TG3 Ethernet Driver on 2010 MacMini

[Alan Ayres]

1) Installed TurnKey Linux 11.2 Moodle (Based on Ubuntu 10.04) on a 2010 MacMini
2) Discovered Ethernet not detected due to no driver
3) Retrieved appropriate Broadcom NetXtreme ServerTG3 driver and discovered that I was unable to build within TurnKey (Seems like logical security precaution)
4) Compiled driver via Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD and transferred folder to TurnKey installation per the regular Ubuntu forums for Ubuntu 10.04 on 2010 MacMini.
5) Rebooted into TurnKey Linux 11.2 Moodle and installed my freshly compiled network driver.
6) Rebooted, Power off, Moved server, and networking still working.
7) Experienced power outage and Ethernet no longer detected
8) Verified hardware was working and that this is definitely a software issue.
9) Reinstalled Ethernet driver and it would not detect
10) Recompiled driver under Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD and repeated original installation method.
11) Ethernet still won't detect.

My original kernel folder was 2.6.33-generic. Since the original build, I noticed a 2.6.35-generic folder as well. I tried installing the driver for this and it didn't work either.

[ct2193 (ct2193)]

Given that the MacMini now has no network ability, several options are completely out. Considering security precautions, installing developer tools on a production machine is also not advised.

In the past, I have never encountered normal system updates that completely dumped manually installed drivers. Not sure if I got lucky or what, but I've updated the kernel before without recompile requirements. Not sure what the problem is. I suspect the fact that it's a Broadcom chipset doesn't help. It's the TG3 driver, so at least it's the popular one for Broadcom.

I had hoped I would see other responses by now too.

Neither Ubuntu nor TurnKey have responded to me either.

Considering that TurnKey is based on the most recent LTS and auto-updates, I find things like this complete BS.

Any ideas?

[Jeremy Davis (jedmeister)]

If the default Ubuntu 10.04 live CD works ok OOTB then I suspect that there is some firmware that is available from the standard repos that will solve your issues.

Perhaps try loading the live CD, see what module is loaded for your ethernet, then find which package contains that module and manually download it and install to your appliance with dpkg.

[Alan Ayres (adayres)]

Ethernet does not exist on the Live CD either. I was however able to successfully use the Live CD to compile the driver. That driver was then used on the base install of TurnKey Linux 11.2 Moodle (based on Ubuntu 10.04).

  _____

From: JedMeister [mailto:<email address hidden>]
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:10:21 -0600
Subject: [Bug 901322] Re: TG3 Ethernet Driver on 2010 MacMini

If the default Ubuntu 10.04 live CD works ok OOTB then I suspect that
  there is some firmware that is available from the standard repos that
  will solve your issues.

  Perhaps try loading the live CD, see what module is loaded for your
  ethernet, then find which package contains that module and manually
  download it and install to your appliance with dpkg.

  --
  You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
  report.
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/901322

  Title:
    TG3 Ethernet Driver on 2010 MacMini

  Status in TurnKey Linux:
    New

  Bug description:
    1) Installed TurnKey Linux 11.2 Moodle (Based on Ubuntu 10.04) on a 2010 MacMini
    2) Discovered Ethernet not detected due to no driver
    3) Retrieved appropriate Broadcom NetXtreme ServerTG3 driver and discovered that I was unable to build within TurnKey (Seems like logical security precaution)
    4) Compiled driver via Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD and transferred folder to TurnKey installation per the regular Ubuntu forums for Ubuntu 10.04 on 2010 MacMini.
    5) Rebooted into TurnKey Linux 11.2 Moodle and installed my freshly compiled network driver.
    6) Rebooted, Power off, Moved server, and networking still working.
    7) Experienced power outage and Ethernet no longer detected
    8) Verified hardware was working and that this is definitely a software issue.
    9) Reinstalled Ethernet driver and it would not detect
    10) Recompiled driver under Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD and repeated original installation method.
    11) Ethernet still won't detect.

    My original kernel folder was 2.6.33-generic. Since the original
    build, I noticed a 2.6.35-generic folder as well. I tried installing
    the driver for this and it didn't work either.

  To manage notifications about this bug go to:
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/turnkeylinux/+bug/901322/+subscriptions

[Jeremy Davis (jedmeister)]

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought that the LiveCD worked OOTB.

Non-standard drivers is not something I have had a lot of experience with so I can't be much help. And IIRC when I have used self-compiled drivers they've had to be recompiled for every kernel update. I've never had that issue of them just stopping after a power failure with nothing else changing. I'd be inclined to double check that the module is loaded. Perhaps because of the power failure the module isn't reloading? (file corruption?) If you have tried everything you can think of (which it sounds you have) then I'd be inclined to search/post on the Ubuntu forums (TKL v11.x is basically Ubuntu 10.04 under the hood).

One other thing, it may be worth checking if there is a newer firmware package that contains drivers for your hardware in the repos (eg Oneric) then you may be able to manually install it successfully. I have successfully installed and used Oneric firmware packages in another Ubuntu 10.04 based distro for wifi drivers and they seem to work fine (although I was also using a custom newer kernel too so it may not work in this instance).

[Jeremy Davis (jedmeister)]

I have changed the status of this bug as it applies to v11.x. Now that v12.0 has been rebased on Debian, hopefully it is no longer an issue. If someone finds that it is still an issue, then please target v12.x and change this bug back to "New".

Thanks