2004.0 livecd and natsemi NIC

[schelm00]

Hi,
i have just downloaded the install-x86-universal-2004.0 iso image,
and booted it.
Problem is: he doesn't find my netgear fa 311 NIC.
It uses the natsemi module, but when i try modprobe natsemi,
i get an error, that the module isnt found.
in /lib/modules/2.4.XXX/kernel/net
are just 3 modules 8139 or so and two others...
shouldn't there be more ? is my livecd broken?
With the 2.6 smp kernel, it works.
But i don't like the 2.6 so much, because many things are quite buggy whith that one, so i would like to install it with the 2.4 kernel.
is there any way?

schelm00

[Nebukadnezar]

I tested the same live-cd (actually, the minimal version) a few days before. I also have the netgear fa 311. the 2.4 kernel, which are the 2.4.24-xfs-sources, I think, wouldn't work work with my NIC.
I didn't have to depend on my NIC to work though, so I didn't try any further.
But you seem to be able to use your NIC with the smp (symmetric multiprocessing support) kernel, so that's just fine. use that kernel to boot, establish a link to the outside world (that is, the internet) and proceed with your installation. all your need is a platform for installation, with practically only has to support your netcard and be able to run the necessary programs.
Using the 2.6 smp kernel to establish a platform doesn't mean that - once you're ready to compile your kernel, you're stuck with the 2.6 version. On the contrary, you have the full choice out of 20+ kernel variants.
Then, you configure the kernel of your choice (do it manually, refrain from using genkernel) and I think that, even though the LiveCD 2.4 kernel didn't work, there's a good chance that another 2.4 kernel might with the right settings.
Personally, I use a 2.4.25 gentoo kernel as well as different 2.6 one, all of which I haven't been able to get to work with my NIC, but the 2.4 works flawlessly.
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