The procedure to activate rtl8139 on linux is as follows: step 1: ftp the driver from ftp://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/linux/drivers/rtl8139.c step 2: compile: The instruction for compiling the driver is include at the end of the driver file. (run this instruction at /usr/src/linux) step 3: insert the driver as module: insmod rtl8139.o parameter can be added by adding options=..... behind the istrruction 0x16(bit 4):full duplex bit 0-3 :default port (run 'lsmod' to see if the module is inserted) step 4: bind your card to an IP address /sbin/ifconfig eth0 ${IPADDR} broadcast ${BROADCAST} netmask ${NETMASK} (run 'netstat -i' to see if there is a interface 'ne0') step 5: add your card to IP routing table, then add gateway also your card: /sbin/route add -net ${NETWORK} netmask ${NETMASK} eth0 (should be able to ping local network now) gateway: /sbin/route add default gw ${GATEWAY} netmask 0.0.0.0 metric 1 step 6: start inet deamon. /usr/sbin/inetd (you are on the network now) *make sure that your kernel is built with network, fast_ethernet and module support. Otherwise, you have to rebuild your kernel. (1:go to /usr/src/linux directory 2:run 'make menuconfig' or 'make config' 3:mark the options list above. 4:exit and rebuild your kernel. make dep;make clean;make zImage the file 'zImage' will be at /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/zImage 5:modify /etc/lilo.conf.(this file specify where kernel image is) 6:run 'lilo' ) You cna run 'netconfig' which will do step 4,5,6 for you. This will create '/etc/rc.d/inet1' and 'inet2' files. These two files will run at boot time. Then just add a line at the beginning of 'inet1'. 'insmod /your driver'path/rtl8139.o' then your driver will work every time you boot.