Quickly identify which kernel driver and firmware your network interface uses and why that matters. 28.12.2025 | reading time: 3 min Want to know which driver powers a network interface and whether firmware or module options are the culprits for a problem? This short guide shows the commands to inspect driver, version and firmware so you can act, not guess. Hands-on example First step, ask the kernel: run `ethtool -i eth0` and expect a compact answer such as `driver: e1000e; version: 3.2.6-k; firmware-version: 1.1-5; bus-info: 0000:00:19.0`; next confirm the PCI device binding with `lspci -k | grep -A3 00:19.0` which should show `Kernel driver in use: e1000e`; finally inspect module metadata with `modinfo e1000e` returning entries like `filename: /lib/modules/.../e1000e.ko; version: 3.2.6-k; parm: Debug` so you know both the driver and its build information. What to check next If the driver looks correct, check for firmware mismatches and module parameters: `dmesg | grep -i e1000e` may report firmware problems, `ethtool -k eth0` reveals offload settings, and `sysfs` exposes firmware and bus-info under `/sys/class/net/eth0/device`; if he needs to test a different module version, unload and reload with `modprobe -r` and `modprobe` while monitoring `dmesg` for immediate errors. Related commands in practice Other quick checks include `lsmod` to see loaded modules, `udevadm info -q all -p /sys/class/net/eth0` to view udev attributes and persistent names, and `ethtool -i` combined with `ethtool -S` for driver-specific statistics that help correlate errors to driver or hardware faults. When a driver change is needed If a vendor provides an updated driver or firmware, document the kernel version and module parameters before replacing, test in a maintenance window, and if necessary build against the running kernel or use a DKMS package to keep the module across upgrades so the fix survives reboots. Final note Being able to identify the exact driver and firmware for a NIC cuts investigation time and points the way to firmware updates, kernel patches or configuration tweaks; keep practicing these checks and consider certifications to formalize the skill set, for example CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1, and consider bitsandbytes.academy for intensive exam preparation. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. network troubleshooting utilities infrastructure
