The newest update to the r8168 driver prevents me from using zen kernel as i can’t use my wired connection, it simply wont connect to the internet, i had to revert to using lts kernel or main to use the r8168 driver which allows my wired connection to connect again, what are the changes to the driver or is it a known bug?
Edit
Does this mean the new zen kernel do not have the required patch to use this driver?
Any tips on what i can do?
Just tested on both main & lts kernel works, seems like the new zen kernel is missing the required kernel patches, i guess its not a driver issue, will have to wait for upstream to fix. Added additional screenshots below to compare with the zen one at the first post.
Main kernel
Lts kernel
Edit - Anyone that can help verify this would be awesome.
Thank you for sharing your findings with us, this is often the case with the modified kernels, I think the best and direct way is to notify the Linux-zen team of this issue. It might be a case of them overlooking this bug.
Have you tried removing r8168? You might be able to use the wired connection without it, on the Zen kernel.
Thank you, i reported it to them.
Already tried removing and reboot but not working for me.
And now fingers crossed it gets solved soon. If the mainstream kernel hasn’t got it, then it can be a small thing to solve.
community/r8168 is an external module, not in the ootb kernel tree.
Have you tried to use r8169 instead? r8169 is coming with the kernel. And it is also coming with all zen kernels.
I’ll try that and report.
Be aware: If r8168 is installed it will create a blacklist file and blacklist r8169 so that the r8169 kernel module will never run automatically. But I believe you could test with a simple modprobe r8169. And if that works you should find the blacklisting and remove it.
I already reinstalled zen and did modprobe r8169 and its loaded now, ethernet connection is back online.
I guess this will be changed in all kernels in the future, can there be a distro side intervention for people who are already using 8168 to load the new driver when updating to the new kernels?
if r8169 is working for your hardware you should deinstall r8168.
What do you mean with that? What will change? Most distros install the extra r8168 module because it supports more of the newer hardware. This will not change in the future,
As you can see from my screenshot on the first post, the kernel does not detect r8168 on the newest zen kernel.
Since you’ve got it working without any workaround in the main kernel, I still think it is a small overlooked bug in the zen kernel, both those kernels use the same version.
Yeah i think its a bug somewhere, i updated your findings on the github issue of zen kernel.
Have you tried to reinstall r8168 while linux-zen is installed? Do you see any errors?
It looks like @Numeriku did get it working, but with a workaround that isn’t necessary on the main kernel. 
You should have a look at this issue:
Specifically the last comment from the linux-zen maintainers:
EDIT:
In a nutshell: If you insist on using the r8168 module for linux-zen you need to install the dkms package: aur/r8168-dkms
Thank you there is a blacklist file on modprobe folder, its why i cant get it working when i uninstalled it earlier when @Kresimir suggested it, after removing 8168 + blacklist file, now all is working.
I guess its not a bug with zen or eos, just something users have to keep watch on.
