So my ethernet port on my laptop doesn’t want to work in linux. Why?
Killer networking.
My model is an MSI GS63VR. Yes I tried to sell it. Yes I still have it. Regrettably. But possibly its better to try and make use of the machine than to ignore it.
But anyways, I have a USB C port and 20 bucks so I got an adapter to hopefully fix this issue. I figured it’d be cool to use thunderbolt for something, and I don’t even use the port rn anyways. Thing is, it doesn’t seem to get detected.
So how does this work? Does the adapter take internal ethernet and use that, or does it have its own chipset? If most of these have their own chipset, what company does Belkin usually buy from? I just bought the basic 25 dollar black belkin adapter at best buy.
I thought I’d plug it in and it’d just work but apparently not. It doesn’t show up in the TB manager in gnome, in the networking hardware list, nor in connections. So, its not getting detected. But I know the port works because my backup drive boots up and moves data just fine.
Does it show up with lsusb? If it does then at least you know the device is functioning enough to give you some info. lsusb should show an ID code you can look up online and possibly get the chip info to search for the drivers. You can run it once w/o it plugged in and then plug it in and run again to figure out which one is which.
As much as I don’t like Killer networking chipsets, your mileage is going to vary much more with USB as not all ethernet adapter makers design them for durability/thermal factors so they either fall apart or slowly overheat/experience BGA solder fractures. The last time I used a USB ethernet adapter for desktop usage as a 2nd NIC, it would overheat and routing performance would degrade.
Most OSes it’ll just be listed as a 2nd ethernet adapter, if there isn’t a cable attached it’ll remain inactive. Since you’re using it on a system with its own NIC, you’ll need to move the RealTek to preferred connection once the driver is installed.
As far as the RTL8153, I think its fairly recent that many distros don’t include the driver by default–hmm, tested a ethernet USB-C hub and it uses the same chipset.
Ok so I went out and found the RTL8153 source and built it and installed it but it just wants to say that its r8152 and it doesn’t connect. Hell the damn thing even pops up in the networking menu in gnome.