I can't connect to the internet on Linux. I've configured my network settings and nothing seems to work. My friend, who is also a new Linux user, says that it is because the ethernet card is named "eth0." I'm running Mandrake 9.2. Plz help!

So you're connectiong to the internet via a router or something on your network? Mandrake should pick up your ethernet card first go and from there it's all setup. In your window manager, go to the menu, then something like system or settings and then have a look at the network panel and see if you notice anything that's wrong.

How did you configure your network settings? Can you access the local network?

I'm connecting with a cable modem. It's directly connected to my computer. I've run through the setup and filled out all the info. I double cheked to make sure it's right. It still doesn't work.

Okay, DSL user here so bear with me, never setup cable before.

Is it a USB cable modem or one that plugs into the enthernet jack? If it plugs into ethernet then it still shouldn't be a problem, I'd imaging there would be some sort of config web page you'd browse to. My router is http://192.168.1.254. If this is the case and it's not working it's linux chucking a fit at your ethernet card, nothing to do with the modem.

If it's a USB modem then you need drivers for it, if you're lucky you'll get specific ones, if not you'll have to search for some generic drivers and hope for the best. I've played with USB DSL modem drivers before and it's not fun in any way, shape or description.

I can't find USB drivers for any cable modem. Does anyone have suggestions?

Have never done the USB thing. But from a networking perspective you need to set your system's default gateway to the IP of the cable modem. Then make sure you can ping the IP of the cable modem. If you can't do this, then you're not getting to the Internet.
MIKE

Forgot to mention, you can check your routes with

route -n

and add a default gateway with

route add default gw 10.1.1.1 eth0

Well if it's a USB modem I doubt you can ping it because it's not really another device on the network.