The switch works, there are three other machines on the switch. The cable tests good. Other cables work also.
I have tested the latest starfive release, as well as the Debian testing unstable image. They all boot great, but the network is broken. In fact, the latest debain image works very well, but I can’t get an IP.
Even purging network-managrr and manually editing the interfaces file leaves the dhclient broadcasting on 255.255.255.255, but never getting a response. The switch can see the link to the network interface, and can detect when I unplug the cable.
The kernel reports the same on either port. I have tested both ports.
I have tried manually entering
iface eth0 inet dhcp
I have tried static. It doesn’t work.
There are no kernel messages about failed networking in any log or in dmesg.
Is there some configuration I am unaware of? Please let me know.
Otherwise I’ll have to build an off-line personal repository.
The StarFive Debian2409 network I am using is working properly。
You can try upgrading U-boot and SPI according to the user manual of debian2409.
If the network is still not working properly, you may need to check the network interface and related network lines on VF2.
Flashed u-boot and payload this morning, with same results. Checked both Engineering release, and debian sid images. Both booth, and both report “error: connection failed”. It definitely feels like a software problem, but I guess it could be hardware failure. I very much doubt it, but one never knows.
I may try the arch image and see if it connects, that will at least tell us if there is a hardware failure.
I can confirm that my VF2 runs both debian2409 and debian2409pro normally, this information is for your reference.
The debian2409pro image was created by me. debian2409pro not debian_sid, It is debian13_testing, which is more stable than debian_sid.
I did work, in the past, in fact for the past year it has worked fine.
It is only in testing new builds that it has not worked.
I have tried all of the new debian flavors testing/sid/et al, including several starfive engineering releases back through 2024; at this point I assume its hardware failure of somekind.
It is confirmed an updated image issue.
I downloaded the StarFive provided debian image 202308 as a test. Loaded the SD card, and booted. Ethernet connected first try, no issues at all.
The latest 202409 image will not connect. I do not have hardware failure, it is definitely a problem in that image. HOWEVER, I do have a v1.2 board, so if the 1.3 are significantly different, this may account for the trouble.
I will attempt to update software to the latest editions from this point with working network.
