LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] "I'm new to linux"

Please do not mark this thread as SOLVED unless it has really solved your problems.

Here's some Linux questions I have for you. Please answer them all:
What distro and what version of that distro are you using? how comfortable are you with using a terminal? Have you ever used the Windows Command Prompt?

Here's a few networking questions for you. Please answer as many as you can:
What type of wireless network are you trying to connect to (e.g. WEP, WPA1/WPA2, WPA Enterprise etc.)? Are you trying to do it over wireless or hardwired with an ethernet cable? What type of internet is it (e.g. DSL, Cable, Modem, is it through a router?)?

Here's a few basic commands you should research (in the terminal type "man <command>" to get documentation on the command):

ifconfig, iwconfig, wpa_supplicant, dhclient, ifup, ifdown, iwlist are the most common commands to configure wireless.

Here's an example of commands for configuring a WEP wireless network. If you see text behind a # it means they are comments and not to be typed.

Code:

iwlist #look for your wireless WEP network

iwconfig #look and see what wireless adapter is detected (lets say it is wlan0)

ifconfig wlan0 down #turn off your wireless adapter so you can configure it

iwconfig wlan0 essid "mywirelessnetworkname" enc "1234ABCDEF" channel 6 mode Managed

ifconfig wlan0 up #turn on your wireless adapter so it can be used

dhclient wlan0 #get an IP address for the wireless adapter

You must run the above commands as root. Switch to root by typing "su". If you're using ubuntu or a system that only uses sudo for root commands then type "sudo bash" to emulate a root login.

Please answer those questions and let us know where you stand so we may better help you at LQ.

SAM