I've recently been through a frustrating experience trying to get my internet to work on different Linux distributions. I started with Fedora and then tried installing Arch Linux, but the internet cut out completely during the installation process. I decided to go back to Fedora to see if the internet would work, but it didn't. After that, I tried Linux Mint, and that failed as well. The only time I was able to get internet functioning again was when I reinstalled Windows 11. This isn't the first time I've faced this; I had issues with Ubuntu a few years back that made me switch back to Windows. I'm using an Ethernet connection with a Realtek GbE gaming controller. Am I just cursed with internet problems on Linux?
4 Answers
First, you should check if your network card is being recognized on Linux. Boot up your Linux distro and run the command `lspci` to see if your network card shows up and what driver it's using. Sometimes, just updating the drivers can resolve a lot of connectivity issues!
If you’re really struggling, consider moving to a Linux distro that focuses on ease of use and has more comprehensive driver support by default. Something like Ubuntu Mate could be a good middle ground!
It sounds like there might be issues with the Realtek driver. Realtek GbE controllers like the RTL8111 or RTL8168 often require specific drivers to work well on Linux. You can usually download the r8168 or r8125 driver directly from Realtek’s website. To install, extract the files and run `sudo ./autorun.sh` in the terminal. If you're using a distro like Ubuntu or Mint, installing the `r8168-dkms` package can help prevent connectivity issues after updates. It’s worth a shot!
That’s good advice! I read that some users had success by blacklisting the default r8169 driver and switching to the proprietary one.
Make sure you're using the latest daily build of your distros! Sometimes, the current versions of kernels have updates that can improve hardware compatibility, including better support for drivers.
I ran the command, and it does show up, but Fedora labels it as "limited connectivity." I'm trying Debian now to see if that helps.