Okay my distro of Linux "Vector Linux" appears to not recognize my Network card.

I'm not quite sure how to manuver into getting it to work.

Is it a PCI Ethernet card? If so, can you find it with using

lspci -v

as root?

Please post more information on your Ethernet card.

Windows ME recognizes it as a:
3com Etherlink III Isa (3c509b-TP0)

Which is what I know it to be.

Its been awhile since I've messed with trying to configure an ISA card. The network card uses the 3c509 module. Try loading the module:
modprobe 3c509

However If you see any errors then you might have to manually specify the I/O port address and IRQ. Sometimes disabling the PNP option in the motherboard BIOS will allow the module to load.

http://www.scyld.com/3c509.html

You might need to install ispnptools to get the card to work.
http://www.roestock.demon.co.uk/isapnptools/

Both of those links just blew my mind.
I have no idea how to work with the first one and as for downloading the program... Well I get a list of a ton of files with extensions I do recognize.

Any assistance on my next few steps?
I am really new to learning LInux, but I gotta get it done for my university work.

What happens when you (as root) run the command
modprobe 3c509

It goes through fine, no error reports no messages, just right back to the command line.

If modprobe did not return errors, then the module should be loaded. Run "lsmod" (no quotes) to confirm that it has been loaded. (lsmod lists the kernel modules). Assuming you see it, then run "ifconfig" and post the results. Likewise, please post the output of "lspci" -- J.W.

well, first off I don't know how to make the lsmod listing page down, so I just get a few screens worth I believe. If there is a way to somehow single the module out then lemme know.

A few ones to note:

-Almost every! listing is snd-soundterm like snd-seq-midi, snd-mixer, snd-timer
- isa-pnd 29968 0 (autoclean) [snd-opl3sa2 snd-pnp]




As for ifconfig it shows me set like:

Link encap: Local Loopback
inet addr: 127.0.0.1 Mask: 255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU: 16436 Metric: 1

Everything else listed comes out as 0



lspci output: summed up
Host Bridge
PCI Bridge
ISA Bridge <-- the isa bridge is loaded
IDE Interface
USB Controller
Bridge
VGA Compatible Controller



ifconfig start
start: error fetching interface information: device not found

1. Do you see 3c509 in the output of lsmod? There usually are a lot of sound-related modules, but obviously those are independent of the NIC.
2. Please post the output of lspci, which will show the details of your equipment, which is what we're trying to find out -- J.W.

1.) I looked for it and as I said I get a few pages of information fly by and I cannot scroll around obviously... But as of now I see nothing resembling network card or the module name.

2.) Well I listed the lspci input summed up -- I left out Intel Corp on each line, and two 2 digit numbers which I can post if you need.

Does the following command return anything? Remember linux is case sensitive.
lsmod | grep 3c509

typing exactly lsmod | grep 3c509 shows nothing, just returns to the command line, showing it went through okay I suppose.

So, whats up?
It seems the module is loaded given my last post but i cannot go ifconfig start without getting an error.
I'm not sure where to begin...
I want to install Mandriva but I believe the same problem will exist.