im new to linux and am trying to set up my internet.i have two pc's one dual boot {windows xp + fedora f3) and the other just suse. the windows pc is connected to my modem most of the time but i want to be able to updat my suse now and again.im not bothered about disconnecting my windows pc to connect my suse so im not bothered about a router. fedora picked up my modem straight away nothing to do at all. but suse recognises the modem but i cant get it to run.......its connected with usb and i swap it to windows then back to suse

Modem doesnt have support for ethernet?

i dont get you

I dont know the specs of your modem, but most likley it has support for 10/100 mbps ethernet you know cat 5 cable.........
Linux will have no problem configuring an ethernet network adapter, so switching a patch cable would be a good solution or better yet a hub or switch

You said it's a USB modem but do you have the option to use an networkt cable to plug it into the SuSE box rather than USB?

yes its has a normal internet socket

well if you installed linux with a network card already in your suse box most likly it is ready to be used, in a superuser terminal type ifconfig -a to list all interfaces, if you get an eth0 or eth1 then plug your network cable from modem into ethernet card on back of computer and reboot, if your not to keen on renewing it your self

If you are talking about a DIAL-UP MODEM, use SuSE IGUANA -> INTERNET -> KPPP (Point-to-Point-Protocol) and follow the set up a for dial-up session.

If you are talking about a Cable MODEM, your SuSE system is ready, just plug in the NETWORK cable from your Cable MODEM to your NIC.

I have notice that some Linux distributions do not like USB devices (NIC, MODEM, Scanner), and might have interrupt conflicts. Try unplugging any USB device and test your dial-up/network connection again. If everything works, plug in the USB devices again until something does not work so you can find the problem device.