/1000 adapters to fail
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
- Loading and unloading modules with the Linux 2.6 Kernel
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 with Intel(R) Desktop Board D915GEV
- Support


SuSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 IA64 causes unresolved symbols
=============================================================

If you get unresolved symbol errors when loading the e1000 driver, 
perform the following:

  1. cd /usr/src/linux
  2. make cloneconfig
  3. make dep

Then rebuild the driver.


SuSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 warning message during driver build
==================================================================

While building the driver on SuSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 
installations, the following warning or something similar may be 
displayed. It is safe to ignore this message. The driver will load 
and function normally.

Symbol version dump /usr/src/<kernel-version>-obj/<arch>/
<kernel flavor>/ Module.symvers is missing, modules will have 
CONFIG_MODVERSIONS disabled. 

While loading the driver, ignore the warnings in the syslog:

  linux kernel: <driver name>: no version for "struct_module" found: 
  kernel tainted.
   
  linux kernel: <driver name>: unsupported module, tainting kernel.


Red Hat Linux 7.1 - Creating an RPM from tar / zipped File
==========================================================

When trying to generate an RPM from the .tar.gz file, a segmentation 
fault (core dump) occurs. This failure occurs because Red Hat Linux 
7.1 uses version 4.0.2 of the RPM utility. This version does not have 
the ability to handle parameterized macros, which are used within the 
e100 and e1000 spec files to generate an RPM. Updating the RPM utility 
to a more current version resolves the issue. The utility can be 
obtained from http://www.rpm.org.


ACPI enable may cause Dual Port PRO/1000 Adapters to fail
=========================================================

If ACPI is turned on in the kernel, dual port adapters may not work. 
This is due to a limitation in ACPI. Currently, this affects all new 
versions of SuSE.


Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
===============================

2.1 Distribution
----------------

If there are errors while compiling the driver, do the following:

  1. Change to the kernel source directory.
  2. Perform all the required steps to build the kernel up to and 
     including make dep.
  3. Modify EXTRAVERSION in the Makefile in Red Hat kernel source 
     directory to match the version of the running kernel.
  4. Build the driver, using instructions located in the README file.

While building the driver, ignore the warning:

   /lib/modules/2.4.9-e.34/build/include/linux/rhconfig.h:31:60:
   operator '(' has no left operand

NOTE: For Red Hat's procedure for building a Linux kernel we recommend 
visiting their web site at www.redhat.com.
NOTE: This problem is resolved in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 Update 4.

2.5.50 Distribution
-------------------

In Redhat Enterprise Linux 4 (RHEL4), unplugging network cable while 
ethtool -p is running will cause sytem to become unresponsive to 
keyboard commands, except for control-alt-delete.  Restarting the 
system appears to be the only remedy.  This occurs in distributions 
later than v2.5.50. 


Loading and unloading modules with the Linux 2.6 Kernel
=======================================================

A new kernel API has been implemented within the Linux 2.6 kernel 
regarding the module reference count. This results in the e100, e1000 
and ixgb drivers  being used with a module reference count of zero. 
Consequently, our driver module can be removed from the system while 
still being used by other modules.  Until the other modules within the 
Linux stack use the new API, unintended consequences may occur with 
module removal. This may result in system hangs and/or panics.


Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 with Intel(R) Desktop Board D915GEV
==============================================================

If you install a PCI Express (PCIe) adapter in a system based on an 
Intel(R) Desktop Board D915GEV with a Linux distribution using a v2.4 
kernel (such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3), the system may panic or 
hang.  This behavior has been observed with various brands of PCIe 
adapters besides those from Intel.  This does not occur on a Linux 
distribution using a v2.6 kernel, such as Red Hat EL 4 AS or SUSE 
Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 9.  Booting with the 'noapic' kernel 
parameter should also workaround this problem for systems using a 2.4 
kernel. 


Support
=======

For general information and support, go to the Intel support website at:

  http://support.intel.com

If an issue is identified with the released source code on the supported 
kernel with a supported adapter, email the specific information related 
to the issue to linux.nics@intel.com.


Copyright and Legal Disclaimers
===============================

Copyright(c) 2005 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. 

Intel Corporation, 5200 N.E. Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6497 

Intel Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this 
document. Nor does Intel make any commitment to update the information 
contained herein. 

Intel, Itanium, and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of 
Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other 
countries. 

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
