Realtek NIC RTL8125BG driver issues

Hi everyone,


I followed all of your guides, but unfortunately, none of them solved my issue. Initially, I was facing timeouts similar to the original problem mentioned here. Eventually, my network interface started completely resetting, disabling and re-enabling within seconds. I suspected it might be an ACPI power-saving issue or something similar.


Today, I decided to reinstall Proxmox (I was using an old ISO image), and now everything works! I updated Proxmox but kept the kernel at 6.5.13-6-pve. Newer kernels might work too, but since this one works perfectly for me, I've pinned it.


Thanks to everyone for your suggestions—I've learned a lot over the past few days. I'm still a newbie, but this experience has been very educational.


My setup:
Optiplex 9020 SFF with a budget 4-Port 2.5G PCIe Network Card (RTL8125BG chip, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Interface Adapter)
 
Hey! What iso have you installed to work?
I have just bought a ASUS NUC 14 Essential Slim Kit with n150 and one 2.5Gigabit Ethernet.
After installing LTS I learned that it has this driver issue or whatnot...

Have seen so many ideas around but no clear instructions!
 
neomg said:
Hey! What iso have you installed to work?
I have just bought a ASUS NUC 14 Essential Slim Kit with n150 and one 2.5Gigabit Ethernet.
After installing LTS I learned that it has this driver issue or whatnot...

Have seen so many ideas around but no clear instructions!
Click to expand...
It's Proxmox VE 8.1-2.ISO While it's possible to install an older kernel using the latest ISO, it's generally not recommended, according to online sources.
 
Thanks a lot!!
Can I upgrade from 8.1-2 to LTS or should I get a new iso to upgrade it?
 
neomg said:
Thanks a lot!!
Can I upgrade from 8.1-2 to LTS or should I get a new iso to upgrade it?
Click to expand...
I'm running Proxmox VE on older hardware, so I don't plan to upgrade further unless I add new components. Since everything is working well, I've pinned the current stable kernel. I may test newer kernels as they're released, but I'll revert to the known working one if any issues arise, especially with the LAN NIC. The Proxmox VE setup itself is fully up to date, I'm just sticking with an older kernel for stability.

For your question.
I can't say that for sure. Try the kernel I used, if everything works fine, you can move on to the next kernel version. Just keep going until the NIC starts acting up.
 
My interfaces are working correctly with a Debian 13 install, no configuration needed. I couldn't get any of the interfaces to work from a proxmox 9 install, that uses Debian 13. What about installing on top of my current install, using this page? Debian13_install_page Is there any benefit of using the proxmos ISO over this method?

Code: 
#####
hostnamectl

 Static hostname: gnbk12
       Icon name: computer-desktop
         Chassis: desktop ️
      Machine ID: e89dcc9d94984964bab3a97348fa3535
         Boot ID: ee70585467a74c4bb2b5dbce5dcffdd0
Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
          Kernel: Linux 6.12.48+deb13-amd64
    Architecture: x86-64
 Hardware Vendor: GMKtec
  Hardware Model: NucBox_K12
Firmware Version: NucBox_K12 1.07
   Firmware Date: Thu 2025-07-24
    Firmware Age: 3month 2w 4d

#####
lspci -knn |grep -iE "network|ethernet" -A4 --color=auto

02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125] (rev 05)
    DeviceName: OnBoard LAN
    Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125]
    Kernel driver in use: r8169
    Kernel modules: r8169
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: MEDIATEK Corp. MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter [14c3:0616]
    Subsystem: MEDIATEK Corp. MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter [14c3:0616]
    Kernel driver in use: mt7921e
    Kernel modules: mt7921e
04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125] (rev 05)
    Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125]
    Kernel driver in use: r8169
    Kernel modules: r8169

#####
ip a

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eno1: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:47:09:6d:28:3c brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enp2s0
    altname enx8447096d283c
3: enp4s0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:47:09:6d:28:3d brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enx8447096d283d
    inet 192.168.35.153/24 brd 192.168.35.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute enp4s0
       valid_lft 83783sec preferred_lft 83783sec
    inet6 fe80::7b0c:782e:18e2:3437/64 scope link noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
4: wlp3s0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:9e:56:6f:04:95 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname wlx849e566f0495
    inet 192.168.107.252/24 brd 192.168.107.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute wlp3s0
       valid_lft 83816sec preferred_lft 83816sec
    inet6 fdff:5e33:8e62:734c:77c1:6657:ff8f:3156/64 scope global temporary dynamic
       valid_lft 1715sec preferred_lft 1715sec
    inet6 fdff:5e33:8e62:734c:869e:56ff:fe6f:495/64 scope global dynamic mngtmpaddr noprefixroute
       valid_lft 1715sec preferred_lft 1715sec
    inet6 fe80::869e:56ff:fe6f:495/64 scope link noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

#####
lsmod |grep -iE "mt792|r8169"

mt7921e                24576  0
mt7921_common          86016  1 mt7921e
mt792x_lib             69632  2 mt7921e,mt7921_common
mt76_connac_lib        98304  3 mt792x_lib,mt7921e,mt7921_common
mt76                  139264  4 mt792x_lib,mt7921e,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
mac80211             1449984  4 mt792x_lib,mt76,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
cfg80211             1392640  4 mt76,mac80211,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
r8169                 126976  0
mdio_devres            12288  1 r8169
libphy                233472  3 r8169,mdio_devres,realtek


EDIT: After trying some of the steps in the guide I ran into this step where it wants to remove the firmware. Are these the drivers?
Code: 
apt install proxmox-default-kernel

Installing:
  proxmox-default-kernel

Installing dependencies:
  proxmox-kernel-6.14  proxmox-kernel-6.14.11-4-pve-signed  pve-firmware

Suggested packages:
  linux-image

REMOVING:
  firmware-amd-graphics  firmware-realtek

Summary:
  Upgrading: 0, Installing: 4, Removing: 2, Not Upgrading: 0
  Download size: 330 MB
  Space needed: 1,054 MB / 877 GB available

Continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.
 
Last edited:
mal95 said:
My interfaces are working correctly with a Debian 13 install, no configuration needed. I couldn't get any of the interfaces to work from a proxmox 9 install, that uses Debian 13. What about installing on top of my current install, using this page? Debian13_install_page Is there any benefit of using the proxmos ISO over this method?

Code: 
#####
hostnamectl

 Static hostname: gnbk12
       Icon name: computer-desktop
         Chassis: desktop ️
      Machine ID: e89dcc9d94984964bab3a97348fa3535
         Boot ID: ee70585467a74c4bb2b5dbce5dcffdd0
Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
          Kernel: Linux 6.12.48+deb13-amd64
    Architecture: x86-64
 Hardware Vendor: GMKtec
  Hardware Model: NucBox_K12
Firmware Version: NucBox_K12 1.07
   Firmware Date: Thu 2025-07-24
    Firmware Age: 3month 2w 4d

#####
lspci -knn |grep -iE "network|ethernet" -A4 --color=auto

02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125] (rev 05)
    DeviceName: OnBoard LAN
    Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125]
    Kernel driver in use: r8169
    Kernel modules: r8169
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: MEDIATEK Corp. MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter [14c3:0616]
    Subsystem: MEDIATEK Corp. MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter [14c3:0616]
    Kernel driver in use: mt7921e
    Kernel modules: mt7921e
04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125] (rev 05)
    Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller [10ec:8125]
    Kernel driver in use: r8169
    Kernel modules: r8169

#####
ip a

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eno1: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:47:09:6d:28:3c brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enp2s0
    altname enx8447096d283c
3: enp4s0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc fq_codel state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:47:09:6d:28:3d brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enx8447096d283d
    inet 192.168.35.153/24 brd 192.168.35.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute enp4s0
       valid_lft 83783sec preferred_lft 83783sec
    inet6 fe80::7b0c:782e:18e2:3437/64 scope link noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
4: wlp3s0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc noqueue state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 84:9e:56:6f:04:95 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname wlx849e566f0495
    inet 192.168.107.252/24 brd 192.168.107.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute wlp3s0
       valid_lft 83816sec preferred_lft 83816sec
    inet6 fdff:5e33:8e62:734c:77c1:6657:ff8f:3156/64 scope global temporary dynamic
       valid_lft 1715sec preferred_lft 1715sec
    inet6 fdff:5e33:8e62:734c:869e:56ff:fe6f:495/64 scope global dynamic mngtmpaddr noprefixroute
       valid_lft 1715sec preferred_lft 1715sec
    inet6 fe80::869e:56ff:fe6f:495/64 scope link noprefixroute
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

#####
lsmod |grep -iE "mt792|r8169"

mt7921e                24576  0
mt7921_common          86016  1 mt7921e
mt792x_lib             69632  2 mt7921e,mt7921_common
mt76_connac_lib        98304  3 mt792x_lib,mt7921e,mt7921_common
mt76                  139264  4 mt792x_lib,mt7921e,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
mac80211             1449984  4 mt792x_lib,mt76,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
cfg80211             1392640  4 mt76,mac80211,mt7921_common,mt76_connac_lib
r8169                 126976  0
mdio_devres            12288  1 r8169
libphy                233472  3 r8169,mdio_devres,realtek


EDIT: After trying some of the steps in the guide I ran into this step where it wants to remove the firmware. Are these the drivers?
Code: 
apt install proxmox-default-kernel

Installing:
  proxmox-default-kernel

Installing dependencies:
  proxmox-kernel-6.14  proxmox-kernel-6.14.11-4-pve-signed  pve-firmware

Suggested packages:
  linux-image

REMOVING:
  firmware-amd-graphics  firmware-realtek

Summary:
  Upgrading: 0, Installing: 4, Removing: 2, Not Upgrading: 0
  Download size: 330 MB
  Space needed: 1,054 MB / 877 GB available

Continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.
Click to expand...
I was able to get it installed by following the install guide. I did loose the network setting on reboot though. I then set them manually and everything seems to be working. I probably didn't have something setup correctly the first time with my /etc/network/interfaces file. Here is how I set it up to get it working.
Code: 
source /etc/network/interfaces.d/*

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

iface eno1 inet manual

auto enp4s0
iface enp4s0 inet manual

auto vmbr0
iface vmbr0 inet static
    address 192.168.35.153/24
    gateway 192.168.35.1
    bridge-ports enp4s0
    bridge-stop off
    bridge-fd 0
    dns-nameservers 192.168.35.57 9.9.9.9 1.1.1.1

auto wlp3s0
iface wlp3s0 inet static
    address 192.168.107.252/24
    gateway 192.168.107.1
    dns-nameservers 9.9.9.9 1.1.1.1
    wpa-ssid "Wifi_Network"
    wpa-psk "My_Password_Here"
    # optional:
    # wpa-proto RSN
    # wpa-pairwise CCMP


#### stop/start interface - test

sudo ifdown wlp3s0 2>/dev/null || true
sudo ifup wlp3s0
ping 8.8.8.8
dig google.com
 
Last edited:
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