I've been having some serious internet issues ever since I tried switching to different Linux distros. I started with Fedora, which I had daily driven, but then I installed Arch Linux and ran into problems right away – the internet just wouldn't work during the installation. I decided to go back to Fedora to see if the internet would work there, but it didn't. I also tried Linux Mint, and that was a bust too! The only way I could get internet access was by reinstalling Windows 11 and returning to my old setup. This isn't the first time I've faced this issue; years ago, I switched to Ubuntu but ended up back on Windows because of the same connectivity problems. I'm using ethernet with a Realtek gbe gaming controller. What am I doing wrong? Am I cursed or is there a solution?
3 Answers
It sounds like your Realtek controller might need a specific driver to work properly on Linux. Many Realtek GbE controllers, like the RTL8111 or RTL8168, work with Linux but can encounter issues. You might want to try installing the proprietary r8168 or r8125 driver instead of relying on the default driver. You can get these drivers from Realtek's website; just download and run the setup using `sudo ./autorun.sh`, or you can find the r8168-dkms package for easier installation through your package manager. This might help reduce connectivity issues you're facing!
You might want to consider using the latest daily builds of some more popular distros like Ubuntu Mate. Sometimes newer versions have resolved the performance issues you’re experiencing. It's worth a shot, and it could potentially fix your internet issues right off the bat.
First, check if your network card is being detected by running the `lspci` command in the terminal. This will show you if the chip model is recognized and which driver (if any) is being loaded. If it's detected as 'limited connectivity,' it points to driver issues more often than not. If you’re still having problems, make sure you have the right drivers installed, as your controller might need proprietary ones. Don't lose hope, it should be fixable!
Thanks for the tip! I'm currently testing out Debian to see if it behaves differently. Might just switch back to it if it works!
That sounds promising! I’ll give it a shot. Thanks for the detailed explanation!