Ethernet Problem On Xubuntu Running on a Compaq Presario

[szupie 0]

I have a really old (7+ years) Campaq Presario 1700. Since I stopped using it a long time ago, I decided to turn it into a server. I wanted to install an OS that is stable, has low system requirements, and has some GUI (I'm not an expert of CLI, but I know a little bit). I finally decided to use Xubuntu.

I successfully installed Xubuntu, but there was one major problem: I could not use my ethernet port (I think it's Conexant, but I'm not sure). When I opened up Applications > System > Network, only the 56k modem showed up.

Here's the output when I enter ifconfig in the terminal:

Link encap:Local Loopback  		  inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0		  UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1		  RX packets:28 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0		  TX packets:28 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0		  collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 		  RX bytes:1848 (1.8 KiB)  TX bytes:1848 (1.8 KiB)

And the output for lspci -v:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03)        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64        Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]        Capabilities: <access denied>00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 96        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=64        I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff        Memory behind bridge: f4100000-f5ffffff        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 18000000-180fffff00:07.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 000:07.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01) (prog-if 80 [Master])        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64        [virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]        [virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]        [virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=8]        [virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=1]        I/O ports at 1050 [size=16]00:07.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 5        I/O ports at 1060 [size=32]00:07.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 900:08.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 01)        Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Unknown device b103        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 9        Memory at 18100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=176        Memory window 0: 10000000-13fff000 (prefetchable)        Memory window 1: 14000000-17fff000        I/O window 0: 00001800-000018ff        I/O window 1: 00001c00-00001cff        16-bit legacy interface ports at 000100:09.0 Communication controller: Conexant HSF 56k Data/Fax Modem (rev 01)        Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Bear        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 9        Memory at f4000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]        I/O ports at 1080 [size=8]        Capabilities: <access denied>00:0a.0 Multimedia audio controller: ESS Technology ES1988 Allegro-1 (rev 12)        Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Unknown device 002e        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 5        I/O ports at 1400 [size=256]        Capabilities: <access denied>01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x (rev 64) (prog-if 00 [VGA])        Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation Unknown device b18b        Flags: bus master, stepping, medium devsel, latency 66, IRQ 10        Memory at f5000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]        I/O ports at 2000 [size=256]        Memory at f4100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]        [virtual] Expansion ROM at 18000000 [disabled] [size=128K]        Capabilities: <access denied>

I don't even know if Xubuntu knows my ethernet exists. How do I fix this problem? Is there a better OS that I should use for the purpose?

[develCuy 0]

If You stopped using your computer long time ago, maybe your nic(Ethernet Interface) was harmed or accidentally umplugged. Try cleaning the cover of your nic with a white eraser or isopropilic alcohol. I'm sure that you can get another PCI nic if you can't fix the one you have. Xubuntu have a very compatible Linux Kernel but maybe you need Debian becuase keeps the tradition to support old machines.Blessings!

Edited May 22, 2007 by develCuy (see edit history)

[szupie 0]

I had a little... um, a lot of trouble opening my computer up. I couldn't get to the NIC. Is there any other way to check if it is functional?Is Debian CPU intensive? Xubuntu is already running pretty slow on my laptop, so you can see how much it sucks. And is it a good, stable choice for a server?I'm also considering FreeBSD, but I don't know its hardware requirements.

[murtahg 0]

I dont know about a compaq 1700, but my Compaq Presario V200 has a Broad Com 802.11 wireless adapter in it and when it stoped working on me I figured out how to fix it:(1)immediatelly after turning on the laptop, press the F10 key(sometimes I press it reapetedly so that the laptop registers it, remember, its just starting up)(2)Computers BIOS settings will open in a blue screen(3)Click the advanced tab(4)Go down to WLAN adapter (5)Click enter(6)Enable the adapter(7)Go to the Exit Tab(8)Click Exit And Save Changes*These directions may be alittle different because of the model year*Hope this can help, I hated when that happend to me -Murtahg