Updated Realtek NIC drivers missing in PfSense 2.6.0

RK0

@jimbob-indiana

Status > System Logs > System > OS Boot

scroll down to look for the re0 and re1 interfaces

jsmiddleton4

@rk0

Have those entries. They just don't have the 197.0, 198.0, etc.

stephenw10

In the boot log. Also in the system log if you've just rebooted. Like:

re0: <Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller> port 0x1000-0x10ff mem 0xf7a00000-0xf7a00fff,0xf7900000-0xf7903fff irq 16 at device 0.0 on pci1
re0: Using Memory Mapping!
re0: Using 1 MSI-X message
re0: ASPM disabled
re0: version:1.97.00
re0: Ethernet address: 00:0d:b9:38:30:10
This product is covered by one or more of the following patents:
US6,570,884, US6,115,776, and US6,327,625.
re0: Ethernet address: 00:0d:b9:38:30:10
pcib2: <ACPI PCI-PCI bridge> irq 17 at device 5.0 on pci0
pci2: <ACPI PCI bus> on pcib2
re1: <Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller> port 0x2000-0x20ff mem 0xf7c00000-0xf7c00fff,0xf7b00000-0xf7b03fff irq 17 at device 0.0 on pci2
re1: Using Memory Mapping!
re1: Using 1 MSI-X message
re1: ASPM disabled
re1: version:1.97.00
re1: Ethernet address: 00:0d:b9:38:30:11
This product is covered by one or more of the following patents:
US6,570,884, US6,115,776, and US6,327,625.
re1: Ethernet address: 00:0d:b9:38:30:11

Gradius

@jsmiddleton4 Everything is on driver:

name:realtek-re-kmod
origin:net/realtek-re-kmod
version:198.00
comment:Kernel driver for Realtek PCIe Ethernet Controllers
maintainer:ale@FreeBSD.org

description:
Realtek PCIe FE GBE 2.5G
Gaming Ethernet Family Controller kernel driver.

This is the official driver from Realtek with a few patches to
improve stability and performance. It can be loaded instead of
the FreeBSD driver built into the GENERIC kernel if you experience
issues with it (eg. watchdog timeouts), or your card is not supported.

Supported devices:
2.5G Gigabit Ethernet: RTL8125 / RTL8125B(S)(G)

10/100/1000M Gigabit Ethernet:
RTL8111B / RTL8111C / RTL8111D / RTL8111E / RTL8111F / RTL8111G(S)
RTL8111H(S) / RTL8118(A)(S) / RTL8119i / RTL8111L / RTL8111K
RTL8168B / RTL8168E / RTL8168H
RTL8111DP / RTL8111EP / RTL8111FP
RTL8411 / RTL8411B

10/100M Fast Ethernet:
RTL8101E / RTL8102E / RTL8103E / RTL8105E / RTL8106E / RTL8107E
RTL8401 / RTL8402

See also:
https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/network-interface-controllers-10-100-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software

RK0

@jsmiddleton4

Mine read as follows in Status > System Logs > System > OS Boot (scrolling down to the relevant entries)

re1: version:1.98.00
re1: ASPM disabled
re1: Using 1 MSI-X message
re1: Using Memory Mapping!
re1: <Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller> port 0x3000-0x30ff mem 0xa1204000-0xa1204fff,0xa1200000-0xa1203fff irq 19 at device 0.0 on pci3

and

re0: version:1.98.00
re0: ASPM disabled
re0: Using 1 MSI-X message
re0: Using Memory Mapping!
re0: <Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller> port 0x4000-0x40ff mem 0xa1304000-0xa1304fff,0xa1300000-0xa1303fff irq 19 at device 0.0 on pci2

JimBob Indiana

@rk0

Thanks but I’m not getting any of that. I’m pretty sure the Realtek driver isn’t getting installed. I followed the steps…..

There’s a post I can’t find now on this forum that has the steps in an easy to follow format. Even the information on how to tell if the driver is installed. The PFSense driver will list the number of the Realtek card. Realtek’s driver lists as you indicated, Realtek PCEe Family Controller.

Mine never said that. But if it only says PCIe GBe Family that is not the 2.5gbe card. At least as far as I know that’s the 1gb card.

RK0

@jimbob-indiana

This did not work?

pkg add https://pkg.freebsd.org/FreeBSD:12:amd64/latest/All/realtek-re-kmod-198.00.pkg

...and of course, you will have to follow the instructions that should come up on screen, changing your /boot/loader.conf.local file with the entries

if_re_load="YES"
if_re_name="/boot/modules/if_re.ko"

...and then rebooting your PFSense system

I would also recommend grabbing and keeping the file https://pkg.freebsd.org/FreeBSD:12:amd64/latest/All/realtek-re-kmod-198.00.pkg somewhere safe. (You can just open that URL on a PC browser, and download the realtek-re-kmod-198.00.pkg file). Save it somewhere in case you have to rebuild your PFSense firewall. Worst case you could then transfer the file manually to your PFSense firewall and install it directly from local storage, in case it "disappears" from the URL above.

My system uses RTL8111 adapters integral to the system, and is supported by the 198 package...I can't speak for your 2.5Gb adapter however. I hope it is not one of those USB attached 2.5Gbs adapters...all bets are off if that is the case.

JimBob Indiana

@rk0 Didn’t seem to. Will try again. Not sure how I remove anything that was installed previously other than just manually remove the .ko files from modules and kernel folders.

I’m getting the OSVersion mix match error.

To ignore this error set IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes

JimBob Indiana

@rk0 NOT USB. PCIe 2.5gb 8125B.

For some reason it appears to me the driver isn’t actually loading.

stephenw10

What pfSense version are you running?

What's in your /boot/loader.conf.local file?

RK0

@jimbob-indiana

When you execute the commands, are you running under the auspices of the local admin account? If not, try doing that.

jsmiddleton4

@rk0

Am local admin.

The latest 2.7. Just updated.

I had the lines for if re, etc. I copied and pasted them to make sure I had them correct.

At this juncture I'm looking at starting over. I don't want to reinstall PFSense fresh but do want to figure out how I remove any left over realtek drivers.

stephenw10

In 2.7 it's in our repo. You just install the kmod using: pkg install realtek-re-kmod

You still need the loader lines to load it at boot.

jsmiddleton4

@stephenw10 said in Updated Realtek NIC drivers missing in PfSense 2.6.0:

pkg install realtek-re-kmod

Thanks but how do I remove any of the previous install information?

I do not have the .ko file in boot/modules or kernel. But when I run the install I'm told its already installed. Whatever I've messed up, I need to clean the information so I can start over.

stephenw10

Is there anything installed, it would have just failed to install the FreeBSD 12 package in 2.7 because it's built on FreeBSD 14.
Try running: pkg info -x realtek

jsmiddleton4

@stephenw10 said in Updated Realtek NIC drivers missing in PfSense 2.6.0:

pkg info -x realtek

realtek-re-kmod-198.00

stephenw10

So do: pkg delete realtek-re-kmod

See: https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=pkg

jsmiddleton4

@stephenw10
Thanks. Had to do the -y option as I'm doing this from the Command Prompt in the GUI.

Now: "pkg: No package(s) matching realtek"

Just to be certain I understand, all the other stuff found about how to install the driver, not talking about the loader lines, is no longer necessary. I just run "pkg install realtek-re-kmod"

jsmiddleton4

@stephenw10

In poking around, I think it is one of your posts, the line about loading the module not necessary? It is automatically, or by default, found anyway?

I did the delete command.
Booted.
Everything gone.
Tried your simple command for pkg install. It wants to install 1.97.
Did the longer command line, had to tell it to ignore the OS, and it installed.

I swear earlier I left the "12" in the command line, did not change it to "14" because when trying 14 nothing was found.

Now 12 doesn't work, need 14 but get the OSVersion ?

stephenw10

If you just use the driver in our repo you can just 'pkg install' it directly. Currently that's 1.97:

[2.7.0-DEVELOPMENT][admin@cedev.stevew.lan]/root: pkg search realtek
realtek-re-kmod-197.00         Kernel driver for Realtek PCIe Ethernet Controllers

You still have to add the loader lines, installing the pkg doesn't do that for you.

Steve