PCIe USB expansion card causes Ethernet failure on Linux.
PCIe USB expansion card causes Ethernet failure on Linux.
Debian stable (bullseye) setup on older hardware. Utilizes an Alvorix motherboard and an AMD Phenom II x6 1045t processor. The machine functions as a home server/NAS with a headless configuration; no graphical interface is present. The built-in Ethernet offers only 100Mbps, prompting the installation of a PCIeX1 gigabit card some years back. Recently added a PCIeX1 SATA expansion card. A new PCIeX4 USB card was acquired to provide four USB 3.2 type A ports and three USB type C ports. The motherboard lacked available x4 slots, so the card was placed in an x16 slot. Booting worked normally, but the gigabit Ethernet remained inactive—no IP address appeared via "sudo ip address," and the on-board Ethernet failed to detect or assign an IP. This suggests a potential PCIe lane shortage or excessive power draw from the USB device. Driver/firmware compatibility might be the cause. Removing the USB card resolved the problem. It would be beneficial to have faster USB ports for monthly backups, as the onboard ports are limited to USB 2.0. Troubleshooting steps are unclear at this stage. For details, see the purchased product page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZKNJDNW?psc=1