kernel network drivers vs module network drivers

[Mike Grommet]

Thanks for the great information... I was able to compile the SiS 900 driver
into the kernel, so it wasn't as big of a deal for me...

Still, being able to have FAI load modules on boot sounds like a really
great feature...


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ludwig Schwardt" <schwardt at dsp.sun.ac.za>
To: <linux-fai at uni-koeln.de>
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: kernel network drivers vs module network drivers


> Hi,
>
> On Sun, 3 Aug 2003, Mike Grommet wrote:
>
> > well, as I plod further into this adventure, I've discovered that the
machines I'm using
> > for clustering have built in SiS network cards, which have a kernel
module for their
> > use..
>
> I had exactly this problem with the NVidia nForce2 computers we are using.
It
> only has a proprietary closed-source kernel module for the NVidia onboard
NIC.
> In other words, it cannot be built into the kernel. I solved it by
patching
> make-fai-bootfloppy to support initrd, allowing you to preload any network
> kernel module beforehand. It grew a bit out of hand, since I also added
the
> option to override DHCP settings by manually configuring the network
interface
> during bootup (useful when the sysadmin hasn't updated the DHCP server
yet, or
> for once-offs like home computers).
>
> If you haven't bought new network cards yet and this could still help,
I'll be
> glad to send the scripts along (or for anyone else that could use it). I
must
> just make sure what it depends on at the moment (I hacked busybox a bit
too...)
>
> > d) if so, can anyone suggest decent cheapies?  Cost is definately a
factor
>
> I'm happy with the RTL8139 chipset - that's our cheapie network card of
choice.
> And yes, cost matters to me too. Why buy a grand network card with PXE
etc. if
> you can get a great value-for-money board like the nForce2 ones? Well, if
you
> can live with the drivers...
>
> Ludwig Schwardt
> DSP Lab
> University of Stellenbosch
> South Africa
>