Hi all,
I am very new to Linux, but I am anxious to learn. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get my internet connection to work properly with Linux so that I can read on the net while in Linux. I am using an Orinoco Gold USB client for wireless internet access. The problem is that I can not install the driver I found for my client and the version of Linux I have (Red Hat 9, kernel 2.4.20) does not have the driver already installed. I have downloaded a driver that I think should work. I read the readme file several times and have read until my head hurts trying to figure out how to install the driver properly. I can send anyone the readme or the URL of the driver if it will help, but I have a feeling I am just doing something stupid because I am so new to linux. Here is what the readme file tells me to do and how I am doing it:

1. Type "make KERNEL_SRC=/to/my/kernel/source/path"

For this step I open a shell, cd into the directory where I have the driver files unzipped, and then type in "make KERNEL_SRC=/usr/src/linux-2.4.20-8." I think this is right, its where the source code for the kernel I have is located. The make file proceeds to do something and as best I can tell reports no errors.

2. Change to root using su -.

Simple enough, dont think I could screw up that part

3. Type "make install"

For this I do as it says, and it proceeds to connect to the internet via a connection I am borrowing from another computer (ethernet connection). It downloads a file from an ftp site and continues.... as far as I can tell, no errors.

4. Type "make load"

When I do this, it proceeds to output several *.o files. One of them is orinoco_usb.o, which I presume is the correct driver. Now it has a footnote in the readme saying that I will need to copy the files (it makes 8) to the "correct" directory. I took a guess and copied them to the /kernel/modules/net/wireless directory. I also tried other directories under the /net directory with no luck. If anyone could help me or point me to a fairly simple explanation somewhere as to how to install drivers I would be greatly appreciative.

Sorry for being so long,
ClemsonME