Guide: Intel 82573L gigabit ethernet with Ubuntu 11.04 and fix PXE-E05
hello guys,
big post today. I’ve finally updated my Ubuntu machine to the latest version 11.04 Natty Narval…everything works out pretty well execpt for the wired ethernet controller… I’m using the
“Intel Corporation 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller”
this controller isn’t manageable via the usual Ubuntu Network Manager nor it’s listed in the output of the ifconfig and it’s status is unclaimed
$ sudo lshw -C network
*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Ethernet controller
product: 82573L Gigabit Ethernet Controller
There is no problem at all with Windows 7 or my old Ubuntu release 8.x , the card is fully working.
In the meantime I have noticed a long time recurring error (it was there for a long time before the 11.04) at the computer boot time (BIOS time), looking like a bootstrap error :
“Initializing Intel Boot Agent GE v.1.2.28 PXE-E05: LAN adapter’s configuration is corrupted or has not been initialized. The Boot Agent cannot continue.”
the linux log messages helped me a little
$ dmesg | grep e1000
[ 0.267811] pci 0000:01:00.0: reg 18 32bit mmio: [0xee100000-0xee10ffff]
[ 0.268161] pci 0000:00:01.0: bridge 32bit mmio: [0xee100000-0xee1fffff]
[ 0.346430] pci 0000:00:01.0: MEM window: 0xee100000-0xee1fffff
[ 0.346978] pci_bus 0000:01: resource 1 mem: [0xee100000-0xee1fffff]
[ 0.918428] e1000e: Intel(R) PRO/1000 Network Driver – 1.0.2-k2
[ 0.918432] e1000e: Copyright (c) 1999-2008 Intel Corporation.
[ 0.918486] e1000e 0000:02:00.0: Disabling L1 ASPM
[ 0.918510] e1000e 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[ 0.918554] e1000e 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 0.918766] e1000e 0000:02:00.0: irq 29 for MSI/MSI-X
[ 0.990779] e1000e 0000:02:00.0: PCI INT A disabled
[0.990781] e1000e 0000:05:00.0: (unregistered net_device): The NVM Checksum Is Not Valid [0.990788] e1000e: probe of 0000:02:00.0 failed with error -5
I have also been able to understand that this problem is not limited to the 82573L card but is common for a large number of intel ethernet cards (that is why you can easily understand the driver’s blacklisting in the old linux distributions) : 82563, 82566, 82567, 82571, 82572, 82573, 82574, 82577, 82578, 82579, or 82583 -based.
So what is going on ? It looks like that the nework adapter’s (82573L) EEPROM is broken, unfixed and a little messed up, (error PXE-E05) this problem creates a checksum error for the NVM (The NVM Checksum Is Not Valid) that breaks the Ubuntu driver loading therefore the eth0 alias is not created and there isn’t a manageable ethernet adapter for the Ubuntu network manger.
Windows simply doesn’t check the NVM checksum, it uses the card anyway and everything works fine.
IMHO Intel messed up a little with the 82573 controller there are too many similar errors out there, it seems it happens when there is a sudden power outage during LAN card bootime…totally nonsense !
Anyway, we need to fix this !!! As you can easily understand the idea behind this guide will work for many others Intel controllers from the same family: I’m unable to test them but it’s probably worth giving it a shot !
And here it’s the guide…it’s not as long as it seems :
We need to remove the old 82573L driver, install the updated 82573 network controller driver, create a MS DOS boot pen drive, reboot, flash the card eeprom, and reboot again (there are a lot of subguides to ease the process for newbies USE THEM)
open the terminal ( https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal )
$ sudo rmmod e1000e # unload the old driver module
$ sudo rmmod e1000 # unload the old driver module (errors are OK)
$ sudo rm /lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/e1000e/ -rf # remove old drivers (errors are OK)
$ sudo rm /lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/kernel/drivers/net/e1000/ -rf # remove old drivers (errors are OK)
download and extract to your home directory the latest intel drivers from their site ( http://bit.ly/ipbZ5W )
make sure you have installed build-essential ( http://bit.ly/yS5oW )
terminal again and cd to your home directory
$ cd # to your home directory
$ cd e1000e-1.3.17/src #to the extracted drivers directory
$ sudo make install #to install the drivers ( no errors on this side)
now we need to go to the intel site, download and extract the Intel(R) Ethernet Connections Boot Utility, Preboot images, and EFI Drivers ( http://bit.ly/jatTVE ) then prepare a MSDOS bootable pen drive and copy the extracted files we just downloaded to the pen drive.
Several ways to create a bootable MSDOS pen drive the Windows way (PREFERRED) and the Linux1 , Linux2 and Linux3 way (should I use now the saxon genitive, now ? ) choose your favorite one but always REMEMBER TO PUT THE EXTRACTED FILES TO THE PEN DRIVE.
Now go reading the important NOTE at the end of the page containing the disclaimer !
Now boot using the pendrive ( SUBGUIDE ) and assuming you’re at the command prompt:
c:\> cd bootutil #go to the bootutil directory
c:\> bootutil -defcfg #force bootutil to load the default PXE configuration into the controller
# Georgi says ” bootutil -nic=1 -defcfg” it’s better. Try if the other returns an err
after that reboot the pc, and go back to Ubuntu.
Now everything should be working fine.
DISCLAIMER: You probably need to know that the Intel(R) Ethernet Connections Boot Utility WAS NOT designed to be used with on board (also know as OEM) lan cards (is for the PCI cards) therefore there is no sure way to predict it’s interactions with others on board components like USB or SOUND controllers. I haven’t experienced any problem with my computer and I haven’t seen any negative review using Google (HP dv6000) but there is no way to be 100 %. What I can tell you is that procedure is the only way to make the cards working otherwise you need to buy a new external card. Eventually use at your own risk and patrol
As usual hope this was helpful to somebody.
backup gmail to your pc
Hi guys,
I’ve been able to see many complaints about the gmail service and it’s availability…
I mean, it’s a free service and with the super cool servers that google is using we have probably nothing to worry about.
BUT
as people is use to say we’ve better be SAFE than sorry so it could be a good idea to make a complete (but disorganized) gmail backup to our computer. We probably won’t be ever able (or requested) to roll back our backup but it will stay available on our hard disk. (is “available on” correct ?!? )
We could use POP3 and download every single message to our mail client and then save but it’s insanely long and boring, so…
there is a program Gmail Backup (http://www.gmail-backup.com/) a very nice & easy program to backup your whole gmail account ” the ultimate one-click solution for doing backups of your GMail account.”
BACK IT UP and store the file safely on your hard disk.
As usual, hope this helps someone
