RTL8139based

RTL8139based denotes hardware, devices, or software designed to work with or emulate the Realtek RTL8139 family of PCI Fast Ethernet controllers. The term is used in product documentation and driver notes to signal compatibility with RTL8139-based NICs, typically 10/100 Mbps Ethernet devices from Realtek.

Hardware characteristics: The RTL8139 family is a cost-effective PCI Ethernet controller that provides a 10/100 Mbps interface with a built-in MAC and PHY in many variants. It relies on PCI for data transfer and uses DMA to move frames to and from host memory. Devices described as RTL8139based generally conform to this architecture and expose one network port with basic features suitable for simple network tasks. Many variants include an integrated PHY, while some require an external PHY.

Software support: Linux includes 8139too and 8139cp drivers to support RTL8139-based hardware; these drivers have long-standing support and are included in most distributions. Realtek and third-party providers supply drivers for Windows. BSD variants also support RTL8139 devices, often with parallel driver implementations across operating systems.

Applications and historical context: RTL8139-based NICs were ubiquitous in late 1990s and early 2000s PCs, as well as in cheap embedded systems, routers, and single-board computers. They remain common in legacy installations and budget hardware, though they are largely supplanted by gigabit and faster NICs in new devices.

Limitations and considerations: The interface is limited to 100 Mbps and lacks modern hardware offloads. In high-traffic environments, performance may be constrained and tuning or driver options may be needed. Compatibility with newer PCIe motherboards can vary, and IRQ sharing or DMA-related issues can arise in some setups.