I'm very new to linux. I've installed Mandriva 2006 LE (the entry level one). I ran drakconnect but wasn't entirely sure if I was setting things up properly.

My ISP is Japanese. They provide a very helpful downloadable set of instruction in English for setting up the DSL connection using XP and for OSX but not for Linux. I find myself trying to use the information from their XP instructions to figure out how to setup the Linux connection. It's not proving too fruitful an endeavour.

My hardware is:
- Toshiba Satellite 2400-103 laptop
- internal PCI V.90 modem, Ethernet 10/100
- external ADSL modem which apparently utilizes the OS's PPPoE software


Basically my provider gives me:
- a user I.D./name in the form of an email address i.e. (something)@(isp).ne.jp
- a password for the above username
(both of these are entries appearing in the connection window with XP)
- a primary DNS server address
- a secondary DNS server address

The XP instruction instruct me to:
- create a new network connection (wizard time)
- choose to connect to the internet
- setup my connection manually
- choose to connect using a broadband connection that requires a username and password
(- name the connection)
- provide my username and password
(- wizard ends)
Then the connection window opens and I'm instructed to:
- click Properties then Networking tab
- select PPPoE
- tick TCP/IP and select it's properites
- tick Obtain an IP address automatically
- input primary and secondary DNS server addresses.

I had similar difficulties attempting to create a connection with a version of Suse. This problem and the lack of support was the major reason why I abandoned Suse (until I knew more) in favour of a more newbie friendly distro. i.e. Mandriva.

Give me a hand please? m(__)m

mandriva 2006 is not working for my ADSL modem, either. i really think that this distro has a buggy networking setup. other distros have no problem with my ADSL modem. one thing to look into is making sure that the PPPoE client is on the proper device (some ADSL modems can be configured to either use their own built-in PPPoE software, or allow your OS to use its PPPoE client software/driver). what i mean is, my ADSL modem has built-in PPPoE, so my OS's don't need to have a PPPoE client running on them (all you have to do is get your local ethernet card configured correctly with an IP address and the default gateway, which will be the address of your ADSL modem). so, if PPPoE is enabled on the ADSL modem, then disable PPPoE on your OS. If your ADSL modem doesn't have its built-in PPPoE enabled on it, then you will definitely need PPPoE software running on Linux. my ADSL modem even has build-in DHCP (SpeedStream 4100 ADSL Modem by Efficient Networks, Inc.) windows xp works with it like a charm, so do many other Linux distros). good luck!

It appears that Mandriva 2006 Discovery does have PPPoE software (on disc one.
I still can't connect.