SMSC(4)

💅 SMSC(4) — the Kernel Interfaces Manual, but make it cute

okay bestie, so this is the SMSC(4) page from the Kernel Interfaces Manual, and we're gonna get you fluent in it in like two minutes, no cap 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

smsc — the USB Microchip LAN9xxx Fast Ethernet driver. that's it, that's the vibe. it's the little driver that makes your USB ethernet dongle go brrr 🌈

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

so there's two ways to get this driver living in your kernel, and honestly? pick your fighter 💅

option one — load it as a module at boot time. drop this exact line into loader.conf(5):

if_smsc_load="YES"

option two — compile it straight into the kernel. put these exact lines in your kernel configuration file:

device uhci
device ohci
device usb
device miibus
device uether
device smsc

like, all of them. don't skip any. the whole little squad has to be there 🎀

✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

the smsc device driver provides support for USB Fast Ethernet adapters based on the Microchip (formerly SMSC) LAN9xxx chipsets. yes, "formerly SMSC" — the company got a glow-up and a new name, it's giving rebrand era 👑

and if you wanna know more about configuring this device, go read ifconfig(8). she's the main character for all your network setup needs, fr fr 🦋

✨ HARDWARE ✨

here's the guest list — the following devices are supported by the smsc driver:

• LAN9500, LAN9500A, LAN9505 and LAN9505A based Ethernet adapters 🔥
• LAN89530, LAN9530 and LAN9730 based Ethernet adapters ⭐
• LAN951x Ethernet adapters with integrated USB hub (hub included?? we love a bundle deal) 💖

✨ SEE ALSO ✨

your required reading, bestie, go off:

arp(4), intro(4), miibus(4), netintro(4), usb(4), ifconfig(8)

iykyk 📚

✨ HISTORY ✨

the smsc device driver first appeared in FreeBSD 10.0. so she's been iconic since day one, we simply respect the legacy 💜

✨ AUTHORS ✨

the smsc driver was written by Ben Gray <bgray@FreeBSD.org>. absolute legend behavior, we stan 👑🫶

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and that's the whole page, no crumbs left 🍓 this version of the SMSC(4) page comes from Debian, dated May 7, 2024 — so like, cite it right when you quote it, periodt 💅✨