Hi,

I'm a complete beginner with linux. Only downloaded Mandrake Linux 10.1 Community the other day. Been curious about linux for quite a while now. I've always been using windows.

Linux installed fairly easily, sound, video, tv tuner all worked fine, but my network card seems to be causing a problem.

My home network is setup as follows.

3 PC's connected through a 4 port Origo Broadband Router(BRP1400) to NTL Broadband.

My PC is the only one running linux (well dual boot actually). Under windows everything is fine. But when I'm in linux I cant connect to the net. When I check my network card it reports the mac address as ff-ff-ff-ff (i think theres a few more f's, not sure how many). I know this is an invalid mac address. What do I do?

I miss the Windows network setup wizard

Could you please give advice in laymans terms. I'm not familiar with anything linux associated at all. I could probably start liking linux if the net worked.

First off- press Alt+F2 and type 'konsole' - if you're using KDE. If you're using GNOME do Alt+F2 then type 'gnome-terminal'.

Once the terminal pop's up do:

1.) su
2.) <type in your root password>
3.) ifconfig

ifconfig should display something like this:


Don't worry, only the stuff in red is important. This would be your NIC's IP. This should be something valid like 192.168.0.1 - depending on how your router is configured.

If this isn't valid try the following:

1.) su
2.) <enter root password>
3.) cd /etc/init.d
4.) ./network restart

If "./network restart" doesn't work try "./networking restart" (can't remember which one exactly)

This should get you an IP address from your router.

After doing this, the net should work. In case it doesn't do the ifconfig command again and see if you have a valid IP.


ALSO:
Try pinging yourself, some local computers on your LAN and google.com!

If the pinging doesn't work press Alt+F2 and type "mcc" . Enter your root password at the prompt. Now try configuring your Network Card and how you connect to the net through MCC (Mandrake Control Center).

Hope this helps

But what about the fact that my card shows a mac address of ff-ff-ff-ff-ff?

Best guess would be that your NIC hasn't been detected properly or is incompatible. Try searching for your NIC's brand on LQ's HCL and Mandrake's HCL and google for compatibility issues.

You could also try using another NIC - make sure it's compatible though!

My onboard LAN is SiS963L integrated MAC + Realtek 8201BL PHY.

I never really looked into my onboard LAN cos it just works with XP. If Linux falls down here that may be the end of it for me.

I followed your steps. I'm able to ping myself, my router and google. But I can't get the net working. The mac address for the NIC comes up as ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff. Any ideas?

If you can ping google properly, I have no idea why it doesn't work. Maybe you should post a new thread on the Linux Networking section. Sorry.

vxc

Yeah, buying a $10 nic would be a real hassle

I don't do mandrake but you need to make sure you have a dhcp client running. If your using KDE or GNOME there should be something in the System Tools menu to tell you what services are running. It may be dhclient. Open a terminal and issue the command

ps aux | grep dhclient

Darthtux (GREAT monikker btw!)

Yeah, the only problem is that since the driver is not picking up a MAC address, something is amiss at a fairly low level.

E.G. the driver recognizes the LAN chipset but what he has in his system varies just enough that it cannot read the mac values off.

This is pretty bad news.

Unless he is able to find a more compatible driver he may be out of luck.

The upside is that a) another driver/module may work, b) a newer kernel.rpm may supply what he needs.

He'll need to check this out in the chipset matrix or other hardware support guide for Linux.


i30i3i3y:

Mandrake does indeed have a networking "wizard" that normally sets everything up for you with a few clicks of the mouse. The Control Center guides you through the process, NORMALLY, if your device is supported.

You may want to check out the link at the bottom of this page.

http://www.linuxtested.com/results/Asus_A7N8X-E.html

Apparently they are aware of this problem and have produced a custom driver for your interface.


However what is wrong with throwing a new nic in your machine?

It will save you a world of hassles.

I'm only using linux solely because its there and I havent used it. Its not offering me any benefits or anything. I've just heard from other people how great it is and how much better than windows it is.

I just assumed if it was this good it wouldnt fall down on something as simple as onboard lan. Linux isnt worth me spending money on. Windows does nicely. I'm not a computer techie, I just want hassle free use. Maybe linux just isnt for me.

"I just assumed if it was this good it wouldnt fall down on something as simple as onboard lan. Linux isnt worth me spending money on. Windows does nicely. I'm not a computer techie, I just want hassle free use. Maybe linux just isnt for me."

IMHO you are looking at it incorrectly.

Onboard lans are neither "easy" or "simple".

Usually these chipsets vary from board to board and machine to machine.

The board makers rarely provide Linux drivers, and when they do only in a hard to use format... as in this case. They also fail to publish specs and code.

Linux developers must reverse engineer everything just to get something to work.

As such it's always important to utilize equipment that is supported by the OS.

It would be strange to say that Windows was no good because it would fall down on something as simple as an industry standard IBM AIX interface board, wouldn't it? The same holds true here.

With fully supported hardware Linux configuration is as hassle free as Window, but with added stability.

I've put out rather puny machines that have been operational with uptimes measured in YEARS.

I can't say the same about Windows, even MS servers.

However Linux begs to be twiddled with as everything is accessible to you, unlike Windows.

opjose is right.

They are simple for windows because they were made specifically to work with windows.

If you think getting a $10 nic from Best Buy for CompUSA is a hassle then I agree that Linux is not for you. Have fun spending more money on windows.