My name is Aaron, and I am very excited to learn the world of Linux, hence I am still learning.

I have installed Mandrake 10.1 and everything works great except internet browsing. I can ping, do nslookups, connect to other computers on my network, ssh to my school network; I just can’t browse the internet. I seem to be able to browse only at random times. I can get it to connect to one site but not others, and sometimes none at all. I installed the newest version of Firefox, but still have the same issues. I have pretty standard hardware including an Intel 10/100 NIC. I dual boot this machine with Windows XP and have no problems in Windows; internet is as fast as can be. I have tried google and nothing. Both the default Mandrake browser and Firefox will timeout. It’s really driving me crazy.

What more info can I give?

Thanks for any insight you may have.

Aaron

are you on broadband or dial-up

are you going through a proxy server

floppy

Thanks for your reply.

I am using a DSL modem that is also a router. The network settings for Mandrake are set to be configured by DHCP. I have also tried configuring it static.

I have an ASUS Motherboard of about 3 years old ( can get you more detailed info later ). A barebone computer I would say.

I haven't done anything but install Firefox, and messed with network settings after it would not stay connected to the internet.

OH, and I have even tried reinstalling Mandrake with a basic install after removing hardware I thought may be bothering things like extra USB ports and Firewire ports. Obviously no luck.

Thanks again,
Aaron

Just my humble opinion based on sneaky suspicions
but I think there might be a proxy server in there somewhere
if not in the modem then possibly at your ISP

what brand and model modem / router are you using

are you able to go into your win xp internet / network settings
and see if its set up to go through a proxy anywhere
if it is you will need the proxy name and port number

this works for IE 5.5
toolbar > go "tools"
> go "internet options"
> go "connections"
> go "LAN settings" or "dial-up settings"
if there is a proxy set up in there then you will need to copy that info
over to Mandrake

if there is no proxy
then we will have to try something else

hope this helps
floppy

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, I am thankful of your advise.

I read some other threads here at linuxquestions.org, but none seem to help.

I have an Actiontec 54Mbps DSL Gateway modem that also acts as a firewall/router.
This modem connects to quest by PPPoA using UC-MUX encapsulation.

Under internet explorer, the internet options don't use proxy at all.

Like I said before, I can browse the internet for a min. , and then I can't, and then 2 mins. later I can browse again.
When I ssh, I usually have no problems. All this is weird and I have no ideas as to what the problem could be.

I am starting to appreciate Linux, but this whole process is getting frustrating.

Please tell me what more detailed info you need. I would like to try everything, it is a great learning experience that the books I am reading can't give me.

Thanks again,
Aaron

I also just installed Mandrake 10.1 earlier today on this 20 GB so I can learn to use it. Have you checked your firewall settings to make sure that HTTP is allowed? Go to the security tab in the Control Center and look at your firewall settings. Also check your levels and checks and permissions tabs. Anything in there could cause conflicts. I too am still learning, but I haven't had any problems surfing, so it's probably just something simple that we've all overlooked. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Thanks, but I tried that. I am able to connet to sites, only part of the time.

INTERESTING!!

I recently installed Suse 9.3 on my laptop, and everything was going great until I got home.
I was able to get on the internet at school just fine (and very fast), no problems. All done through DHCP, no configuring on my part. When I get home, the internet on my laptop does the same as with Mandrake on my home computer. I have reset things, played with configurations, but nothing. What's interesting is that I can ping anything on the internet, and the address is even resolved, but when I plug an address into Firefox it works only part of the time, and for only few sites. Even with firefox newest version installed. Also very interesting is that most the time Konqueror works, though slow. At the school both browsers are fast, and have no problems. All of this is very strange to me and I am really starting to get discouraged.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Thanks for your help, hope to hear from you soon, if I figure it out, I will let you all know.

-- Aaron

Are you using the ethernet port to connect to you modem?

I have this problem. I can talk to the router DLINK DSL-504T using Konqueror to http://192.168.1.1 and even get the warning about un-encryted data is going to the interner - continue? box.
My ISP via WinXP xhecks doesn't use a PROXY. I did notice the router uses MMODE but I don't know the Mandrake equiv? Alos I noticed in the DSL log it talked of a Gateway IP - where is Mandrakee equiv?
Has anyone any idea to fix this totally frustrating problem please.
I did try making a new connection to no avail.

SOLVED IT> What a painful hassle:-

go into your router as admin using http://192.168.1.1 password admin - unless you changed it!!
Go to the STATUS tab and look into the System log and get the Primary + secondary DNS's
GO into Linux Control centre Network&Internet and select theInternet access and put these DNS values in. The
HOST: is 192.168.1.1 or I guess whatever gets you into your Router. Might have to do this twice??!??

If your router is setup as DHCP server then use DHCP on your linux box to obtain your IP address and it should also setup your gateway for you.

Yes, one would think so but it is set up for DHCP on both but every no and then the DNS fields get wiped out!!!??
Any other advice appreciated as is your earlier reply. Thanks

P.S. I've been to Wagga Wagga, in fact my Hillman Hunter's engine died there !

Hillman Hunter ..hmmm... sounds like a long time ago. Maybe your due for another visit.
Is there something that you are running which is killing the data. A cron job or some daemon, maybe you have gremlins.
Does it happen just after you have done specific thing.

Not that I can tell. I will stop cron to check tho. I did some browsing, answered your reply and left my machine for half hour. When I came back it was overwritten?! Thanks for suggestion - will keep this thread posted with result of cron stopped.
cheers