Having trouble set up internet

im using DSL through centrytel but im having trouble setting up the internet when im using Linux. I have MandrakeLinux 9.2 installed and i cant figure out how to get it to detect the settings of my internet, ne1 got any ideas

Is it PPoE, Does your ISP use DHCP?

ifconfig will show you general information about network interfaces that are currently configured.

Does Linux even recognize your ethernet device?

I have no clue what you just typed, could you explain that a little simpler because i dont know some of the things you where talking about. but i dont think that linux is dectecting my ethernet connection, it just says that i the webpage cant be found.

Let try an help you out. To use ifconfig, log in as root. At a command prompt type su and press enter. Type your root password. You should get # prompt. At that prompt type ifconfig. Here is an example from Mandrake 9.2.

[root@sluggy cliff]# ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 000:B7:26:B3:78
inet addr:192.168.1.13 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:483 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:645 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:100
RX bytes:355960 (347.6 Kb) TX bytes:85502 (83.4 Kb)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0xc000

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:254 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:254 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:21151 (20.6 Kb) TX bytes:21151 (20.6 Kb)

Eth0 is my only ethernet card installed. On the second line you can see an ip address of 192.168.1.13. I am using DHCP. DHCP is a server that assigns ip addresses when requested. In my case that address comes from my router, for my home network. To see the IP address from my ISP, i have to go look at my DSL modem. I do not know what your network looks like, you may not have a router. ISP's can tell you to set up a fixed IP address, or configure your system to make a DHCP request. Talk to your ISP if in dought.

PPPoE stands for point to point protocol over ethernet. This is a commonly used protocol these days. Linux can be configured to use it. My router provides the function, so I didn't have to configure Linux to do it.

Mandrake 9.2 has a tool to help configure internet connections. Go to the Control center Network and Internet and then DrakConnect. Just so you know, the loopback interface is another ip address your ip stack will respond to. It has many uses, but don't worry about that right now.

Do the ifconfig, post the results and we should be able to give you more guidance. It would also help if you further describe your internet connection, ie do you have a router? are any other machines sharing this connect, etc.

I had a similar problem, and the solution is ridiculous, but this is what worked for me...

I use Mandrake 10, so I'm not sure EXACTLY what you'll see, but try this:

Use the K Menu (it's the star button on the taskbar) and go to System/Configuration/Configure Your Computer. (It might be called DrakConf or Mandrake Control Center, also.) It will probably ask for a root password, so you'll have to give it the root password you created when you installed linux.

In there, click "Network and Internet."

Click Remove a Connection. Remove any connections you see in there.

back in "Network and Internet" click "New Connection"

If you're dsl modem is connected directly to your computer, then set the connection up as a dsl connection. After that, I'm not sure what you should do. try the default settings. You might have to set it up with pppOE. I don't have dsl, so I don't know.

If you're dsl modem is connected to a router or switch or hub which then connects to your computer, then set up the connection as a LAN connection. after that, try the default settings again. when it asks you for a hostname (NOT DHCP HOSTNAME!!!) then put whatever you want, so long as it matches the format myhost.mydomain

That means myhost can say whatever you want, so long as it's followed by a period (.) and then a domain. I'm not sure what domains are ok, so I just put whatever.home, because I know that home is an ok domain.

if it asks for a zeroconfhostname, just leave it blank.

finish and then log out of the graphical interface. (you can do this using the taskbar menu and clicking "logout...") then log BACK In and go to the Mandrake Control center I told you to go to before. instead of clicking "Network and Internet" this time, click "System."

then click "Services"

scroll down the list until you get to something called "ShoreWall." it might be all lowercase. I'm not sure. Make sure that the checkbox next to "on boot" is UNchecked. then click the stop button to the right.

exit Mandrake Control Center.

reboot.

The reason you're having the problem, if you had the same problem as me, is that sometimes linux just decides you need an extra firewall without telling you. The problem is that shorewall is comprised entirely of evil and therefore kills your machine's internet connection. It's very secure, though, because it doesn't let you download ANYTHING.

hopefully this works. if so, enjoy, and thank Alfanut for his post on this thread .

first, do as cammorri commands and paste the output that you get when you do an 'ifconfig' into a post so we can look at it.

then, if everything is ok there, find the piece of paper with all the network addresses on it that your service provider gave you. There might be things on it like DNS addresses etc. You have to put these addresses into your network setup, it'll be somewhere in the 'network and internet' menus.

personally i've experienced no problems with shorewall but you never know.