Linux Drivers

[Grimm Spector]

Something I've noticed about the fancier NIC cards, particularly anything faster than 1 gigabit is that the Linux drivers available for them are often only for a single distro of Linux. Not having used anything Linux in ... well let's just go with over a decade, I don't know how divergent it's become, and how possible/impossible getting such drivers to work on another distribution might be. Any input and experience anyone would like to contribute would be great. Thanks!

[paddy-stone]

I haven't experienced anything faster than 1 gigabit, but from trying lots of distros this year, can honestly say that most if not all of the ones I have tested this year have not had to use additional drivers. Could be because of the intel NIC though, have noticed that it does tend to have way more "on OS" support.

I know that probably wasn't much help to you, if any... just wanted to give my 2 cents FWIW.

[Grimm Spector]

1 minute ago, paddy-stone said:

I haven't experienced anything faster than 1 gigabit, but from trying lots of distros this year, can honestly say that most if not all of the ones I have tested this year have not had to use additional drivers. Could be because of the intel NIC though, have noticed that it does tend to have way more "on OS" support.

I know that probably wasn't much help to you, if any... just wanted to give my 2 cents FWIW.

Yea, Intel is widely supported, most of the drivers are likely with the kernel or available packages for most builds I'd imagine. I don't know if the days of just rebuilding a driver for your kernel and it probably working are long gone. I want to experiment with some of this stuff, but finding one at the low price points seems dubious these days. Though I think I found an old LC fibre model, maybe I'll give that a whirl instead of a DAC variety. Shouldn't make much difference...if I can get a functioning driver.