If you’re running an older distribution of Linux or you just find that the kernel module is unavailable because your RealTek RTL series PCI-Express Ethernet card is just too new, then you’ll need to install the driver manually.

====Prerequisites:====
binutils and a 2.6 kernel (or 2.4.20 and later).

====Download the driver.====

http://www.realtek.com/downloads/

Unpack the tarball :

$ tar vjxf r8101-1.aaa.bb.tar.bz2

Change to the directory:

$ cd r8101-1.aaa.bb

While running the target kernel:

$ sudo ./autorun.sh

Check the see if the driver is loaded:commands.

$ /sbin/lsmod | grep r8101

If it is, you should be able to access the interface:

$ /sbin/ifconfig -a

Bring the interface up:

$ sudo /sbin/ifconfig ethX 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.0.0 up

This should work (at a minimum) for the following chipsets.
RTL8100E
RTL8101E
RTL8102E-GR
RTL8103E(L)
RTL8102E(L)
RTL8101E
RTL8103T
RTL8401
RTL8401P
RTL8105E

Posted on May 11th, by admica in howto, networking.

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driver ethernet Linux PCI-Express RealTek RTL8101EL RTL8102E RTL8103E