Linux – How to install network adapter in Linux (CentOS 5)

Just use a command like: ethtool eth0 to get the needed info. Ex:

$ sudo ethtool eth0 | grep Speed

Speed: 1000Mb/s

So, the 'devXXXXX' interface was generated whenever I plugged in the Apple USB Ethernet adapter (and went away when unplugged), but it changed, so I don't expect it to have the same device name after a reboot. (Not to mention I couldn't get an IP to stick to it when configuring using system-config-network-tui.)

When plugging the Apple USB Ethernet adapter in, I got the following in /var/log/messages:

Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel: usb 1-6: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel: usb 1-6: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel: ASIX USB Ethernet Adapter:v4.1.0 17:04:38 Sep 20 2011
Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel:     http://www.asix.com.tw
Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel: eth%d: status ep1in, 8 bytes period 11
Sep 21 13:40:15 hostname kernel: eth1: register 'asix' at usb-0000:00:1d.7-6, ASIX AX88772A USB 2.0 Ethernet, ffff8100769819a8M

I did find a line reading alias eth1 skge in /etc/modprobe.conf (for that odd eth1 interface that is not anything and never shows up as connected) and commented it out (esp. since /var/logs/messages show the log registering asix as eth1). After doing so, giving eth1 a static IP using system-config-network-tui, and disconnected & reconnecting the Apple USB Ethernet adapter, it now always shows up as eth1 and with the correct ethernet address. I can also ping hosts on that subnet, so this is working.

The main issue appears to have been the conflict between the hard-coded alias and the asix module trying to register as the same name.

One additional note: It seems to change the default route to the Apple USB Ethernet adapter whenever it's plugged in, so you have to be sure to check that & adjust, if necessary.