Realtek 8125 Ethernet device

[alexandros]

Hello everyone,

Why the driver for the Realtek 8125 Ethernet device is not in the base? Why this comes only as a package net/realtek-re-kmod?

Long time OpenBSD user here. I installed FreeBSD recently to test it out. Found out that I have no Internet connection nor while installing (could not configure IPv4) nor after the system was installed. My motherboard is Gigabyte Z790 UD.

I could get the package installed with the help of a different machine and a couple of The FreeBSD Forums threads. But is not Ethernet connection such a fundamental thing nowadays? Last time I had not an Internet connection after the installation the OS was Windows 7 and the device was a Wi-Fi card.

This could be The FreeBSD Forums thread, but I believe they have restrictions on discussing the FreeBSD base. I have not found similar restrictions here, but I am sorry if I made a mistake.

[blackhole]

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 usually listed in man page

% man re

A quick web search: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/r...troller.79710/

[alexandros]

Thank you for your reply.

Of course, I read re(4) man page and the forum thread you shared. I understand that my card is not supported by FreeBSD base. My question is why is that. Please refer to the questions from my #1 post.

[J65nko]

Maybe there are legal or licensing reasons, that FreeBSD cannot or is not allowed to distribute the officail Realtek driver in the base distribution.

[blackhole]

Originally Posted by alexandros

I understand that my card is not supported by FreeBSD base. My question is why is that.

I suggest you search for / enquire about 2.5GHz ethernet support for the re driver on the FreeBSD mailing lists, addressing your concern to the developers. I'm not sure any of the developers frequent this site. You could also contact the net/realtek-re-kmod port maintainer via email (see your link).

[alexandros]

Thank you everyone.