Okay, as you can see this is my first post.

I am an extreme noob with Linux.

I just got Red Hat 9 for a spare PC I own and I've got it installed, but I am unable to get the NIC working. In the Network Config screen on the Hardware tab there is no NIC listed. I'm not sure what NIC is on my PC, but its built-in to the MB. I can get that later, but I don't know what settings to fill in for IRQ, MEM, etc...

I have an HP Pavilion XT840 (Celeron 800MHz) with an on-board NIC. Once I determine the correct NIC, what settings are the most common for a NIC?

I've done a search, but nothing quite fit my problem.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I'm trying to learn Linux so I'm viewing this as a learning experience.

BTW, my on-board sound isn't working either. But, that's a problem to work out after the NIC.

Once you find out what make the nic is go to /etc/modules.conf and un comment the driver. Then you'll need to configure your network connection. You could use netconfig from a terminal or there's probably a gui in RH.

You can find out about the NIC used if you type:
lspci
You will get a line like:
02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82801BD PRO/100 VE (LOM) Ethernet Controller (rev 82)
As a general rule, it is the controller chips info that is important to know. Sometimes identical brand devices will have different versions with different controllers inside, and need different linux drivers.

I looked at the HP website for info. It seems that it uses a pci nic card. CIS Technology Inc.
The model is WS-R452

It uses the RealTek
RTL8139C Controller Chip.

Here is where I got this info:
http://www.compuvisor.com/10mbetpcicar.html

Here is information on where to download a disk with the RTL8139.C driver:
http://www.network-drivers.com/drivers/44/44256.html

good luck.

Try the 8139too driver.

As root type
modprobe 8139too

If you have XWindows (with a front-end like Gnome by default in RH...or KDE) up and running, use RH's "Network Configuration" tool. You may be able to do everything you need (including find the driver you need) from there.

If you aren't using X, do what the others have said, then run netconfig (put in a name for your computer, then a domain suffix (example.org), then tell it DHCP, put nothing in for the DHCP host name, then enter one last time to accept the config.

Once this is done, type:

ifconfig eth* up

(where * is the number for this connection...first connection is eth0)

Then give it a second, and type ifconfig again. You should see an "inet" section for eth* with an IP address. If you've gotten this far, you know your network card and driver are working pretty well.

Update:
Thanks for your patience and all your suggestions. They have me well on my way to fixing this.

BTW, I am using KDE if it makes any difference.

Okay, I typed lspci in a terminal window and found the following concerning the NIC:
01:0a.0 Ethernet Controller: Accton Technology Corporation SMC2-1211TX (rev10).

I was incorrect about the on-board NIC. I was thinking of another PC I used to own. BTW, after doing this I remembered that I had swapped out the original 10Mbit card for this 10/100 card when I first got the PC (3 years ago), so the information from the HP site would be incorrect.

Anyway, I went to SMC's website and downloaded a Linux driver for this card. It is a single .txt file and I have no idea how to load this.

What is my next step?

I'm pretty sure the smc uses the driver suggested by jschiwal. 8139too Look for it in /etc/modules.conf or try modprobe 8139too as suggested.

Hey, I figured it out.

I didn't need to load a new driver. I found the SMC driver in the list and it activated correctly.

Thanks for your help and suggestions. I've got some reading to do now.