I am new to Linux and I've just completed installing Mandrake Linux 9.2 on my home PC, getting rid of the previous Win2K.

For my broadband internet connection, I am using an Aztech DSL Turbo 900 modem connected via a Netgear FA311 ethernet adapter. I am unable to connect to the Internet. I have 2 questions:

a. When I do a fresh installation of Linux, do I need to have all my hardware connected and powered up so that it can be detected?

b. Is Linux a "plug and play" OS? If I add hardware later on, will it automatically be detected?

c. Can anyone send me the instructions on how to set up a broadband pppoe internet connection using ADSL? OR if anyone has a similar setup as mine, perhaps you can tell me how you got connected. Thanks!

who is providing your dsl service?
sometimes even thought physically the LAN card is on, Linux will not be able to detect that there is any communications between dsl modem. If this is the case you may want to consider a router or a switch.

-Tom-

I did a quick google search on PPPoe. Try this link /www.linuxhelp.net/guides/pppoe/

I have a router, it provides PPPoe. There is no reason why you can't add it to a linux box.