Hi guys look im new to linux, i have recently set up a machine with red hat 8. i also have a machine running windows xp which is able to acces the internet via a dialup modem, what i want to do is allow my linux machine to access the internet too, but through the XP machine.
I have them linked by a crossover cable but dont really know what to do next

can anyone help me

Hi,

It's relatively straightforward.

First, if it's just the two machines, then yes, you'll want an ethernet (Cat 5) crossover cable.

On the windows machine, open up control panel and go to 'network connections' (I think that's what it's called). Right-click on the connection you want to share and select 'properties'. A panel should open. On one of the tabs in there, there will be an option to share the connection - check it.

Once you've done that, close the panel and then right-click on the internal network interface connection. A panel should open; in the list of protocols, click on TCP/IP, then click 'Properties'. Check the address of the machine - it should be 192.168.0.1 (or similar). I use static addresses for the DNS settings - you'll need to look up the domain name server addresses for your ISP and enter the values in the relevant boxes in the panel.

On your Linux machine, you'll need to configure your network card with a separate address (eg, 192.168.0.2) and set the default gateway to your windows machine (192.168.0.1). You'll also want to set the nameserver addresses as per the windows machine; these normally go in the text file /etc/resolv.conf, in the format -

nameserver 123.123.123.123
nameserver 123.123.123.124
...

And you should be done..

Hope this makes reasonable sense!

ok mate, i did the ip addresses etc but didnt do the DNS is this really needed?

after doing the IP address, default gateways etc i cannot reach the other machines via ping

any more ideas

please go easy on me im a beginner
thanks guys

sorry mate, i just tried the resolveconf in the linux box and access was denied
any ideas

Hi,

I think you will need the DNS addresses - try having a look on your ISP's website for their tech help, or check any documentation you received when you signed up.

As for lack of success with ping - this could be more of a problem. Check to see if XP has enabled its firewall (look at the internet connection, see if it says it is firewalled); it's just possible that the Windows firewall isn't allowing pings, but my hunch is that this isn't the case. Otherwise, double check that you've fitted a crossover cable between the machines, not an ordinary non-crossover type (it's caught me out before). When pinging, are you using the numeric IP address, or the name of each machine?

Resolv.conf - you'll need to be root to edit this file. Easiest (quickest) way is to open a terminal window (you're using Red HAt 8, so I'm assuming you're running Gnome - look in the menu for 'terminal' or similar). Then change to the root user by typing

Enter your root password (you won't get any feedback on screen). When successful, you can edit the /etc/resolv.conf file by typing

This will open the file for editing. Press the 'insert' key on your keyboard, then type in the names of your nameservers, as outlined previously. When you're done, press the 'ESC' key, then type : (colon) followed by 'w' (omit quotes!) to write the file. To get out of Vi, type : then 'q'.

ok i have diabled all firewalls, and checked that the cable is a crossover it is, its one of those u purchase in apcket etc

umm im really lost on this connectivity issue

one more thing i get these messages as my linux box boots,
something about bringing up the eth0 interface (this stalls here for a little while)
then it says information for eth0 failed

any clues
thanks mate

OK,

if there's a problem with eth0 during boot, we could do with having a look at the boot log - have a look in /var/log and check any or all of syslog, messages and boot.log files (not sure what they'll be called in RH8) - post anything relating to eth0 here. Oh, you might need to be root to view the logs.

In the meantime, as root, in a terminal try typing

and see what messages (if any) are returned..