My modem connects to the internet but I can't get any browser to use the connection. I am using Red Hat 7.2.

If you can ping addresses but not names, then you need to check you /etc/resolv.conf file to make sure you have the abilty to use a nameserver. 'man resolv.conf' should help you with this. Basically, you first line should be your ISP's address 'amertech.net', for example, the next lines should be the nameserver addresses, "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" (the numbers are between 1 and 255 typically, so you might not need all the x's).

You can use gedit or other editors to edit these files, but you'll need to be root.

Another way to test this is to type in an IP address in your web browser. For example, if you type in http://216.239.57.99 and that takes you to Google, but http://www.google.com does not, then you will know you need to change your DNS settings.

If you don't know what address to use for your DNS in /etc/resolv.conf, check your ISP's website. If you can't find it there, here is a list of OpenNIC nameservers that you can use. Pick the IP addresses of servers from your country (for USA, they'll end with .us.opennic.glue, for Canada .ca.opennic.glue, etc.) and add lines saying "nameserver <ip address>" for each one you choose (up to three).

For example, if you were in the USA, you might add the following lines to /etc/resolv.conf:

nameserver 209.104.63.241
nameserver 216.107.80.42
nameserver 144.162.120.230

Thanks oot you analyzed my problem correctly. I tried to add the server address to the etc/resolv file but a blank file came up. What exactly do I enter to get to this file? Thanks for the help!!!

Just put in those three lines I gave as an example (or the equivalent if you're not from the US). Make sure you're editing /etc/resolv.conf, not /etc/resolv.

Rereading your questions, it looks like you may have been asking how to edit the file. If that's your question, try typing "pico /etc/resolv.conf". When you're done, press ctrl+o (to save) and ctrl+x (to exit).

I opened file /etc/resolv.conf in emacs but only a blank page appeared. I expected to see a file with some info.

It's fine if there's no info, it just means a program hasn't set it up for you. To set it up for yourself, just put in the three lines I showed you above.

Thanks so much I'll give it a try.

You're welcome. Let me know if it works.

Eureka!!!! I am now responding to you using Linux. Thanks again for the info. I needed. Hope to graduate from newbie satus someday.

Excellent! Glad to hear things are working out for you. You'll be surprised how quickly you graduate from newbie status if you just put your mind to whatever you're doing.