---
name: "if_nve"
section: "4freebsd"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "10.1~RC1-1"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nve/4freebsd"
---

# if\_nve(4freebsd)

NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking Adapter device driver

Part of [nve(4freebsd)](/nve/4freebsd.md).

## NAME

**nve** – NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking Adapter device driver

## SYNOPSIS

**Warning:** This driver is deprecated and will not be available in FreeBSD 11.0 and later. Please consider using the [nfe(4)](/nfe/4.md) driver instead.

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device miibus** **device nve**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
if_nve_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **nve** driver provides support for the NVIDIA nForce MCP and nForce2 MCP2 networking adapter that is embedded in the southbridge of most nForce and nForce2 motherboards.

This driver is a reimplementation of the NVIDIA supported Linux **nvnet** driver and uses the same closed source API library to access the underlying hardware. There is currently no programming documentation available for this device, and therefore little is known about the internal architecture of the MAC engine itself.

The **nve** driver supports the following media types:

- **autoselect**

  Enable autoselection of the media type and options.

- **10baseT/UTP**

  Set 10Mbps operation.

- **100baseTX**

  Set 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) operation.

- **1000baseTX**

  Set 1000Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) operation.

The **nve** driver supports the following media options:

- **full-duplex**

  Set full duplex operation.

For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md).

## HARDWARE

The **nve** driver supports the NVIDIA MCP onboard adapters of mainboards with the following chipsets:

- nForce

- nForce2

- nForce3

- nForce4

## DIAGNOSTICS

- nve%d: couldn't map memory

  A fatal initialization error has occurred.

- nve%d: couldn't map interrupt

  A fatal initialization error has occurred.

- nve%d: failed to allocate memory

  There are not enough mbufs available for allocation.

- nve%d: device timeout

  The device has stopped responding to the network, or there is a problem with the network connection (cable).

## SEE ALSO

[altq(4)](/altq/4.md), [arp(4)](/arp/4.md), [miibus(4)](/miibus/4.md), [netintro(4)](/netintro/4.md), [nfe(4)](/nfe/4.md), [ng\_ether(4)](/ng_ether/4.md), [rgephy(4)](/rgephy/4.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **nve** driver first appeared in FreeBSD 6.0.

## AUTHORS

The **nve** driver was written by Quinton Dolan ⟨q@onthenet.com.au⟩ and David E. O'Brien ⟨obrien@FreeBSD.org⟩.

## BUGS

There are reports that when the card is in auto select mode, ifconfig output reports a 10baseT/UTP output while the LEDs and bandwidth show that the card is actually in 100baseTX mode.