Can't connect to the internet
 

I've set up Mandrake 9.2 Download Version on my PC but I can't seem to connect to the internet (broadband). I am pretty sure it is an error on my part filling in incorrect information in the internet configuration (I can connect on my Windows XP machine using the same broadband modem)but I don't know what:confused:

The information I have is as follows:

Incoming Mail Server (POP3)
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)
News Server (NNTP)
My Login ID
My e-mail address
My Password

Note: My ISP automatically allocates an IP address everytime I log on.

I don't know what to fill in the following fields that Mandrake requires:

Host name
Zeroconf host name
DNS Server
Gateway (e.g. ...1)

Under the LAN configuration I am prompted for the following information:

IP address (What do I fill in here when my ISP automatically allocates a different IP address everyytime I log on???)
Netmask
Boot Protocol (I am given a choice of DHCP - this is the default, static or bootp)
Started on Boot Y/N
DHCP Client


Any help would be really appreciated
:)

Thanks.

i have add similar prolem before. pls just fill out as usual and make sure ur internet connections startup at boot time.

then fill out the hostname, DHCP for ur ip address, netmask, protocol as u have stated in ur message.

what kinda network card do u use? i feel ur net card is not yet initiated by the kernel.

once u have everything plugged in, go to konsole and type in

/sbin/ifconfig

the above is to check whether there is an ipp addy present. just lookout for eth0 column in the message and look for inet add:

if theres nothing there

just type in

/sbin/ifup eth0 or ifup eth0

this will try to look for the ip address allocated to ur system and will initialize ur netcard

pls reply

Thanks for your help, debloxie.

Part of the problem I'm having is that I don't know what the Netmask, Boot protocol, DHCP Client, DNS Server, Gateway, Host name and Zeroconf host name are so I literally don't know what to type in.

I checked the hardware in the Mandrake Control Centre and it has detected that my Ethernet card is an Intel 82558B Ethernet Pro 10/100.

I typed in /sbin/ifconfig and checked the information listed at the eth0 column. Which is as follows:

eth0:9 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr xx:xx:XX:xx:Xx:xx
inet addr: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Bcast:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Mask:xxx.x.x.x
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:xxxx
Metric:x
Interrupt:9 Base address:0x7000

Note: The X's above denote letters, the x's denote numbers.

If anyone can assist with this problem, I'd be grateful.

I tried calling the ISP to find out what the DHCP client is etc. etc. They asked what version of Windows I was using. When I told them I was using Linux they just said they did not offer support for Linux and were therfore no help wharsoever.

I'm on Mandrake 9.1, so this may not be perfect for your situation, and other network factors may also intrude. Basically, however, once you get dhcp working, you don't need to worry about netmask, boot protocol, DNS server, etc. That's the reason dhcp exists, because people got tired of that hassle. 'pump' is the dhcp client I use, but dhcpcd is good too.

If you're linked up to a cable modem, you're home free, as it expects you to use dhcp (provided your provider isn't a putz, you might have to make several calls to them to establish your connection, but that's rare nowadays).

You should be able to skip any network configuration till you get to a dynamic or DHCP setup.

Most ISP's won't troubleshoot Linux problems (this is changing, but slowly, as the ISP's are using Linux as well). What you need to do is understand how the underlying network works. Then, when they ask you a "windows" question, you can give them an answer, even using Linux. A pain, true, but it has it's own benefits, as you will gain knowledge of a network you use every day.

Aside from that, you can simply try calling them a few times, until you get someone with Linux knowledge, or bug them enough that they find a Linux tech for you. Maybe not the most elegant solution, but results are what matters, no? :)

Thanks scott_R.

But what should I type in the box which prompts me to type in the DHCP Client? Any ideas?

Thanks.

I'm using slackware, so I can't help with the Mandrake specific stuff, but the rest is pretty standard networking info. You can get a lot of what you're going to need from your xp box. On that machine, open a command prompt (start / run / CMD <enter>) and type <B>ipconfig /all</B>. You'll need the DNS server and Default Gateway. The hostname is what you want your machine called (mine answers to goblin, my mp3 server answers to bard, etc).

I have no idea about the zeroconf server.

hope this helps...

CJB

Just select DHCP for the boot protocol and DHCP client, it will grey out all information such as ip address and the like.
Default DHCP configuration will let the replying DHCP server configure your IP, subnet mask, def gateway, DNS servers. Just enter the hostname in zeroconf to have a local name for your machine.

Jeff

Well, still no luck. I got the following settings from Windows:

Windows IP Configuration
Host name: chris
Primary DNS Suffix:
Node Type: Unknown
IP Routing Enabled: No
WINS Proxy Enabled: No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS suffix:
Description: Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address: 00-E0-18-53-F8-7F
Dhcp Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled: Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address: 169.254.198.224
Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway:

PPP Adapter IMS:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address: 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled: No
IP Address: 203.218.46.232 Note - This changes each time I connect
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway: 203.218.46.232 Note - This changes each time I connect
DNS Servers: 218.102.62.71
205.252.144.120
Net BIOS over Tcpip: Disabled

I typing in the parameters in various combinations to no avail. Part of the problem is the fact that Windows gives me two DNS server numbers. Which one do I use:confused:

I still don't know what to type in the DHCP Client box.

I'm sure the solution must be simple as I can connect with Windows from the same computer without any problem. But for the life of me, I cannot work out what the problem is.


This is what happens when I boot up Mandrake in verbose mode - among the list of boot-up messages I saw the following:

zcip[942]: Retrieved address 127.255.255.255 for eth0:9
zcip[942]: sending probe 1 for 127.255.255.255
zcip[942]: address in use
zcip[942]: sending probe 1 for 169.254.254.95
zcip[942]: sending probe 3 for 169.254.254.95
zcip[942]: claiming ownership of address 169.254.254.95
zcip[943]: waiting for collisions

Additionally, I tried typing ifconfig -a in Konsole and got the following readout:

eth0 Link encap: Ethernet HWaddr 00:E0:18:55:F8:7F
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets: 1 errors: 0 dropped: 0 overruns: 0 frame: 0
TX packets: 14 errors: 0 dropped: 0 overruns: 0 carrier: 0
collisions: 0 txqueuelen: 100
RX bytes: 60 (60.0 b) TX bytes: 2814 (2.7 Kb)
Interrupt: 10 Base address: 0xe000

eth0:9 Link encap: Ethernet HWaddr 00:E0:18:55:F8:7F
inet addr: 169.254.254.95 Bcast: 169.254.255.255
Mask 255.255.0.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
Interrupt:10 Base address: 0xe000

lo Link encap: Local Loopback
inet addr: 127.0.0.1 Mask 255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU: 16436 Metric:1
RX packets:95 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:95 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0: carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes: 5312 (5.1 Kb) TX bytes: 5312 (5.1 Kb)

Also, when I type route I get the following readout:

Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
169.254.0.0 * 255.255.0.0 U 0 0 0 eth0
127.0.0.0 * 255.0.0.0 U 0 0 0 lo

Any ideas:scratch:

I'm still not getting anywhere with this problem. I tried typing in the following commands in Konsole and below are the outputs. If these will help someone understand what the problem is, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!

You got an interface, you got an IP. This IP is in a specific IP range which is used when your machine cannot contact a DHCP server.
What this means is
- good news : your machine seems okay
- band news : something prevents your machine from talking to the DHCP server

you said earlier your Windows config was running fine ?

could you tell me if you have a file named ifcfg-eth0 in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts ? If yes, could you send me its content ?

Coud you also send the content of /etc/dhclient.conf ?

I have a DHCP problem with my cable provider. I have to wait a few minutes before getting an IP but it was also true using Windows. Through Konsole, being root, type

ps -edf | grep dh

and see if you have a dhclient running. If not, run it by issuing the command

dhclient -d

it will not go in the background and you will be able to stop it using Ctrl-C. Send me the output as well.

sorry it's /etc/dhclient-eth0.conf

and you should run
dhclient -d -1 -lf /var/lib/dhcp/dhclient-eth0.leases -pf /var/run/dhclient-eth0.pid -cf /etc/dhclient-eth0.conf eth0

Thanks for the advice, jeffzw. OK I typed in the command you suggested. They are printed below with the respective outputs (Note these are literally cut and pasted via a floppy disk so if there is a typing error, let me know!!):

Does this shed any light on the problem?

Hi jeffzw,

Sorry I missed off two of the commands you requested on my previous message. I've cut and pasted them below for your info. Thanks!

Ok, I wasn't too clear in my email, could you do this instead (pay attention to the spaces between each part of the command) :

cd /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts
ls -l ifcfg*
more ifcfg-eth0
cd /etc
more dhclient-eth0.conf
dhclient -d -1 -lf /var/lib/dhcp/dhclient-eth0.leases -pf /var/run/dhclient-eth0.pid -cf /etc/dhclient-eth0.conf eth0
please leave the spaces between the options etc. !