[SOLVED] Internet connection problem in linux distros, but not in xp

patanjali · 06-07-2012, 08:21 PM

Let me know if another forum is more appropriate for this--didn't quite seem to fit the guidelines for the networking forum.

Problem: Firefox, Opera, Thunderbird, elinks all fail to connect to the internet, but there is no problem in Win XP (same machine, another partition).

More details:
I've been running primarily Mandriva Linux 2010, but have Arch Linux and Win XP on other partitions. The same problem exists in Arch, and also if I boot from the SystemRescueCd and try to use Firefox there (previously, that worked). The problem does not exist in XP or if I boot from UBCD4Win, using Firefox there.

Symptom:

Code:

Server not found
          Firefox can't find the server at ...

But I can ping:

Code:

$ ping www.google.com
PING www.l.google.com (173.194.75.106) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from ve-in-f106.1e100.net (173.194.75.106): icmp_seq=1 ttl=50 time=28.8 ms
64 bytes from ve-in-f106.1e100.net (173.194.75.106): icmp_seq=2 ttl=50 time=22.2 ms
64 bytes from ve-in-f106.1e100.net (173.194.75.106): icmp_seq=3 ttl=50 time=31.9 ms
64 bytes from ve-in-f106.1e100.net (173.194.75.106): icmp_seq=4 ttl=50 time=21.8 ms
^C64 bytes from ve-in-f106.1e100.net (173.194.75.106): icmp_seq=5 ttl=50 time=27.9 ms

--- www.l.google.com ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 5 received, 0% packet loss, time 4005ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 21.884/26.587/31.923/3.908 ms

And, I successfully did a simple test install via the Mandriva "Install & Remove Software" applet, which requires downloading something.

I tried deleting the network connection and then recreating it--no change.

In case it's relevant:
About a week ago, I replaced the motherboard on the machine (an old Toshiba) with an identical, new MB. Initially, there was a problem connecting after that, but deleting the network connection and recreating it worked, and continued to work for several days through several reboots. I'm using a wired connection, and the NIC is built into the board.

We also had some trouble recently with our internet, i.e. extremely slow or non-existent. The "server not found" problem started during that time, but continued after the slow/non-existent problem was fixed.

I also tried restoring my system from backup (made before motherboard change)--didn't help, even after again deleting/recreating the network connection, checking cables, etc.

Thanks for any insights!

qlue · 06-08-2012, 02:22 AM

My first thought is that it might be a BIOS issue. Have you checked all the BIOS settings? You might also need a BIOS upgrade if the new MB has on older BIOS version.

ggallozz · 06-08-2012, 02:26 AM

... firstly.
Try setting Network Connection and putting Google S (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) in DNS search field of the IP4 protocol tab
Then trying to fix it with the DNS server address of your ISP...

patanjali · 06-08-2012, 02:36 PM

Many thanks to you both--both of your suggestions were useful.

Although the reminder to update the bios did not fix the internet connection problem, it did fix another problem (shutdown problem in xp). Also looked at the bios settings--very simple, nothing seemed applicable to the network problem.

Using the Google DNS fixed the connection problem. Before changing that, I tried typing a numeric IP address into Firefox, which worked--certainly a sign that the DNS servers needed to be fixed.

Still not sure why the automatic dns assignment was not working in Linux, but was in xp. Checked what DNS was being assigned in xp, and tried that in Linux--didn't work...but doesn't matter.

So, thanks again!