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Debian can't recognize network adapter [SOLVED]

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Swedish_newbie
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Debian can't recognize network adapter [SOLVED]

#1 Post by Swedish_newbie »

I really, really hope that someone can help me with this annoying problem.
Earlier today i installed latest Debian (buster) on a Dell PowerEdge 2900 server.

The installation went rather well, except for the network adapter.
Debian can't find/recognize it, and i don't know what to do.
I've tried almost all day.

Is there a easy way to download the drivers on a usb stick and just install them somehow?
I'm hoping that there are someone out there who has the solution.
Last edited by Swedish_newbie on 2019-07-19 07:50, edited 1 time in total.

theblueplll
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#2 Post by theblueplll »

What did you do to configure it?

Have you tried

Code: Select all

/sbin/ifconfig -a
or with root you can just use

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ifconfig -a
or

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sudo ifconfig -a
Replying the output of either of those would help figure out your problem.

If it shows up with that command and it doesn't have an IP address or an odd one it means the firmware is installed(or the kernel recognizes it) and something is configured wrong.

If it doesn't show you either have worse problems or are missing some frimware.

This is as far as I dare answer for now because there could be other things to do that I am not familiar enough with and don't want to cause you to mess thigns up worse.

Swedish_newbie
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#3 Post by Swedish_newbie »

I just tried under the installation of Debian, but the installer couldn't recognize it, i tried 3 times.
I'm gonna try the commands you suggested, but it have to wait until tomorrow.

I'm rather new to Debian (or linux in general). :oops:

Deb-fan
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#4 Post by Deb-fan »

See things like that. Helps to provide more information. Of course without going overboard with it. Should be a matter of identifying the component, track down the driver and yeah you can install whatever packages with apt or "dpkg -i" etc.

Might also consider adding contrib and non-free to your sources.list if needed/wanted.
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sunrat
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#5 Post by sunrat »

Run this command to see if an ethernet controller is shown:

Code: Select all

lscpi
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shep
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#6 Post by shep »

According to a pdf spec sheet (easy to web search) the embedded NIC is a Broadcom netXtremeII 5708
https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all- ... _en-us.pdf

If you verify, with one of the methods provided by previous posts, you will need to install bnx2 firmware. This is closed source firmware and non-free will have to be set up in /etc/apt/sources.list. There are plenty of examples on howto enable non-free you can find on web search. It will not work without the firmware.

https://packages.debian.org/buster/firmware-bnx2

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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#7 Post by stevepusser »

you can manually download the firmware deb file on another machine and transfer it over on a USB stick, then install it with "dpkg -i <filename>" as root or with sudo. The download link is at the bottom of this page: https://packages.debian.org/buster/firmware-bnx2
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Swedish_newbie
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#8 Post by Swedish_newbie »

stevepusser wrote:you can manually download the firmware deb file on another machine and transfer it over on a USB stick, then install it with "dpkg -i <filename>" as root or with sudo. The download link is at the bottom of this page: https://packages.debian.org/buster/firmware-bnx2
Thank you so much!
It was easier then i thought.

Now the server is connected to the internet. :D
Last edited by Swedish_newbie on 2019-07-19 17:42, edited 1 time in total.

shep
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter [SOLVED]

#9 Post by shep »

Networking firmware is becoming so prevalent, particularly with wireless and Gigabyte NIC's, that it is worthwhile to use the non-free installer images with the firmware.

theblueplll
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Re: Debian can't recognize network adapter - please help

#10 Post by theblueplll »

sunrat wrote:Run this command to see if an ethernet controller is shown:

Code: Select all

lscpi
Yes I wasn't thinking about that good idea.

Althought

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ifconfig -a
is a nice quick first step in my opinion.
shep wrote:Networking firmware is becoming so prevalent, particularly with wireless and Gigabyte NIC's, that it is worthwhile to use the non-free installer images with the firmware.
Annots me though.
Firmware is the only thing on my machines that isn't open source and I don't have a choice :shock: .

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