Onboard SiS900 Ethernet Interface probing fails (No MII transceivers found)

[FinAck]

Fresh install of Intrepid here.
Not sure which package is causing the problem.

I have internet access through my DLink Atheros PCI wireless card using WPA without issue. What I'm trying to do is at the same time use my onboard/built-in SiS900 Fast Ethernet port to plug into a 4 port switch which my Win Vista box is plugged into. I want to assign a static eth address and Xfer files back and forth through the switch because trying to Xfer files between computers over wireless is dog slow. So that's what I'm trying to accomplish.

I'm no pro but this looks to be a SiS900 driver/module issue.

uname -a
Linux bigsky-desktop 2.6.27-7-generic #1 SMP Tue Nov 4 19:33:20 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 8.10
Release: 8.10

dmseg.txt attached
Here's the relevant info from dmesg that tells me this is probably a driver issue.

dmesg | less #---Some interesting stuff in here. No MII transceivers found, Error probing MII device.
[ 3.921128] sis900.c: v1.08.10 Apr. 2 2006
[ 3.982562] libata version 3.00 loaded.

[ 4.124950] hub 3-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 4.124967] hub 3-0:1.0: 2 ports detected
[ 4.229072] uhci_hcd 0000:00:1d.2: PCI INT C -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
[ 4.229089] uhci_hcd 0000:00:1d.2: setting latency timer to 64
[ 4.229095] uhci_hcd 0000:00:1d.2: UHCI Host Controller
[ 4.229159] uhci_hcd 0000:00:1d.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 4
[ 4.229203] uhci_hcd 0000:00:1d.2: irq 18, io base 0x0000ec00
[ 4.229461] usb usb4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

[ 4.229513] hub 4-0:1.0: USB hub found
[ 4.229531] hub 4-0:1.0: 2 ports detected
[ 4.332685] sis900 0000:03:07.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
[ 4.347585] 0000:03:07.0: No MII transceivers found!
[ 4.347590] 0000:03:07.0: Error probing MII device.
[ 4.355739] ata_piix 0000:00:1f.1: version 2.12
[ 4.355763] ata_piix 0000:00:1f.1: PCI INT A -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
[ 4.355842] ata_piix 0000:00:1f.1: setting latency timer to 64

 sudo lshw -C Network
  *-network:0
       description: Wireless interface
       product: Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter
       vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:03:02.0
       logical name: wifi0
       version: 01
       serial: 00:0d:88:ed:c6:01
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list logical ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath_pci ip=192.168.0.5 latency=168 maxlatency=28 mingnt=10 module=ath_pci multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11g
  *-network:1 UNCLAIMED
       description: Ethernet controller
       product: SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet
       vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
       physical id: 7
       bus info: pci@0000:03:07.0
       version: 02
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=32 maxlatency=11 mingnt=52

No mac/serial number assigned???? IS Network:1 considered "eth1"

sudo lspci -vvnn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE/PE DRAM Controller/Host-Hub Interface [8086:2560] (rev 03)
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Region 0: Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
 Capabilities: [e4] Vendor Specific Information <?>
 Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
 Kernel modules: intel-agp

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device [8086:2562] (rev 03)
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device [8086:2562]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
 Region 0: Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
 Region 1: Memory at dff80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
 Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 1
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Kernel modules: intelfb

00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:24c2] (rev 02)
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24c0]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
 Region 4: I/O ports at e400 [size=32]
 Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
 Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:24c4] (rev 02)
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24c0]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 19
 Region 4: I/O ports at e800 [size=32]
 Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
 Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:24c7] (rev 02)
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24c0]
 Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 18
 Region 4: I/O ports at ec00 [size=32]
 Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
 Kernel modules: uhci-hcd

00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:24cd] (rev 02) (prog-if 20)
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24c0]
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 23
 Region 0: Memory at dff7bc00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
 Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=0080
 Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
 Kernel modules: ehci-hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge [8086:244e] (rev 82)
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR+ INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=32
 I/O behind bridge: 0000c000-0000cfff
 Memory behind bridge: dfd00000-dfdfffff
 Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 30000000-300fffff
 Secondary status: 66MHz- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- <SERR- <PERR-
 BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA+ VGA- MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
  PriDiscTmr- SecDiscTmr- DiscTmrStat- DiscTmrSERREn-
 Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL (ICH4/ICH4-L) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:24c0] (rev 02)
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle+ MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Kernel modules: intel-rng, iTCO_wdt

00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801DB (ICH4) IDE Controller [8086:24cb] (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
 Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24c0]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 18
 Region 0: I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
 Region 1: I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
 Region 2: I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
 Region 3: I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
 Region 4: I/O ports at fc00 [size=16]
 Region 5: Memory at 30100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
 Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
 Kernel modules: ata_piix

00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller [0401]: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller [8086:24c5] (rev 02)
 Subsystem: C-Media Electronics Inc Device [13f6:0300]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 17
 Region 0: I/O ports at e000 [size=256]
 Region 1: I/O ports at dc00 [size=64]
 Region 2: Memory at dff7ba00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
 Region 3: Memory at dff7b900 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
 Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Kernel driver in use: Intel ICH
 Kernel modules: snd-intel8x0

03:02.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter [168c:0013] (rev 01)
 Subsystem: D-Link System Inc Device [1186:3a14]
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 168 (2500ns min, 7000ns max), Cache Line Size: 32 bytes
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 22
 Region 0: Memory at dfdf0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
 Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=2 PME-
 Kernel driver in use: ath_pci
 Kernel modules: ath_pci

03:07.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet [1039:0900] (rev 02)
 Subsystem: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet [1039:0900]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 32 (13000ns min, 2750ns max)
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 18
 Region 0: I/O ports at cc00 [size=256]
 Region 1: Memory at dfdef000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
 Expansion ROM at 30000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
 Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 1
  Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
  Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
 Kernel modules: sis900

sudo ifconfig -v
ath0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:0d:88:ed:c6:01
          inet addr:192.168.0.5 Bcast:192.168.0.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
          RX packets:3795 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:4028 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:3099517 (3.0 MB) TX bytes:676561 (676.5 KB)

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
          RX packets:246 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:246 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:15416 (15.4 KB) TX bytes:15416 (15.4 KB)

wifi0 Link encap:UNSPEC HWaddr 00-0D-88-ED-C6-01-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
          RX packets:111715 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:18093
          TX packets:6016 errors:15 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:199
          RX bytes:13476748 (13.4 MB) TX bytes:985277 (985.2 KB)
          Interrupt:22

Unable to configure eth interfaces because I keep being told "no such device found".
bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ sudo ifconfig eth0 down
eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ sudo ifconfig eth1 down
eth1: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ sudo ifconfig eth1 up
eth1: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device
bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ sudo ifconfig eth0 up
eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device

bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
 * Reconfiguring network interfaces... Ignoring unknown interface ath0=ath0.

No idea why it says that. My ath0 interface is managed by the Network manager gui and works fine. Doesn't appear to matter if I supply /etc/network/interfaces file with info or not because I never get one in the first place.

bigsky@bigsky-desktop:~$ cat /etc/network/interfaces
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0 #Changing to eth1 has no affect because I never get an eth device to work with
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.10.2
gateway 192.168.10.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.10.0
broadcast 192.168.10.255

I've deleted both IPV6 and BlueTooth startup apps in the "Sessions" gui.
Also blacklisted them so they don't load up at all in /etc/modules.d/blacklist

I'm at a loss as what to do next. I'm all ears. Thanks for anyhelp.

[FinAck (fin-ack)]

I'm new to Ubuntu. Did I file this bug report out correctly or with enough info? If not, where else should I be reporting bugs?
Just wondering because I haven't had anyone respond yet. I'm not saying I think this needs attention right away because I have internet access which is all anyone really needs. ;) And If I wanted to I could just go buy a nic card. But I would like to dig into this and find a resolution so that if others happen to have the same problem they will get the help they need.

**UPDATE**
I ran the 8.10 Installer LiveCD on another computer at a clients site today to show off Ubuntu and this computer also had an OnBoard SiS900 FastEthernet Chipset. I was able to configure that one just fine. I believe it had a different REV# though.

Is it possible to update the SiS900 drivers using a Live Windows type CD or should I just try manually updating the drivers through Ubuntu. I'm a little unclear on how to do this but I will definitely research what the diff's are between lspci -vvnn on the desktop pc where the SiS900 drivers worked.

Ubuntu has come a long ways. Thanks for everyones support. It's been a real treat. I can see Ubuntu becoming a real threat to MS's market share not to long down the road. Hopefully I'll be a certified Ubuntu engineer by then.. heh

[Mr. Mike (mike-himikeb)]

I found this because I was search for "no MII transceivers", but my problem is slightly different.

I have the same SiS900 onboard card, in lspci -vvnn, it shows the same vendor/product code [1039:0900] followed by "(rev 90)".

The card works find on first boot, but after a suspend/resume cycle, I get the "no MII transceivers found" error in dmesg and the card does not work. rmmod sis900/modprobe sis900 do not bring it back.. it requires a reboot.

Not sure if this helps any, maybe the driver is properly initializing the card? In FinAck's case, on first boot, but in my case, after resume?

[kernel-janitor (kernel-janitor)]

Hi FinAck,

This bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic .

If it remains an issue, could you run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux 296045

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

This bug report was marked as Incomplete and has not had any updated comments for quite some time. As a result this bug is being closed. Please reopen if this is still an issue in the current Ubuntu release http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . Also, please be sure to provide any requested information that may have been missing. To reopen the bug, click on the current status under the Status column and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]