First let me say that I would have to improve to be a "newbe" as you call it. I am not even that great at windogs. I cant find a way to connect to the internet using the any of my browsers that shipped with mdk9.1. I have to log on using root password, go to control panel, go to network/ internet configuration and connect there using the provided connect button in the configuration window. Only then do I get the network monitor window with its connect disconnect button/s. I will have to rely on the GUI method of operating this thing until I become more familiar with linux and computers.

Try opening up a terminal window and typing:

/sbin/ifconfig eth0

This should give you some output like:

eth0 Link encap:Ethernet
inet addr:192.168.1.107 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:324121 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:352636 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:390821497 (372.7 Mb) TX bytes:57334481 (54.6 Mb)
Interrupt:10 Base address:0xd000

Let us know what the second line (Inet addr and such) says. Then maybe we can help you.

Also, are you connecting to the internet with a modem? What kind?

First, thanks for the response! I am at work and havent had a chance to do this yet but my modem is an external hardware modem. I can get on the internet I just dont think I should have to go to my root login and control panel. Thanks for the help. I will type in the info you gave me and give results.

Ok....Sorry it took so long just got back to work where I have a working computer. The response was "error fetching interface information:devise not found". Keep in mind I can connect through the control panel for configuring new connection.

can anyone help with this?

I've got kinda the same problem. I've used Mandrake since the 7.0 distro, and I always used Kppp to connect to the internet. Kppp doesn't seem to work in the 9.21 version of the distro, and I have to enter the configuration tool, and dial from the network tool (drakconnect). There has to be an easier (and more correct way) to make my hardware modem dial the internet.

When I type in kppp it says : bash : command : kppp not found.

I don't know whats going on. I searched Mandrakes manuals, they all tell you how to use the browser but gloss over the actual connection service.

Thank anyone that can help, I do appreciate it.

Extli

Why do you think no one is responding?

I asked about this last night in #linux, on the dal.net IRC channel and no one there knew either.

When my system shuts down, it stops the ppp0 process so I know it is using it.

Maybe someone will post soon, so we can figure this out. I'm still working on it.

I still cant believe that no one can help with this. This seams minor compared to the other problems I see posted. You know I want to make the switch to linux but it seams its only in reach for programmers. So far my internet nor cdrom work and the config panel is no help, its weak at best. I have also tried entering commands as outlined in the forums and most dont work as described. I admit to being a newbie but everything shouldnt be a hassle.

I too am trying to connect to the internet using the Mandrake 10 supplied browser.

I can connect using kppp and the modem fires up properly and my ISP is staying connected. no probs there.

When I fire up the supplied browser, leaving the kppp connection running, the browser cannot see the connection.

In windows 2000 I simply start the browser (Mozilla) and it knows about connecting to the internet using DUN. I was sort of assuming that KPPP is sort of like that.

I am assuming this problem exists in linux because the browser is used for looking for local files as well as the internet connection.

I would appreciate a reply if anyone knows the answer of how to make a quick simple connection to the internet using the supplied Mandrake browser.

PS. I think Linux really needs to get its act together if it really wants to be a serious windows desktop contender as problems like this are annoying to say the least.

I have now decided to post this and I hope it helps windows users trying to find there way around Mandrake 10 Linux. I will be using the GUI in my explainations as I don't see any point of using any operating system nowadays that can't be configured through one.

Connecting to the internet is best done like this.

Ensure your modem is connected to the PC and note which port it's connected to COM1 etc. In Linux these ports are refered to as tty0 etc but Mandrake has marked them as COM1 as well. Mine modem is an external US Robotics and doesn't have a problem with Linux.

Next. Start a program called KPPP which is in the internet section of your Linux program menu.

This program is virtually the same as DUN in windows and you will supply the same info ie Tel no, ISP user ID, Password. Modem etc...

Once you have completed all the bits you will be back to the KPPP front panel. Click the connect button and you should see your modem lights flashing. You can configure KPPP to display a terminal window whilst connecting and then you can see your ISP/Modem chatter.

Once this is running then go to the Mandrake config screen and security section and ensure the Firewall is configured to accept all connections.

Next with your KPPP connection still active fire up your browser and Open a connection from the File menu within it.

Type in the URL and amazingly you should have a connection.

I hope this helps and there is also a Mandrake KPPP help on their website

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/dem...ial/KPPP/Pages

I hope this helps and I have skipped a few finer details but I'm sure you'll find your way around.

PS I'm a windows 2000 user and don't really have time for all this shinanikins. Windows may have bugs and problems but it delivers OK most of the time. I also run serious Access database programs which won't run on Linux anyway.

I will be staying with MS for the forseeable future.

after "modem fires up properly and my ISP is staying connected"
open terminal window, su to root
type in as root:

route del default
route add default ppp0

still not work ?
did you RTFM enough ?
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDE...html#NETDIALUP

Thank you very much for your reply but what does this do?

I can already connect to the ISP. My problem is that the browser supplied with Mandrake doesn't initiate this connection.

Is it normal for Linux to ask the user to initiate the connection to the ISP and then ask the user to start the browser? This seems a bit arcane for an OS of the future.

Thanks again