Realtek NIC 8139 Network Interface Card

Problem: Realtek 8139 integrated NIC does not work with many switches by default, but works with some. Connecting to another switch model or connecting a hub between computer and the switch often fixes the problem. It is used in many computers, such as Acer Travelmate 220 laptop.

$ sudo mii-tool eth0 --force=10baseT-HD

Works also with 10baseT-FD (full duplex, better). Does not work with 100baseTx-HD.

Tested with Ubuntu 5.10 preview. Tero 2005-10-09t2339

I used this method before I got it working with mii-tool. I document this for historical reasons only, use the one-line solution above if you just want it to work.

Fix for Realtek RTL-8139 Network Interface Card on Fedora Core 3

$ su -
# ifconfig eth0 down
# rmmod 8139too
# insmod 8139too media=0x01
insmod: can't read '8139too': No such file or directory
# locate 8139too
# insmod /lib/modules/2.6.9-1.667/kernel/drivers/net/8139too.ko media=0x01

See also: Fix first published by Marco Castellani on http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1679

It works. Tested with Fedora Core 3 and Acer Travelmate on 2005-03-09.

To make Realtek RTL8139 work Windows XP with all switches, set “Network Connections”: “Local Area Connection”: Properties: Realtek RTL8139... “Configure...”: Advanced: “Link Speed / Duplex Mode”: “10 Half Mode”.

If ZoneAlarm firewall is installed, it ask a permission for “Generic Host Process” to access the internet. After this, the network configured itself. Tested and works 2005-10-31 Tero.