"Unknown" Network

Ask Fedora
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1

Heya. Turned on my PC today and met with this unpleasant, persistent surprise:

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Things I tried and didn’t help:

  1. running sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
  2. cold starting my computer, as recommended here: Reddit
  3. booting into another (every other) kernel, as recommended here: Networks options "Unknown" after restarting windows and starting fedora
  4. replugged ethernet, changed it out for cord on computer that has working ethernet connection, resetting router, etc.

Would anyone e able to provide me some alternative options?

Thank you!

3

We need more information. Are you dual booting Windows? If so, which version and was Windows updated after the last time Fedora found the network? If you have inxi installed it may be helpful to post the output from running inxi -ezxx as web-discoverable pre-formatted text. Some system vendors have diagnostic tools that test network hardware.

4

Forgive me as I’m a bit new to Linux generally, but I am technically dual-booting Windows, though I haven’t booted into it in months - not sure if that would cause the same effect.

Unfortunately, I don’t have inxi.

I’ve gone through a whole ordeal with ChatGPT trying to diagnose this. Maybe a summary from that will be helpful?

Motherboard is an ASUS PRIME X570-P with onboard Realtek RTL8111H.

Troubleshooting/results:

  • nmcli: enp5s0 ethernet unavailable; connectivity none.

  • lspci: RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 detected; r8169 driver loaded.

  • ip link: enp5s0 is UP but reports NO-CARRIER / state DOWN.

  • ethtool: Link detected: no, speed/duplex unknown.

  • Kernel log: Realtek PHY attaches successfully, followed by enp5s0: Link is Down.

  • Cycled enp5s0 down/up — still no link.

  • Disabled EEE with ethtool — still no link.

  • No link/activity LEDs visible on motherboard Ethernet port.

  • BIOS: Realtek LAN Controller enabled; Network Stack disabled (normal unless PXE booting).

Current state: NIC is detected, driver/PHY load, and interface is created, but no physical Ethernet carrier/link is established.

This is leading me to believe it’s a random overnight motherboard issue?

5

Sounds very possible unfortunately.

Have you tried swapping ports on the router? Plug your “broken ethernet” computer into the router port that the “working ethernet” computer is currently using, and vice versa.

6

I have, unfortunately. That cable was already in another port on the router. B(

I just drained the power to see if that would resolve it and it’s still no bueno. Everything I’m reading says that if that’s the case, then it’s the mobo, and I need to go pick up a USB wifi adapter to check.

Well, crap. I guess I’ve been looking for a reason to upgrade my 2018 hardware but I wasn’t wanting it to happen like this!

Also - PG Tips is great tea.

Thank you both for your responses.

7

Sorry to hear! USB ethernet adapters can work pretty well too (ideally check reviews to see that people report the model working well on Linux). I have a UGREEN which works well.

8

Hardware more than 5 years old is generally not worth investing much time trying to fix hardware issues – there are often contributing factors like out-of-spec power supplies, failed capacitors, etc. My work was with niche scientific software with a big fraction of users in developing nations where linux was run on older machines that no longer supported Windows, so I’ve encountered hardware issues more often than linux users with better financial resources.

9

Welp! Got me a j5create JUEV135V2 adapter and it’s working perfectly.

Thanks for checking me, yall. I am still getting to the point where I can trust my understanding of this technical stuff!