GUIDE Intel X550-AT2 10 Gbit Card (Ubuntu EEPROM mod)

[DSM2]

Normally the Intel X550-AT2 10Gbit Card is non functional under MacOS without some modifications.

One way to achieve functionality is to use FakePCIID + FakePCIID_Intel_GbX.kext + and an edited Smalltree Driver
but sometimes this method doesn't work at all and you have to reboot your computer a couple of times.
Not a good solution if you ask me!

Some guys out there found a much better way which is constant and don't need any additional kext files then the official SmallTree driver : 3.8.6 Small Tree i8259x Driver

What do you need for this ?

1) USB Stick
2) Windows for creating the Ubuntu Usb Drive via Rufus
3) Rufus - https://rufus.ie/en_IE.html
4) Ubuntu Image - https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
5) SmallTree Driver as soon as you finish the patching

How to achieve this:

After you created the Ubuntu Usb Drive boot from it via F8 and choose "Try Ubuntu without Installing"
As soon as you reach the Ubuntu desktop connect to the internet.
Open up Terminal and type in:

1)

sudo apt install net-tools

2)

sudo apt-get install ethtool

3)

ifconfig

after this you should see something like this...



My Intel X550-AT2 is assigned to enp225s0f0 and enp225s0f1 , since my Intel X550-AT2 10 Gbit Card is dual 10 Gbit card.

4)

lspci -nn -vvv | grep Ethernet

The important value for the X550-AT2 user is the green one (8712)

5)

sudo ethtool -e enp225s0f0 | less

You will get a lot of offset values but remember the important one is this:



This commands are necessary for the Intel X550-AT2

6)

sudo ethtool -E enp225s0f0 magic 0x15638086 offset 0x242 value 0x0a
sudo ethtool -E enp225s0f0 magic 0x15638086 offset 0x243 value 0x00
sudo ethtool -E enp225s0f1 magic 0x15638086 offset 0x242 value 0x0a
sudo ethtool -E enp225s0f1 magic 0x15638086 offset 0x243 value 0x00

As soon as you finish this reboot and install the official MacOS Small Tree Driver for 10 Gbit Lan Cards and you are safe for the future.


Before Patching :



After Patching:




All credits for the method goes to :
Squuiid from MacRumors

Cheers,
DSM2

 

[BerndVP]

I tried this method yesterday on my Designare 10G, but it doesn't write the EEPRROM.
Was using Linux 16.04 LTS.

Can this because I started linux via OpenCore ?
Or is this just not possible with this motherboard?

 

[EliteMacx86]

I tried this method yesterday on my Designare 10G, but it doesn't write the EEPRROM.
Was using Linux 16.04 LTS.

Can this because I started linux via OpenCore ?
Or is this just not possible with this motherboard?

Another way to use the Ethernet chip on this Motherboard is to use a patched kext. Recently, tested it on the same Motherboard

 

[BerndVP]

Another way to use the Ethernet chip on this Motherboard is to use a patched kext. Recently, tested it on the same Motherboard

Hi,

I'm using a pathed version of SmallTree that works But it breaks AirDrop Feature

So I tought, let's try this, but no succes

 

[EliteMacx86]

Hi,

I'm using a pathed version of SmallTree that works But it breaks AirDrop Feature

So I tought, let's try this, but no succes

That's interesting. Luckily, that spare build is running the latest version of Catalina and the Broadcom Card is replaced with the Intel WiFi. I checked the AirDrop feature and it works like a charm.

Do you see AirDrop function is that broken after using the patched Kext for Ethernet?

 

[0x00001111]

Would it works for x772-10 Gbit Card?

 

[DSM2]

Should work as long as its recognized under linux. @0x00001111

 

[0x00001111]

@DSM2
Thx for ur reply.

ifconfig

X772 is assigned to enp26s0f0、enp26s0f1、enp26s0f2、enp26s0f3.

lspci -nn -vvv | grep Ethernet

It looks like the id("0000") is weird.

# There are too many ids... I use `grep` instead.
sudo ethtool -e enp26s0f0 | grep '    86 80'

Here are 4 suspicious groups of values, which one I can not decide to use.

 #  I'm guessing possible commands...
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f0 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a2 value 0x0a
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f0 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a3 value 0x00
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f1 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a2 value 0x0a
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f1 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a3 value 0x00
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f2 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a2 value 0x0a
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f2 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a3 value 0x00
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f3 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a2 value 0x0a
 sudo ethtool -E enp26s0f3 magic 0x37D18086 offset 0x14a3 value 0x00

1. Why the value is '0x0a' or '0x00'?
2. Which small tree kext I should use https://small-tree.com/support/downloads/gigabit-ethernet-driver-download-page/ or https://small-tree.com/support/downloads/10-gigabit-ethernet-driver-download-page/?

 

[DSM2]

Subsystem ID is always coming after the Vendor ID.
Since you didn't follow exactly my guide I can't control your offset values.

Follow my Guide and post the related offsets completely here.
It is necessary that the subsystem ID is 000a, otherwise the Smalltree driver will not work with it, that's why you change your 0000 Sub ID on your X772 NIC to 000a.


Wait a second... Your Motherboard use a 1 Gbit NIC... not 10 Gbit.
I also know X772 NIC's which are 10 Gbit NICs....

1 Gbit NIC Driver would be this one but this will not work since the 3.9.0 doesn't work via SUB System ID. It will only recognize Small Tree branded Intel PRO/1000 cards...

There are other methods which could work but I have to try some stuff which is a bit complicated without the motherboard itself.

Where do you come from ? Europe ? USA ?

 

[0x00001111]

Since you didn't follow exactly my guide I can't control your offset values.

I try again..

I also know X772 NIC's which are 10 Gbit NICs....

I am sorry, it is a typo... It shoud be X722.

There are other methods which could work but I have to try some stuff which is a bit complicated without the motherboard itself.

Good news!!!

Wait a second... Your Motherboard use a 1 Gbit NIC... not 10 Gbit.

My Motherboard is EPC621D8A .

Where do you come from ? Europe ? USA ?

I come from Asia. @DSM2