<![CDATA[Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2]]>Context: various recent devices on the consumer market require network drivers which are not present in XCP-ng 8.2.

Based on the work made with @Andrew for XCP-ng 8.3, I've finally found some time to backport the drivers to XCP-ng 8.2.

The following optional driver packages will soon be updated on the default repositories:

  • igc-module (backported from kernel 5.10.150): adds support for Intel I225/I226.
  • intel-e1000e-alt (updated to 3.8.7): adds support for Intel I219-V.
  • r8125-module (updated to 9.010.01) for RealTek r8125. Quoting @Andrew:

    Note: This 8125 driver has SG/TSO, PTP, RSS enabled by default.
    Note: This 8125 driver has (optional) firmware loading enabled. Please manually download the rtl8125 firmware and install in XCP in /usr/lib/firmware/rtl_nic .
    Note: The 8125 Chipset/PCI-E card/driver has been known to cause system problems and crashes (not an XCP problem).

These are Additional packages, which means only best effort support is provided for them.

Update (2023-05-03): packages now moved to the xcp-ng-updates repository, which means they can be installed with a simple yum install name_of_package, without the need for extra parameters.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/topic/7199/drivers-for-recent-homelab-nics-in-xcp-ng-8-2RSS for NodeThu, 08 Oct 2026 00:56:22 GMTWed, 12 Apr 2023 10:35:03 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:04:48 GMT]]>@bigdweeb Yes.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68666https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68666Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:04:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:05:03 GMT]]>@stormi any chance of adding Realtek r8156? I started working on it a while go but couldn't quite get it to work.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68662https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68662Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:05:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Tue, 19 Dec 2023 21:49:49 GMT]]>Hi. Maybe usefull or not.
On my XCP-ng [8.2] host i already got an RTL8125 2.5Gb network adapter running, The second nic in the host.
I do not know exactly how i got it running, but involved this forum and some console action. It was detected 'side-289-eth1' this was months ago in february i think. My first try with XCP-ng.

last week updated XCP-ng on my host en rebooted.
Now it seems to have been detected again and setup as eth1.
But 'side-289-eth1' is also still there. Same mac-address
No UTP plugged in at the moment.
Maybe just for my host, but perhaps behaviour that others encounter?

xcp-ng-nic1.jpg

xcp-ng-nic2.jpg

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68612https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68612Tue, 19 Dec 2023 21:49:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:25:37 GMT]]>@wilsonqanda For those that see this thread in the future the 8.3b work with the RTL cards and I see 2.5G speed. Been running on this since the start of XCP-ng 8.3b release and it work great. Move on from 8.2LTS as at the time I used it 8.2LTS didn't support it.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68132https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68132Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:25:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:35:52 GMT]]>Refreshed installation ISOs for XCP-ng 8.2.1, with added drivers and other fixes, are available for public testing at https://xcp-ng.org/forum/topic/8026/xcp-ng-8-2-1-refreshed-installation-iso-better-hardware-support.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68123https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/68123Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:35:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:02:44 GMT]]>@stormi

I'll be testing the r8125 drivers.

  • Able to install r8125-module-9.012.03-1.xcpng8.2.x86_64
  • Able to reboot host and have Dom0 networking.
  • Speed negotiated to 1000Mb/s. I don't have any 2.5G switches so can't test that.
  • VM (Fedora Server 36) able to get an IP on untagged network
    • VM able to ping Internet IP (1.1.1.1)
    • VM able to ping internet DNS (xcp-ng.org)
  • Changed to other network (VLAN 10 - my "Guest" Network)
    • Able to get IP from DHCP
    • Able to ping internet IP (1.1.1.1)
    • Able to ping internet DNS (xcp-ng.org)
  • Able to migrate VM to host
]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/67620https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/67620Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:02:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:16:12 GMT]]>So, @Andrew contributed new updates for the igc-module and r8125-module drivers (other drivers being in the process of being reviewed and/or updated).

These version of the igc and r8125 drivers are intended to be the ones we ship in the upcoming refreshed installation ISOs for XCP-ng 8.2.1.

If you have actual hardware which makes use of these drivers, on XCP-ng 8.2.1, please update them from the xcp-ng-testing repository and report here about your successes and, if any, failures.

Stay also ready to test the refreshed installation ISOs once they will be built.

IGC

yum update igc-module --enablerepo=xcp-ng-testing
reboot

R8125

yum update r8125-module --enablerepo=xcp-ng-testing
reboot
]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/67614https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/67614Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:16:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:19:51 GMT]]>@lkernan Ahh ic let me double check. Thanks hopefully that is the case.

Ok the linked partner was the issue. Thanks for clarifying that issue makes total sense now πŸ™‚

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64873https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64873Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:19:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:02:22 GMT]]>@wilsonqanda
It's saying Link partner advertised link modes 10 and 100baseT. I'd check what the other end of the cable is plugged into.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64872https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64872Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:02:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sun, 20 Aug 2023 23:26:14 GMT]]>8.3 beta is definitely a huge improvement as in 8.2 LTS it didn't even detect the RTL card lol πŸ™‚
Interesting it seem like some are getting the 1Gb/s for the RTL8125 (should be 2.5Gb/s) my for some reason is stuck at 100Mb/s

Running on XCP-ng 8.3 beta

Issue: running on 100Mb/s instead of 2.5Gb/s 😞

a91b53fa-16a0-4243-a8cb-563a097724a7-image.png

533b88eb-67bb-47a4-9530-04d7a20e39e4-image.png

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64871https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/64871Sun, 20 Aug 2023 23:26:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sun, 18 Jun 2023 01:03:39 GMT]]>@nhurion Relax.... It's the weekend (US holiday too). You can give my test ISO a try. The new IGC driver is an update in the 8.2 repository.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63333https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63333Sun, 18 Jun 2023 01:03:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 21:49:44 GMT]]>@olivierlambert
I understood what you said.
Please understand that when people make a homelab it’s essentially to learn.

What I’ve learned is that when you need an extra driver to install xcp-ng, this case have been covered but:

  • the doc does not help
  • Google does not help
  • chatgpt does not help
  • YouTube does not help
  • xcp-ng forum does not help.

Quite an unpleasant learning experience.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63332https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63332Sat, 17 Jun 2023 21:49:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 21:18:38 GMT]]>8.2 is an LTS, and it's not planned to make major modifications or use drivers that are a bit too recent for it. We strongly suggest, in your case with this kind of hardware, to stay on 8.3.

Right now, I don't see any reason to go on 8.2 with non-server grade hardware anyway πŸ™‚

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63331https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63331Sat, 17 Jun 2023 21:18:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:34:16 GMT]]>@nhurion Trying to add the new host to existing pool, the host is not compatible.
Is it possible to downgrade 8.3 to 8.2.1 ?

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63328https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63328Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:34:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:30:52 GMT]]>@olivierlambert

Well the 8.3 is installed now, so I will give it a try.

But are you telling me it is not possible to install the 8.2.1 with 226 drivers at all ?

Because then I don't get the backporting that this thread is referring to.
What is the point of backporting if it cannot be used ?

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63327https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63327Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:30:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:27:49 GMT]]>I would recommend against going for a custom solution: you might have more issues than going to XCP-ng 8.3. Despite it's alpha, it's already very stable. And a first beta version is around the corner!

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63326https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63326Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:27:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:26:11 GMT]]>@nhurion You can give my Test 3 ISO a try. I have not updated it in a few months so it does need updates. Don't use the ALT kernel...

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63325https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63325Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:26:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 16:18:25 GMT]]>@Andrew
Yes, installing from 8.3-apha2 does work.

Now if there is an option to load an additional driver, I guess there is a way to get that driver added.
How do I do that ?

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63322https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63322Sat, 17 Jun 2023 16:18:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:57:10 GMT]]>@nhurion If you boot 8.3 does everything work correctly? Just as a test.

The official 8.2 boot ISO does not have i225/i226 drivers. I did build an unofficial one that has drivers...

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63321https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63321Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:57:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:38:04 GMT]]>@Andrew
Thanks, I know this is an option.
However, I already have 2 hosts with 8.2.1 that I do not want to upgrade yet.
And even if I install another iso, I would still like to know how to be able to load a driver or add a driver to an existing iso.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63320https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63320Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:38:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:23:29 GMT]]>@nhurion Use the new 8.3 version. It has newer drivers.

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63315https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63315Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:23:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:15:28 GMT]]>Hi,

I'm new to xcp-ng and coming back to linux after about a 20 years break (so my knowledge is either very recent, or very old).

I have a new fanless computer with intel i226 chips, I'm trying to install xcp-ng on it but I can't find out how.

I have the 8.2.1 iso on a bootable usb, already used it to install on 2 older hosts.
I have downloaded the rpm and added it to the Packages directory but the installer refuses to go because I have no ethernet cards.
So I guess I need to somehow add the driver with the F9 menu on the first screen, but I have no clue how. When I try it say that no drivers were detected.

I've also tried extracting the ko file from the rpm and put it on the usb, but it is not automatically loaded and not detected by the F9 menu, so I guess it's in wrong location

Is there a guide somewhere on how to do that ?

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63314https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/63314Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:15:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:37:11 GMT]]>@stormi
Thanks!

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/62833https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/62833Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:37:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Drivers for recent homelab NICs in XCP-ng 8.2 on Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:21:00 GMT]]>I only mean that, if you are on XCP-ng 8.2 and haven't installed the drivers, updating the hosts will not force-install the drivers to your hosts. In other words, it's not because a package is made available in the updates repository that it is necessarily selected by RPM dependencies to update all XCP-ng 8.2 hosts that install official updates.

But if you choose to install such packages, then they will remain (at least until a full upgrade using the installation ISO).

]]>https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/62832https://xcp-ng.org/forum/post/62832Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:21:00 GMT