I am a complete newbie to Linux.

I am attempting to set up my Linux box to obtain an IP from my router.
I have 2 machines. One is an XP box and the other is Whitebox 3.0 Respin 1. I am using a Linksys router connected to a standard Motorola Surfboard cable modem. Channel one connects to the XP system with no problem. Channel 2 is going to the Linux box. The NIC cards are both 3Com 3c905C-TX. I have tested both NIC cards and know they work.

The router is set to DHCP. The XP machine obtains an address thru DHCP. The Linux box recognized the NIC but when I try to activate the device in the Network Configuration it pops up a redhat-config-network box. This box gives me Determining IP information for Eth0...Failed; no link present. Check cable?

I have tried reading the help files but it does not seem to offer any assistance if the Obtain address using DHCP setting does not work. I have also tried to hardcode the DNS. It will activate the device but it will not give any connectivity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.