If i start up linux without cable moderm connected. Everything starts up fine with localhost@localdomain or whatever it is.

But once i start it with the internet connected it changes to
"dhcp-32-5614" what is this?

It does not allow my webserver to start or to use the internet.

I looked in error for httpd and it said something about can't find ip address..

im stumped any help..

Ok, I'm a complete newbie, but I'll try and help...
dhcp stands for dynamic host configuration protocol, or something like that. Look in your network settings and make sure you have dhcp turned on (since you have a cable modem, I'm assuming your isp uses dhcp - most cable isp co. do).
Next, write back and tell us what distro you are using, and what exactly changes from "localhost" to "dhcp-32-5614,"

when i log in as a user. after i am in i get prompted with:

"could not look up internet address for dhcp-32-5614. This will prevent gnome from operating correctly. it may be possible to correct the problem by adding dhcp-31-5614 to hosts.

Then i get 2 options to 1. log in anyway and try again.

try again never works so i just always log in anyway.

Im sure dhcp is turned on. I run redhat 8.0 and i honstley have no clue what changes. from local host to dhcp-32-5614

Continue to boot when Gnome comes up with that message. Then, from the Red Hat menu, select System tools -> Network device control

It will ask for root's password, and then show a new window (Network Device Control). Highlight the line of the network card you want to mess with. If you only have one, it should already be highlighted. Click the Configure button on the right. Another window pops up (Network Configuration). Click the DNS tab. In the Hostname box, type in what you want your computer to be named (something like Neo, Frodo, Z28kid, or whatever you want). Now, go back to the devices tab. Click the Edit button on the right. Again, a new window pops up (Ethernet Device). Make sure "Activate device when computer starts" is checked. Also, verify that you have "Automatically obtain IP address settings with" selected, and that "dhcp" is listed in the box on the right.

Now go through each window and hit Apply (if there is an apply button, of course), and then the Close button. Now, you need to edit a file. Open up your /etc/hosts file. Look for a line like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost

It may have other stuff on it. Add the name you chose earlier for the Hostname to this file. In other words, the line should change to look like so:
127.0.1 Z28kid localhost.localdomain localhost

Then try rebooting your computer.

i did all the stuff.

But when i try to look at /etc/hosts

it says permission denied even when i am root.

what do i do?

Here's a walk-through using emacs from a terminal to edit the file:

1) su -
2) <enter root's password>
3) emacs /etc/hosts
4) Use the arrow keys, backspace, and the other keys should all work basically like they would in windows notepad, word, etc.
5) when the file is how you like it, hold down the control button
6) with control held down type the letter "s" (saves the file)
7) then, again with control held down, type these two letters "xc" (closes emacs)
8) type "exit" to give up root access

As a side note, typing su at the prompt only makes you root in that terminal; it doesn't change the gnome environment. Similarly, when you are asked for authorization and get the keys on the panel, you still are not root; you have temporary access as root. It's a little difficult to explain, and I don't think I'm doing a very good job of it. Give that walk-through a try and let us know how it goes.

well it didn't work. I even reinstalled redhat and it does the same thing. Only when it is connected to the internet it doesn't let me on the net and on start up the httpd fails.


any ideas why?

i just found this out. With the ethernet cable in the computer but no connected to the cable modem it still makes httpd fail and it says cannot look up interent address. But if I unplug the cable it starts up find on local host.

did a search and found the answers.

Thanks to all those that helped!!!!!!