I am trying to install debian in my destop instead of redhat which is not supported updating anymore.During the process ,I got the trouble to configure the netcard.I followed the instructions to use the DHCP/BOOTP to connect but it said that is failed. then I enter the ip and gateway etc. which are asked to do manuel configure.It did not work.It seems to me that during the intallation I was asked to enter the hostname for my machine ,but in my memory ,if I changed the hostname ,the net does not work under my redhat.it must use the name DHCP assigned .Sorry for long description.Here is my question:
How can forward without enter the hosname during install(I do want to connect to internet to get the package I want)?
if it is not possible during install,How can configure the network under base system?(I used to use the GUI congiure tools under redhat).
I am sure the connection is good for it worked very well under redhat.

The network connection do works whatever your hostname is. The hostname you set for your machine has primarily meaning inside the box. The name the computer is known from the outside doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it (well, it is nice if it does, but it doesn't have to).

There is something else that is the problem.

Configuring the network in debian after base installation, quick howto:

• Figure out how your network works. (Using dhcp? If not, what are the settings (namely ip, netmask, broadcast, gateway and nameserver)
• Figure out how your network interface card works. Does you have to load a kernel module to get it working. If so, load one.
• Edit /etc/network/interfaces. There should be something like
  Code:

  # /etc/network/interfaces -- configuration file for ifup(8), ifdown(8)
  
  auto lo
  iface lo inet loopback
  
  auto eth0
  #Static config
  iface eth0 inet static
          address 192.168.1.11
          netmask 255.255.255.0
          network 192.168.1.0
          broadcast 192.168.1.255
          gateway 192.168.1.2
  #or if using dhcp:
  #iface eth0 inet dhcp

• run '/etc/init.d/networking stop' and '/etc/init.d/networking start'

ummm, isn't bootp used to boot from the network?
is that what you REALLY want to do?

From webopedia.com:

BOOTP

Short for Bootstrap Protocol, an Internet protocol that enables a diskless workstation to discover its own IP address, the IP address of a BOOTP server on the network, and a file to be loaded into memory to boot the machine. This enables the workstation to boot without requiring a hard or floppy disk drive. The protocol is defined by RFC 951.

And do not forget the nameservers in the /etc/resolv.conf what the format of the file can look like:
You only need the one nameserver line in there the search of your domain is optional as is the second nameserver line.