Installing external kernel modules

[tabanus]

I'm troubleshooting a networking problem, and want to try building my network card's kernel module separately.

The NIC is a Realtek RTL8111/8168. The kernel I'm using (3.7.10) doesn't list this in menuconfig. I've always used the driver for RTL8169 which until now has been OK, but I'm getting intermittent connectivity problems.

I've downloaded the driver from Realtek's website.

So, is it just a matter of untaring it, then 'make && make install' from a terminal in the directory that I untared it into, or do I have to do anything else to build and install it?

I know I have to deal with module loading as well, but I know what I'm doing with that.

Thanks
_________________
Things you might say if you never took Physics: "I'm overweight even though I don't overeat." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

[kurly]

Not really the answer to the question you were asking, but the r8168 driver is in portage as net-misc/r8168.

[tabanus]

[verchiel]

I am using the same network card and the builtin driver didn't work for me so I had to build the module from the portage tree (r8168). I am now using the 3.8.6-geek kernel and the r8169 builtin driver works fine though.

Just in case you need some hints: http://www.gentoo-wiki.info/Realtek_RTL8168 and https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-885802.html

Cheers
Dan

[tabanus]