Apologies in advance if this has been covered and I failed to find it in my searches...

I'm running SuSE 8.2 and have a Motorola SURFboard modem.
The computer will not see the modem - connected via ethernet cable - and I am therefore unable to connect to the internet.

My network card is recognized and everything is hooked up properly. I feel like I'm missing something big and simple here.

Do I need drivers? A Witch doctor? I'll try anything a this point.

-Victor

If you would connect the modem through windows how would you make the connection ? Do you get an IP through DHCP or do you have to make aa pptp or pppoe or pppoa connection ?
If you have to make any dialup networking connection under windows you also have to make something similar under linux.

GJB

The computer is running SuSE only, no windows or any other OS.
It's a cable modem, so there's nothing dialup related.
I'm attempting to make a DHCP connection, but since Linux won't see the modem, I'm getting nowhere fast.

-Victor

Okay let me ask you this then ... has this cable modem ever worked under *NIX or any windowsversion ?

If you connect your cablemodem to your nic are there any leds that go on (indicating that the nic is connected to something), if not then it may be your cable or your modem could be faulty.

I also have a cable modem and I also get my ip through DHCP but I can not reach the modem. My nic asks for IP through DHCP and the head-end at my provider provides it.

GJB

The modem has never been used on any other machine. And all of the leds are on except one (the standby light is never on). Even the PC Activity light flashes regularly, so there's a connection being made somewhere.

I tried calling my provider (Comcast) and they were unable to help me beyond assuring me that they could see the modem and that it was working properly on their end.

And just to add to the confusion, here's this little piece of information: When I try to connect to the net, I don't get an automatic error. The screen will continue trying to make the connection for a while before I get a dialogue box telling me that the website (ie: www.google.com) could not be found.

-Victor

Do you have any way to test the nic or lancable ?

Do you have a firewall up that could block DHCP requests ?

>I try to connect to the net, I don't get an automatic error. The screen will continue trying to make the connection for a while
>before I get a dialogue box telling me that the website (ie: www.google.com) could not be found.
This suggests that you have a nameserver configured and that it is unable to contact the nameserver.

I'd try to debug the overall probablem by sniffing the network interface with tcpdump and see if the DHCP request packets seem to be getting out.

Do you get a link light on the network card?
I can't remember if you need a crossover cable or a straight through cable to connect a cablemodem direct to a PC.

I'm pretty sure it's a straight through cable to connect cablemodem to a pc.