From your description, it sounds like your wireless router is plugged into your linux box and the cable/dsl modem, so the wireless part will come into play with the other computers.

From one of the responses, I saw a reference to MCC and followed suit in my second response. Re-reading your first message, I guess you are using Red Hat, which will use a different graphical setup program.

I don't have a usb network device, so I didn't have a usb option come up when I looked in my laptop's network setup. There may be a usbnet option, or an 'other' option. Before a usbnet driver will show up, the basic usb drivers need to be loaded. This is why I suggested that you post the output of the lsusb and lsmod commands. They will provide a starting point on what kernel modules are loaded and what control chips the devices use. Before the router hooked up can be recognized, the usb controller hubs need to be working. The lsusb will say a lot here also.

Also, provide the exact wireless router name and model that you are using. Googling could provide an answer with the terms: <your router model> usbnet.

I had a similiar problem with rh9, and to fix it (well sort of) just type in a console as root and you will be assigned a proper IP via dhcp. The only problem is you have to do this on every re-boot I don't know how to get these settings to stick however once you re-boot