Applied ZCM1033 Sep11 IDU but still no NIC when PXE boot :(

Question

I've got this notebook with Atheros AR8151 GE NIC - which was meant to use an updated driver (atl1e) included in ZENworks Imaging Driver Update for September 2011 ( ZCM10.3.3 ). I have tested it last year as usual by booting from the CD first ( as I didn't want to apply the update straight away ) - I did insmod, modprobe etc. to enable eth0 on the client and could ping the server ( and in fact used it to save / upload images ).
Now I've applied this update to the server ( replaced four files as per doco ) but DHCP fails when PXE booting on those notebooks, it does not pick up eth0. When I get to bash prompt and go through the whole insmod .. ifconfig eth0 up process manually it works ( I can ping the server ). So I guess that indicates I've got an updated driver afer all but it would not load automagically ?
I have just tried another notebook - exact same model ( same LAN controller ) but a slightly newer batch ( yeah, that happens when you buy Acer ) and PXE works on those. The only difference that I can see is LAN controller revision (?) - basically, the line when PXE starts "For Atheros PCIE Ethernet Controller v2.0.2.3" as oppose to "v2.0.1.7" on those where it doesn't work ( unless I load it manually ).
So I am wondering now .. what can I do now to get "batch 1" of those to work, as obviously the driver can handle the NIC but fails to load ?

Answer 1

I was wondering that, too but the only firmware updates I can see are for the BIOS ( and BIOS is up to date already ). So you reckon it may be possible to update the actual LAN controller firmware ? My understanding was that would be the hardware itself that is different, so whatever firmware it comes with cannot be upgraded. Meanwhile, it looks like I am not the only one : http://forums.novell.com/novell/nove...g-drivers.html
The thing is the driver does load and works if I do this manually ( booted off the CD from that same ZCM IDU ) and I have used imaging that way. I just need to work out why it does not work as a part of PXE boot process in ZCM. Maybe I should try loading the driver with some parameters, whatever they might be.
Originally Posted by ukdtom
Firmware upgrade of the Nic.....Looks like a bug.
So try for a start and go to the vendor website, and check is a new
firmware is avail...
If not, then contact the vendor
Tommy Mikkelsen
IT Quality A/S, Denmark
Novell Support Forums SYSOP / NKP
Sorry, but no support through email
Please join Suspended Domain
atrofimov wrote:
>
> I've got this notebook with Atheros AR8151 GE NIC
> The only difference that I can see
> is LAN controller revision (?) - basically, the line when PXE starts
> "For Atheros PCIE Ethernet Controller v2.0.2.3" as oppose to
> "v2.0.1.7" on those where it doesn't work ( unless I load it manually
> ).
>
> So I am wondering now .. what can I do now to get "batch 1" of those
> to work, as obviously the driver can handle the NIC but fails to load
> ?