David Thompson <dthompson2@worcester.edu> skribis:

> Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org> writes:

[...]

>> To install the system, you would:
>>
>>   1. Configure the network, by running ‘dhclient eth0’ for instance.
>>      Normally udev automatically loads device drivers (e.g., my laptop
>>      uses e1000e for Ethernet), but since it’s a small config kernel, it
>>      may miss drivers for your system, in which case you’re screwed.
>>
>
> My desktop computer is in the "screwed" category.  I need the r8169
> kernel module for ethernet to work.

I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer at the moment, but could you try
rebuilding the image with this patch?