I currently have a problem connecting onto the internet. It is my theory that by some unknown reason that my computer did not recognize my ethernet port(I have a DSL connection). I urgently need to get connected. I have to emerge xfree or else I will be stuck in a virtual console(noting but text :/). The computer has Gentoo and kernel version 2.6.3. I really need some help here. I've been stuck like this for days.

Well, why do you think your computer didn't recognize the ethernet port??

What kind of motherboard do you have and do you know what kind of ethernet port it is?

I have a A7N8X Deluxe motherboard by ASUS with two ethernet ports built in and one of them is a 3com 3c59x that I use to surf the net.

rberry88

ok...

when i try to connect through rp-pppoe, my modem shows me no traffic/activity whatsoever. so i thought that possibly gentoo did not even detect my ethernet port altogether. ....what does knowing what kind of motherboard have anyting to do with this? My ethernet port, in a sense, is integrated into my computer. it is not a ethernet CARD that is connected through a PCI slot

Knowing what type of motherboard you have would give me a clue of what type of onboard chipset your board is using and I could find out (on the net) what type of ethernet port was on your board so I could help you set it up. However, if you are using a dial up modem then it doesn't matter about the ethernet port.

If you are trying to connect via a dial up modem then I'm going to have to let someone else take over because I haven't had to use a dial up modem in about 5 years.

rberry88

its an amd board

AMD Duron 1.1GHz on it

and i am trying to connect through a dsl connection

The best thing to try to help us help you is run "lspci", and check for a line containing "Ethernet".

Here's what mine looks like:
00:0f.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401 100Base-T (rev 01)

I went into the kernel config and found an option for a similar model number, created that
module and it loaded fine.

I dont really think that "lspci" would help. Since my ethernet port is integrated onto my motherboard, NOT connecting through a PCI slot then to my motherboad... ok, look, you have ps/2 plugs where you connect your keyboard and mouse, right? well its like that. your ps/2 plugs do not connect through pci slots do they? well my ethernet plug doesnot connect to the motherboard through a pci slot. though, i would like to know how to configure my kernel in gentoo through a command line

crumb, I'm as to how you scoff at advice when you asked for help.
Did you even try running it? I'm fairly confident that if you do, you will see an ethernet controller.

My laptop has integrated ethernet, i just plug into the rj45 on the side of my laptop, that's integrated.
Yet, at the same time, it is still using the PCI bus. I have a Shuttle SS40G cube pc as my main server
running Gentoo. It has everything integrated on the motherboard: usb, firewire, ethernet, video, sound, etc.
All of these devices are connected to the pci bus despite none of them being on actual PCI cards.

Quote:

.. ok, look, you have ps/2 plugs where you connect your keyboard and mouse, right? well its like that. your ps/2 plugs do not connect through pci slots do they? well my ethernet plug doesnot connect to the motherboard through a pci slot. though, i would like to know how to configure my kernel in gentoo through a command line

I've been using Linux for almost 10 years now, and have become intimately familiar with the hardware of all types of systems as a result. [Despite the word 'newbie' under my name, I am far from it, I am merely new to this particular site/forum]. One of the first things I learned was to run 'lspci' to determine the audio, modem, ethernet, etc chipsets/controllers so i could find and install the proper drivers.

Humor me, if you would please, and run 'lspci' or 'cat /proc/pci' and show us the results.

Have you run to see if there is an "eth0" device? If so, then the kernel does see your integrated ethernet and you need to start looking at your tcp/ip settings.

i really have to say: im sorry. the week i first posted this thread i have been having a really sh**ty week. things were not going well to make it short. so finally, i am sorry for any anger, frustration, or sadness that i have caused. I have found the answer to my problem by the way. so thanks to the people who tried to help.