Suse 12.3 3.7.10-1.28-desktop no driver for Atheros AR8161

[strolchi]

I updated Suse 12.3, where I got the new kernel 3.7.10-1.28-desktop .
Now the network (LAN) doesn't work anymore :
There is no driver for Atheros AR8161 :
I'm missing the driver alx.
For 3.7.10-1.1-desktop I used compat-wireless, this doesn't work anymore for the new kernel.

[wolfi323]

I updated Suse 12.3, where I got the new kernel 3.7.10-1.28-desktop .
Now the network (LAN) doesn't work anymore :
There is no driver for Atheros AR8161 :
I'm missing the driver alx.
For 3.7.10-1.1-desktop I used compat-wireless, this doesn't work anymore for the new kernel.

I see the following options:

• The package you are looking for is called compat-drivers now (it has been renamed upstream). It is available here: http://software.opensuse.org/package...rs-kmp-desktop
• You could install the latest stable kernel, this does include the alx driver:
  http://download.opensuse.org/reposit...able/standard/
• The alx driver is included already in the 3.11 kernel from openSUSE 13.1 as well, so just upgrading to 13.1 would be an option, too.

[strolchi]

Unfortunately compat-drivers doesn't contain alx and it installs to the old kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop .

[wolfi323]

it installs to the old kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop .

That shouldn't matter.
openSUSE kmp packages are built in a way that they only install to one particular kernel directory, and create links to all other installed kernels.

But if this doesn't contain the driver you need, you would either have to compile it yourself, or use a newer kernel that includes the alx driver.
I'm not aware of a package for 12.3's kernel that contains alx.

AFAICS this driver was added in 3.11, so you would need to compile the drivers from 3.11 or higher:
https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/ker...kports/stable/

See here for instructions:
https://backports.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Main_Page

Or just install a newer kernel/upgrade to 13.1 as already suggested.

[strolchi]

I tried the backport backports-3.14-1.tar.gz, without success :
1. Problem :
make menuconfig
/usr/lib64/gcc/x86_64-suse-linux/4.7/../../../../x86_64-suse-linux/bin/ld: /lib64/libncursesw.so.5: undefined reference to symbol 'acs_map'

Then I edited kconfig/Makefile : I added -ltinfo to LDFLAGS, then make menuconfig worked.

2. Problem :
make
backport-include/linux/fs.h:26:29: error: redefinition of ‘file_inode’

[wolfi323]

I tried the backport backports-3.14-1.tar.gz, without success :
1. Problem :
make menuconfig
/usr/lib64/gcc/x86_64-suse-linux/4.7/../../../../x86_64-suse-linux/bin/ld: /lib64/libncursesw.so.5: undefined reference to symbol 'acs_map'

Then I edited kconfig/Makefile : I added -ltinfo to LDFLAGS, then make menuconfig worked.

You could have used oldconfig, that would have taken the config of your current kernel.
I suppose this would not need ncurses...

2. Problem :
make
backport-include/linux/fs.h:26:29: error: redefinition of ‘file_inode’

No idea. Maybe try a different verison?
Could be the reason why no newer package than that 3.10.0rc version exists for 12.3...

But I guess the easiest thing to try would be the to install the latest kernel as already suggested.
You don't even need to add that repo, just download the kernel rpm and install it with "rpm -i" or by just opening it in a filemanager.

With the default settings on 12.3 you would even keep the older 3.7.10 kernel, you can select it in the boot menu (in "Advanced Options" if you are using YaST) if you experience problems with the new kernel.

[strolchi]

I upgraded from 12.3 to 13.1 : Now it works !