stupidly lost my network connection...
 

Hey. I've tried searching the forum for the answer to this before posting, but I'm not even sure what search term to use. either way, I couldn't find anything, so sorry if this is a repeat post.

Basically, I was trying to change my computer's hostname from localhost to something else. I searched around and saw a post saying you could do it in the mandrake computer configuration tool.

I took a guess and (in Mandrake 10) used the K menu to navigate to the "configure your computer" app.

I then double clicked the "network and internet" icon. (i think that was it.) Then I went to something like Internet Connection sharing or something like that. I then went through a wizard of some kind for configuring the network connection, including picking what kind of connection, what device to use, what hostname to use and what zerconfhostname to use. I don't know what zeroconfhostname is, but I assumed that both it and hostname were basically the same as far as what I was looking to do (change localhost to something else) and so I just put in the hostname I wanted in both fields. for type of connection, I chose lan (I'm connected through a router to a cable modem) and finished the wizard. next thing I know, I have no internet. localhost had been changed, alright, but I'd rather have the computer called localhost and be able to access my network and the internet.

Anyway, it's my fault for being so stupid, but I still need help.

I'm sorry if this is so vague. I'm typing it from windows (I dual boot for just such an eventuality) and so I don't have the OS in front of me to say precisely what I did. I can, however, provide you with whatever info you need. Just ask.

thanks in advance.

did you make sure that you typed it in the form:

localhost.localdomain ?

ex mybox.home

I didn't, because I really know nothing about linux and what it needs. I'll try that now, though.

well, that didn't work. I guess what I need to know is: how do I set up the network, even if it's just as localhost, so that I can get to the internet and stuff? I mean, I can't even get at my router.

I'm really just not familiar with Mandrake's utilities for configuring network and internet settings.

ok i'm home now.

i just did what you want, here's how:

i went to "configure your computer", "network and internet"

i removed any connections with the remove tool.
went to "new connection", "lan connection"
chose appropriate adapter

automatic ip (if that's what you use), or else enter that info as needed

i use their network hotplugging.

for hostname (not DHCP hostname) i used "mybox.home"
i don't use zeroconf, so i left that blank.

restart network
logout of X, and log back in.

now i'm "myself@mybox" and my domain is "home"

Okay, so I tried that, and I was able to change my hostname, but I still have no network access. Even pinging my router from Konsole returns an error.

so, what am I doing wrong? can anyone point me to a step-by-step guide for setting up network access from scratch so that I can fix this?

in case the names I chose for my localhost are the problem (which I doubt) they were:

BoozeParade.home
and
shitbox.home

I thought maybe BoozeParade shouldn't have had capitals or anything, which is why I went with shitbox, but that didn't work either. I mean, now Konsole asks me to login to shitbox, which is great, but I can't access the network.

I'm running the linux-smp kernel, by the way, if that means anything.

thanks.

I figured it out. Shorewall had been enabled when I started messing with internet connection sharing a while ago. I've disabled it and now everything is fine.