1st time using Linux and facing alot of problem.
 

hi .
i am totally new here and never had used linux . basically i wanted to configure a squid server for proxy so i have installed redhat and after installing it, it can ping itself or local host but when i ping any other system on the LAN and it drops alot of packets and after some time reply come.
when i ping from anyother system in lAN to that linux machine packets drop alot and after say 15 to 20 time out i get 1 or 2 reply and then again time out.
kindly need help

first off before you go any farther

did you buy the required support contract / license
RHEL 6.3 ( the current) ,and every version also, are not free .You need a license and register your install with red hat .
-- there is no way around that --

if you did not buy the license then install CentOS 6.3 or ScientificLinux 6.3
both are FREE rebuilds of RHEL


Have you read through the red hat install and administration documents
( free for every one to read)
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/...erprise_Linux/

Have you tried wiggling the network cables?
If you're dropping some pings but not others that sounds more like a hardware problem to me.

its a very old version its RHEL version 3

i also thnk that the issue is with the network card because i have changed the cable

...and...
Red Hat 3 is ANCIENT...the latest is 6.3. Not very surprising that very old software has problems with newer hardware, is it? This would be kind of like saying "It's my first time using Windows, and I just loaded Windows 98, and I'm having problems...."

And, as JohnVV pointed out, unless you're going to PAY for Red Hat, then DON'T USE IT. You WILL NOT get bugfixes, updates, patches, security fixes, and not be able to update ANYTHING online, or install new packages. Unless you absolutely NEED RHEL, load a different, consumer-friendly version, like openSUSE, Fedora, or Ubuntu. You can still run squid on any of them. RHEL (and other distros like CentOS/Scientific), are for SERVERS....that is, for machines that operate AS servers; without sound cards, wifi, bluetooth, and even monitors/keyboards. They're meant to be in a back room, not used as workstations...so don't be surprised if you want all the gadgets on your home system to work, and they won't (or CAN'T) with RHEL.

If you really want RHEL, load CentOS instead...and get a current version.

As above

I do have ScientificLinux 6.3 ( a FREE rebuild of RHEL 6.3) installed on two of my home computers .
BUT....

SL6.3 is NOT my normal everyday operating system .
OpenSUSE12.2 is on the new computer.

And SL6 is the main on a VERY old box from 2001 , it is the only OS that is still in support that will run in it .
( but this is one of those "special cases" that pop up .)


I use SL6 to run laboratory ( scientific ) type software and it is a PERFECT fit for that
the major versions of programs will NEVER change in the 10 year life time of the Operating System .

CentOS,RHEL,SL are normally not a good fit for a home "general purpose" computer

things like support for movies,music, and wireless hardware are lacking or unsupported .

and RHEL3 is ancient ( as above ) it is like running win98 in a win7 and 8 world

but
if you NEED RHEL3 for some very old legacy software ( and it dose happen )

install the current ( fully paid for and licensed ) RHEL6.3 and run RHEL 3 on a vm
( or the free CentOS6.3)
--- question --
RHEL 3 point ? what 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
rhel3.0 came out in 2003-10-22
the last upgrade RHEL 3.9 came out in 2007-06-15

run rhel3.? in a VM on RHEL6.3