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SLES 10.2 Network Failure

SUSE Linux Enterprise Sever 10 SP2, referred to as SLES 10.2 hereafter, is a very old Linux operating system and I do not recommend using it. However, I know some businesses still run ancient distributions of Linux because certain payrole and billing software is no longer maintained and other options can cost thousands.

So here it is, my set of solutions to common SLES 10.2 problems, some of which that have yet to be answered on Google.

Failure of SLES 10.2 to detect an integrated NIC

 If your fresh installation of SLES fails to recognize your common ethernet controller, it's probably because your NIC utilizes the e1000e driver-set rather than the e1000. Fortunately, this is an easy fix!! Assuming that you have no connectivity on the target machine, you will have to transfer any downloads via CD, Flash-media, or some other means.

1.) Download the e1000e driver set.
e1000e [v1.11.3] is the version I used and the latest as of this posting. [Download]
Here is the e1000e [Stable] directory if you'd like to check for a newer version. [Stable]

2.) Extract [untar] the driver set to a good working directory. I'm a GUI lover, so I was able to simply right-click the tar.gz and "extract" it to my desktop.

3.) Issue the following command to unload the e1000 module. 'modprobe -r e1000'

4.) Navigate to the "src" directory of the e1000e driver set that you just extracted and issue a 'make install'.

5.) Finally, 'modprobe e1000' and you should have connectivity. :)

Compile errors [make install] fails

When you attempt to compile or 'make install' you might receive an error saying that "kernel-devel" is required. This isn't the case and this error can throw you for a loop. You'll need the "kernel-source" and "gcc" packages to compile sources on SLES 10.2.

Modernizing the IT Infrastructure

One of the most common questions I’m faced with everyday is “What will it cost?” Traditional IT support can be as scary as dropping off your car at the local repair shop. You never know how much it’s going to cost until the repairman calls with the solution and price. If you could remove the suspense and dynamic aspect from traditional services and support, would you? Here at WiseTech Solutions we plan to do just that. Our model would have traditional IT support eliminated almost entirely and replaced with fixed and static solutions which work with you proactively to eliminate downtime and needless IT spending. Budget annual spending and still have the flexibility required to operate without restraints.

We do not need to be married to our clients with an array of contracts and forced commitments. We flourish with our clients by providing excellent continued service. We take pride in our open business model and strive for IT transparency. IT spending has been exponentially growing beyond predictions consecutively since 2009. ‘Innovative firms that are open to new approaches will have a competitive advantage in the years ahead. Products and services that support the key SMB priorities of mobility and connectivity... will have the strongest appeal.’[1] 

Consider efficiency, not just functionality. We will reduce IT Spending and aggressively tackle issues that are, or soon will be, plaguing your IT infrastructure. The business IT infrastructure requires regular monthly maintenance, just like anything else. With us as your IT solution, you can expect better overall network efficiency and robustness, better connectivity and mobility, a direct line into the ear of your IT department, proactive and cost-effective solutions, insurance in data integrity, and much, more. Don’t base your IT budget around reactive IT Support and regular downtime. Invest in Proactive Solutions for Evolving Technology. 

Invest in WiseTech Solutions.

Resources;
Justin Jaffe, senior research analyst for Small and Medium-Sized Business and Home Office research at the International Data Corporation. 
IDC is a reputable market research and analysis firm with over 1000 independent analyst in 50 countries.

Skype & UltraMon

So Skype has a custom skin for the interface. Skype's entire interface is painted from some sort of proprietary function or method. As such, applications which modify or add extra interface options or buttons may not display correctly on Skype's interface.

Make your flash media faster.

Have you ever noticed that some flash media is faster than others? Many people don't know that there are many formatting options that the standard format application may not make available to the end user. One of the more important factors in formatting flash media is the cluster size, or "Allocation Unit Size" as shown in the Windows 7 format GUI. I tried switching that around a few different ways and acquired some very interesting results! Make your jumpdrive/flashdrive faster.