Failure to configure wired connection with Realtek 8111E on board LAN controller.

[Juan R. de Silva]

On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:57:14 -0400, Ric Moore wrote:

> On Sun, 2011-04-10 at 23:33 +0000, Juan R. de Silva wrote:
>> On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:16:02 +0000, Juan R. de Silva wrote:
>> 
>> > I'm trying to test my new desktop system for compatibility before
>> > installing anything on it. The system has ASUS P8P67 LGA1155 Sandy
>> > Bridge B3 Motherboard with Realtec 8111E Gigabit LAN controller on
>> > board.
>> > 
>> > I've tried Ubuntu 9.10 and 10.10 LiveCDs. Neither of them cannot
>> > configure wired network connection automatically. Tried to google and
>> > from what I read, it seems this controller is supposed to be
>> > supported by latest kernels and to work out of box.
>> > 
>> > The problem is I cannot even be sure whether I have a faulty
>> > controller or I am misinterpreted some info and this controller
>> > requires some additional work to be done to make it connected.
>> > 
>> > Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>> 
>> Sorry, I've forgotten an important detail. The new system has Intel
>> Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge
>> 6MB. It's a 64 bit CPU. Thus all LiveCDs mentioned in my first post
>> were AMD64 LiveCDs.
>> 
>> Could it be a problem?
> 
> OK, correct me if I'm wrong. You have a brand new system with no OS on
> it yet? No windows partition to test the network with first? 

Correct. I do have a brand new system with no OS on it yet, no Widnows 
partition to test the network. And this is exactly what the problem is.

Boy, I was not planning to buy a Windows 7 license for only this reason.

> If only Ubuntu, the very first bit of networking is when it sets your
> clock, after you provide your time-zone / location. Is that when it 
> fails??

I've not tried to install but rather run it in LiveCD env.  Ubuntu showed 
the time correctly but it could picked it up fro the BIOS. You see I set 
the time in my BIOS before trying anything manually.

I could try to change the BIOS setting to see if Ubuntu would correct it. 
I doubt however, since Ubuntu starts in "disconnected" mode. 

> If so, reboot, go into your bios to make sure that the on-board network
> device is enabled. Reboot, try again. 

It is enabled.

> If still no go, got it plugged in to something like a hub or your cable 
> modem or whatever and it's turned on? If what you're connecting to
> ain't right, there is no network. 

Right now the system is plugged into my router, where my old system was 
plugged previously and my laptop is plugged currently into it as well. 
And the router shows the network present. At least this one good sign 
here. :-)

OK, I can try to plug it directly into a cable modem instead. I'll do it 
now.

> LED's flash? You can hope it'll be something simple like that.  

The controller LED's do flash.

> Or, maybe the part IS faulty. That would be MOBO problem, since it's on-
> board.

This is exactly what I am concerned with. And there is no way for me to 
test it since I do not have a Windows 64 bit CD. My old XP CD rightfully 
refused to install. To make it happen I'll have to make a lot of changes 
to BIOS and to make a number of downloads from ASUS.

That's a lot of work just to test.

In case it is hardware I even cannot to talk to my dealer unless I'll 
show that this is Windows that fails to connect. You know what would be 
the answer, if I come with the Linux failing to do so. :-(((

Thanks