As newbie as they get
 

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Try running netconfig as root.

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Do you have the manual for the modem around anywhere? It should have a lot of the details that netconfig will ask you for. If the modem has a DHCP server on it then it's so very easy to set up. Most modem/routers do but I don't know about modems by themselves.

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dhcp automatically assignes an ip address for you. run netconfig and select dhcp. Odds are very good you'll be able to get online.

Other than that you'll need to post more specific info abot the setting you chose and your hardware.

if you are write
ifconfig
you will se if your network card is detected and will probably show up as eth0.
If that is the case, you will need to call DHCP to give you an IP address, which is simply done with
dhcpcd eth0 (or eth1, or whatever).
These things should be run as root, mind you.
If it seems to fsck up, post your output here.

Happy slacking.

In addition, if your DSL uses PPPoE (many, but not all, do) then you can use the adsl-setup command from rp-pppoe to configure your DSL and then adsl-start to start it up. This assumes you have rp-pppoe installed (I'm pretty sure it comes bundled with Slackware).

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I know this isn't a very Linux thing to do, but it's the easiest way to get all your config info quickly and easily (apologies to the die hards who read this but the issue is to get things working - no apologies for that).

1. If you have windoze still, boot it and connect to the net. If not and you have another machine using the same ISP use that.
2. Click Start -> Run and you'll get a dialogue box. In the dialogue box type ipconfig /all NB You must be connected to the net with the service provider you are going to use.

This will give you all the DNS Server names etc of your ISP that you need to set the modem up.

It also depends wher you live whether your modem will use PPPoA or PPPoE. A quick search of the net will tell you which is used in your location.

Hey dude. Don't freak out, and learn how to do some hardcore google'ing. Check out this page:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DSL-HOWTO/

and also:

http://aboutdebian.com/network.htm

For DSL modems, there's sometimes more ways than one to set it up. Your mileage may vary.

Take your time and *learn*. Linux takes a lot of *patience*, and it's *nothing* like Windows. You're going to have to learn about scripting and config files and stuff. It might seem a little overwhelming at first, but give it like a year, and you'll have basic administration down no prob. Back that up with at least 2 scripting/programming languages, and you'll never use Windows again.

Good luck.

:-)