Can someone please explain how to connect insightbb to linux? I have never used it before, and really haven't a clue what I'm doint. I am also having a difficult time locating the partition for Windows 2000... not a huge deal - but I would like to extract about 900 mp3's hanging out in there... Thanks in advance to anyone who can lend a hand.

insightbb (ibb from now on) assigns to you a "dynanmic" ip address, two domain name lookup servers, and a computer name. They get from you the MAC address of the computer that they sign up to the service. ibb assumes you will only use one computer. First, are you using a direct connection to the cable modem. If so, the easiest way to hook up the service is to turn on DHCP. Your modem will ask ibb for an IP address, which it will recieve. If you are using the modem from 3com ibb gives out when they do the install, it will make a couple of noises when recieving the IP address. Your computer will see the modem as a network.

The more flexible way is to have a cable router such as the Linksys BEP series. These are probably the most popular and the cheapest. Many people argue they are not as good as the Dlink but that does not affect hook up. If you have a router, you tell the router the MAC address of the computer that ibb thinks is the only one you use. This is done in the set up by hitting the router with a web browser on 192.168.1.0:80. You can then either leave your computer on DHCP or set an ip manually. If you use the Linksys setup then you will receive an address of 192.168.1.100 most likely. If you set up the ip manually, make sure it is in the acceptable range according to the router static IP directions. For linksys its 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.99. You can look up the MAC address by IPCONFIG in Win2k and IFCONFIG in Linux.

For the win2k partition, its probably not being mounted automatically in fstab. You may need to mount it by hand for now. Using mount as root:

Assuming:

1. Your windows partition is /dev/hda5 (you have to look this up)
2. A directory exist called /mnt/windows (you may need to create this)

mount -v -t ntfs -r /dev/hda5 /mnt/windows

-v: gives feedback (verbose)
-t: specifies file system type (may be vfat for win2k)
-r: read only (required for ntfs usually, not required for vfat but helps in some cases)

If you need more help, post your exact setup. IE, router name, direct connect or using router, etc. If you get it setup, post that also to help others.

Very cool, I appreciate the help. You are my ambassador of Qwan.