Broadcom NetXtreme driver for Fedora Core 5?

Question

I have a PowerEdge SC440 that came with Windows server installed.  We put Fedora Core 5 on the box to do some testing with linux.  We had a problem with the video which we got past.  But now I cannot get the nic card to work.  I tried going to the broadcom site and pulling down rpm driver updates but it gives me an error when I try to run install them.  Dell does not list a linux driver for the SC440 so it appears it is not supported.  Anybody have any luck with this?    I'm a newbie with linux so when I dont know how to do my own build of a driver.  Just hoping for an RPM that I can use.  Anybody have any suggestions?  Thanks.

joe.brandt · Answer

@mbellegia wrote: I have a PowerEdge SC440 that came with Windows server installed. We put Fedora Core 5 on the box to do some testing with linux. We had a problem with the video which we got past. But now I cannot get the nic card to work. I tried going to the broadcom site and pulling down rpm driver updates but it gives me an error when I try to run install them. Dell does not list a linux driver for the SC440 so it appears it is not supported. Anybody have any luck with this? I'm a newbie with linux so when I dont know how to do my own build of a driver. Just hoping for an RPM that I can use. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks. I am in the same boat. Ubuntu recognizes it but Suse does not. Ubuntu is a pita to set up as a server though. I will probably just put in a 3com nic and be done with it. Please keep me posted on your progress. Hint: For Linux especially, forums are your friend.

mbellegia · Answer

Contacted Dell Tech Support.  They were very helpful but still couldn't get it to work.  .  Anyway, the tech tried to help me even though I was asking for support on a non supported OS.  He sent me linux drivers for the nic card that came with the system - Broadcom TG3 rpm.  These installed OK but did not get card to work either.   Found an old 3com 3c905b nic in the garage and thought I'd give it a try.  Dusted it off, popped it in and it worked like a champ.  Good ol 3com, this card is probably 10 years old!

joe.brandt · Answer

Newer is not always better, especially for linux.

joe.brandt · Answer

I got mine to work by downloading the tg3 module from Broadcom. I used an external usb floppy and put it on the server. I had to install gcc and make to compile it. Made it loaded it and installed it. Kind of a pain but it works. Am thinking of putting another nic in to separate internal and external services.

PowerEdge Hardware General

Broadcom NetXtreme driver for Fedora Core 5?

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