1. internet has worked previously perfectly

2. everything is set up exactly the same

3. nothing works in any browser

4. /etc/resolv.conf is configured correctly with dns servers

?????????

try:

lsmod

/sbin/ifconfig

route -v

dmesg | grep eth

Let me know what you get.....

Thanks for your help je_fro, maybe this gobbledygook means something to you.... would you mind explaining?

thanks again

bash-2.05b# lsmod
Module Size Used by Not tainted
usb-storage 60116 1
ppp_deflate 3256 0 (autoclean)
zlib_deflate 18200 0 (autoclean) [ppp_deflate]
bsd_comp 4312 0 (autoclean)
ppp_async 7520 1 (autoclean)
ppp_generic 15452 3 (autoclean) [ppp_deflate bsd_comp ppp_async]
slhc 5040 0 (autoclean) [ppp_generic]
uhci 24560 0 (unused)
usbcore 58144 1 [usb-storage uhci]
maestro 28168 1
soundcore 3332 2 [maestro]
eepro100 19316 0 (unused)
mii 2240 0 [eepro100]
ds 6568 2
yenta_socket 9632 2
pcmcia_core 38112 0 [ds yenta_socket]
ide-scsi 8048 0
bash-2.05b# /sbin/ifconfig
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:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)

ppp0 Link encap:Point-to-Point Protocol
inet addr:81.131.51.226 P-t-P:212.140.212.71 Mask:255.255.255.255
UP POINTOPOINT RUNNING NOARP MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:11 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:29 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:3
RX bytes:1095 (1.0 Kb) TX bytes:1746 (1.7 Kb)

bash-2.05b# route -v
Kernel IP routing table
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
imsnet-cl10-hg1 * 255.255.255.255 UH 0 0 0 ppp0
loopback * 255.0.0.0 U 0 0 0 lo
default imsnet-cl10-hg1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 ppp0
bash-2.05b# dmesg | grep eth
eth0: OEM i82557/i82558 10/100 Ethernet, 000:59:0C:93:A1, IRQ 11.

So which one are you trying to connect with, the modem?

ppp0 : inet addr:81.131.51.226

or ethernet card?

eth0: OEM i82557/i82558 10/100 Ethernet, 000:59:0C:93:A1, IRQ 11

Your modem is up and running no problem:

ppp0 Link encap:Point-to-Point Protocol
inet addr:81.131.51.226 P-t-P:212.140.212.71 Mask:255.255.255.255
UP POINTOPOINT RUNNING NOARP MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1

How did it get that IP address? DHCP? Are you on dialup?

sorry, i'm on a laptop with an external 56k modem and the ip address.....

i didn't set it so i guess it was automatically assigned or something :S