I am unable to connect to the internet. I have Motorola Netopia DSL (NO router) and can't connect to the internet in ANY linux distro (openSUSE, fedora, slax, mandriva, simplymepis, mint, dreamlinux, ubuntu, ubuntu studio, artist linux). The only linux distro that works right away is backtrack linux 3. All other distro do not work including new back track linux 4 because in version 4 they switched to debian. My ISP is Bellsouth and they do not want to cooperate. I was told they do not support linux.
DSL shows internet and activity lights green but it does not connect.
It seems to me problem is in eth0 because when I go to terminal and ifup eth0 it gives me can't assign requested address. I have dynamic DHCP and can't assign static address.
I have 2 questions:
1.- How to connect to the internet?
2.- As I said above backtracklinux 3 works out of the box but doesn't have flash. How to install flash in backtrack linux 3 so I can play chess on Yahoo games and chess.com?
I'm posting this second question here because backtrack linux forum is down.
I run all linux distros from live CD/DVD from external DVD drive except fedora which is on C: drive.
I did try to run already network devices, dsl configuration without any results.
I wish to thank anyone in advance for sending me reply and helping me to solve these problems.
If I can go to my modem thru browser address 192.168.1.254 I would be able to solve the problem but I always get message can't connect to server.

This is a standard answer form any ISP. Ignore it, your linux system will work, you already know of one distro that does work.

Since your system connects directly to your DSL modem you probably need PPPoE installed in order to make a connection.
I know Mandriva has it in the repos, i would bet all the others do also. Once installed, you will need to do a little configuration. It has been a while since I used this type of setup. I have a router, most of them have PPPoE internally, so you don't need it on installed on your system. Any way, do a little googling and look for a HowTo for PPPoE ( point to point protocol over ethernet ).

Your ethernet card does require a IP address. Your modem will be assigned one by Bell South, that is a common way of doing DSL. Your ethernet card can be statically assigned, since you won't have a DHCP server, ( unless the modem is a DHCP server for your side ).

I'm sure Bell South will have a web site with IP address info. You may need to look up DNS addresses, gateway etc. You could always ask Bell, just don't say 'linux' to them.

Sorry, I can not help with question 2. Never used Backtrack. Is it a live CD, or one you install? The method to add packages can be quite different.

everything is live CD/DVD except fedora 12 which is on C: drive

Look for a PPPoE package for FC-12. It should have one.

Here is a link to help with PPPoE.

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/DSL-HOWTO/configure.html

In Debian based distributions, try pppoeconf.

It is very unlikely that the problem has any thing to do with Linux. The only mystery is that "Backtrack Linux 3" does work; perhaps it guesses an IP address when it can't get one and gets lucky. It may be illuminating to know the IP addresses of the systems when you try to access the Internet.

Are you 100% sure that your DSL modem's LAN IP address is 192.168.1.254? Can you ping it? Can you telnet into it?
Have you ever been able to ping it, tenet into it or use a web browser to access its administration menus?

What is your computer's IP address and subnet mask?Do you know your DSL modem's settings? Would you be able to re-configure it after a reset? If so you can reset it then it should give itself address 192.168.1.254 then you should be able to use a web browser to access its administration menus.

Given the "CSRF" vulnerabilities of this type of modem, the difficulties you are having and the low price of pukka ADSL modem routers, have you considered replacing the modem?

yes I am 100% sure my modem address is 192.168.1.254
I am accessing it in backtrack linux 3 an windows with no problems..
I can't ping or telnet. There is no internet although lights on my modem's internet and
activity are green. I guess problem is with eth0.
Modem is set by Bellsouth. Any other type of modem does not work. I tried it and had to return to the store. The only modem that works with Bellsouth is modem they send you.
My address is dynamic so the only way to know it would be to call Bellsouth. I'll try to call them today.

If your modem has 192.168.1.254
set your eth0 to a fixed IP in the same range, and set 192.168.1.254 as the default GW
please give the output from
Since it works in backtrack linux 3, look at the settings when you are connected.

try putting into your /etc/resolv.conf file.