What if core uses r8168/r8169 nic?

[nosebreaker]

I have a MD that seems to need the modified r8168 driver, but I am pretty sure my core is using the un-modified r8168 nic driver.  Is it possible to get net-boot to work like this?

[Dale_K]

If your core driver is "unmodified" then it's using the r8169 driver.  Part of the modification is changing the r8169.ko to remove the 8168 reference so you can install the r8168 driver.  You will also modify driver information in the diskless image folder for that specific MD, not the entire system in general.

If your core is working and you have NOT done the 8168 modifications then the nic chipset in your core is not one of the r8168 chipsets that require the modification so you don't have to worry about it.  Making the r8168 driver change for an MD that does need it, should have no affect on your Core's NIC driver.

[colinjones]

Another way of saying this is, you can either create a modified r8168/9.ko for the core, OR the MD, OR both. Once you have compiled it, you can replace it in the core's directory structure or the disless image's directory structure or both depending on what you are trying to do. As Dale says, if you have not mod'd the module then you are not using that chipset on the core and so it doesn't matter if you change the core's version as that module isn't being used anyway.