Connecting to internet
 

Hey all
New problem ;)
I have an older HP computer 866 mhz processor 192mb of ram 3com ethernet card running road runner cable internet. I have loaded SIMPLYMEPIS6.0 and PCLINUXOS and neither of them let me connect to the internet. I go to the network monitor and it shows bits recieved but none sent. i have tried to manually configure the connection but to no avail. It recognizes the 3com card and another which is (NULL). i have no firewall active i have no idea where to start or what to do. it seems to me to be the computer itself as when i use the live cd on my laptop is recognizes automatically no configuration needed.
thanks

If OS recognizes your network card then it's already half way.
How do you connect to ISP?
There are several basic ways of doing it.

First is the most basic and the most simple one. Call your ISP and request DHCP (Direct Connect with no Dial Up) - Direct Host Connection Protocol

Second is to create virtual private network like it's done in Windoze. It's done by running (If in KDE) Kvpnc or Kppp
In order to Kppp to work you need to have pptp related packages installed

Third is the most "ancient" way of connecting is using KInternet and connect by "Snail" modem

re:
 

well i connect via cable to a ethernet connection. so i need to call my ISP provider ? that doesnt make sense it works when i use it as a live CD with my laptop. i was thinking something in permissions maybe. for some reason i do not have an IP address either.it sees my connection and host name in one of the profiles but it doesnt let me connect

see if you can execute this command:
$su
Password:
#pptp-command
If not then you lack pptp package and VPN won't work

re:
 

well i went into super user mode and typed the command as shown
# pptp-command
and it said command not found. sooo i don't get it why would my internet not work on two different distro's ? and why does it see my ISP and shows that i am receiving packets and such?

re:re:
 

it has to be a hardware issue such as it is not using the correct driver with my ethernet card. it connects automatically when i use it as a live cd on my newer laptop i don't know how to change the settings though or how to find out what the card actually is. it's just wierd

How exactly do you see that? Running what?

If you already have DHCP from ISP then your card needs to be configured to connect directly to ISP via DHCP. Otherwise you'll need a dialer (like in Windows) and in order to do that you'll need pptp packages.
And if you're not connected you probably see the packets from infrastructure supplier, such as cable or ADSL

re:
 

well i'm assuming that i have DHCP from my provider as running the live version on my laptop (not my desktop) connects automatically.In PCLINUXOS control center when i go to manage host definitions it shows my ISP with a (i'm assuming invalid) IP address when i go to monitor connections it shows packets received but none sent there is a button down at the bottom that says connect ethernet i click that and it stays busy for a while then eventually says cannot connect need to configure your mandriva control center...i try to set up a connection and nothing happens. i've tried putting in my ISP host name and nothing. the only thing i can figure is that both Distro's i have used does not correctly identify my ethernet card or something or there is something in permissions i am not turning on/off ....like i said it doesnt make sense since it works fine when i use it as a live version on my laptop but not my desktop.

hey xakeriah ... have you somehow verified if the card is fine and working?
I remember oneday that I was creating lan connection between 2 pcs and it couldnot be established ... later I got to know that lan wire is 'punched' differently when it is intented to be between pc and router in comparision to pc-pc .... check this factor?
to create a network connection ... lets C what you did in Pclinuxos
Pclos control center->Networking->create a new network interface->cable connection->(then what?)
I also had a 3con network card (dunno which model) but it worked flawlessly in linux.and as far as I know they are verymuch linux-ready cards
try posting at pclos forums?

Re:
 

Again, i feel sheepish ..i forgot that with cable modems they actually configure to your machine specifically so when you switch machines you have to reboot the modem ...whoooops
thanks for the help guys

okiez man .... enjoy linux then