Hello. I'm totally new to Linux.

I wish to install Debian Linux. I have downloaded the netinst image on a CD. Now, I've installed the basic version on a Sony Vaio but the apt-get command doesn't work there.

My problem is this :-

On my Vaio, I had a cable internet connection (via LAN Card). After successfully installing the netinst, the next step was to connect to the internet to download and install the rest of the packages. But I couldn't figure out how to get Debian to recognize that there was an internet connection in the first place.

Now, I plan to do the same on a desktop, which currently has an ADSL broadband connection. I will install the bare basic neinst version as before but the next step i.e. making it recognize and configure the ADSL broadband connection is what I'm clueless about. Without this, I can't download and install the remaining packages.

I read the topic on how to configure BSNL broadband on Linux, this is for MTNL, which connects via a telephone line.

Thank you.

Do you have an ADSL router or are you using a modem?

jSteel, I have an ADSL router.

What make and model is your router? Whenever I've used a Debian netinstall .iso, it's automatically found and configured a connection with my Netgear DG834G.

If interested in trying an alternative OS solution..

netbootcd-3.1.2 (6mb) can netinstall any debian branch including daily builds + major distro's
( http://netbootcd.tuxfamily.org/#Downloads )
it is different because it's tinycore-2.0+ based, and will attempt to auto-grab
any netconnection

very easy to boot it also from a usb or partition on hd
and install to other partition

after downloading, to copy contents of iso to usb
in ubuntu
sudo su
cd Desktop
mkdir iso
mkdir mnt
mount -o loop NetbootCD-3.1.2.iso mnt
cp -a mnt/* iso
umount mnt

or just right-click iso and extract here

now rename isolinux folder to syslinux
rename isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg

what's funny?
Because it runs completely in ram(No X)
you can even net-install to the partition it BOOTED FROM!
I formatted it and all, destroying the netboot kernel/initrd and installing debian lenny
into that partition

here is menu.lst entry example
for usb also add "waitusb=5" or "10" to the kernel line

here is syslinux.cfg example, you must give full path to kernel/initrd using syslinux

and again, add "waitusb=?" to append line, if using usb, time for me usually works is 5sec

works flawlessly too
hope that helps

Since you have a router, setup your network for DHCP, or use a fixed ip in the range from the router, and set the router as GW
Take a look at
http://www.debian-administration.org...tworking_setup