Okay, I’m a complete amateur when it comes to Linux, but I’m looking to learn and need to have a system running to learn (obviously). I downloaded and installed mandrake 10.1, as it seemed the most user friendly for new users. However despite getting it installed and running, the NIC won’t start and so therefore I can't get on the network or the internet. I have a K7VTA motherboard and use the on bored network device. Linux auto detects it and chooses the Via Rhine II fast driver, and every time fails to start. Sorry if this is a little vague, and if there is anymore info I can give that might help let me know how to find it out and i will. Any assistance you can offer will be much appreciated, thanks all.

Hi,

I have the same problem with an Asus A7V8X-MX board.
It seems that somehow mandrake fails to load the via-rhine module at boot.

You would have to 'reinstall' the card with the Mandrake control centre every session.
This is not what you want. I hev found a very ugly workaround for the moment.
Edit the /etc/init.d/network file and add the line:
modprobe -v via-rhine as the first command:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
#! /bin/bash
#
# network Bring up/down networking
#
# chkconfig: 2345 10 90
# description: Activates/Deactivates all network interfaces configured to \
# start at boot time.
# probe: false
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: $network
### END INIT INFO

#Nico
modprobe -v via-rhine

# Source function library.
. /etc/init.d/functions

(...........)

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

It seems to work for the moment, but remember this is a workaround

Regards,

Nico

I have found a better way also.
simply put the string 'via=rhine' as one line in /etc/modprobe.preload

Regards,
Nico

Sorry,

the string must be 'via-rhine' the name of the module to be loaded