Help me set up a slackbox

TonyHK · 11-28-2007, 05:40 AM

Hi all!
This is my first venture into the linux world so please bear with me.

I am setting up a slackware box in my office to ect as a server for my surveillance cameras (probably zoneminder).

Hardware:
MB: Abit TH7RAID
CPU: P4 1800
RAM: 512mb Rambus
GPU: GF2MX400-64
HD: 60gb for system/apps 3x80gb in Raid for storage
DVDRW: LG
NIC: Belkin f5d5000(the chip says MPX EN5038B) and "noname" RTL8139D

I have installed Slackware 12 using the DVD-image.
After running xorgsetup i can start x.
If this was a windows install I would now install/update drivers as needed, is there something similar I need to do with linux?
How can i see if all my hardware is working correctly?
The NICs dont seem to work. Do I need additional drivers? Will my cards even work with linux? I hope to get at least one of them working.
What else should I do to prepare the system?

Please remember that I am a complete noob and need to be spoon-fed.

Bruce Hill · 11-28-2007, 06:00 AM

Tony,

Welcome to LQ!

You should first read Configuration Help from the official Slackware website, along with the other useful links you will find on the left hand side of the home page.

Then read The Revised Slackware Book Project.

If you're still needing more references, remember that <Linux> Google search is your friend.

You can also Search Forums here at LQ.

Finally, for your internet connection to work, you should issue as root in a terminal (konsole):

Code:

netconfig

and answer the questions. If you don't know the answers, check in the Slack Book. If after reading it's Networking section and running netconfig, you still can't get online; post back including what you're done, as well as posting messages that appeared in your terminal.

TonyHK · 11-28-2007, 06:33 AM

I have run netconfig several times, both trying to get ip etc from my dhcp and by specifying manuaally, still no go. Is there a way to check if the card works ok?

Bruce Hill · 11-28-2007, 06:43 AM

To see what chipset your card(s) uses, issue from a terminal as root "lspci | grep -i ethernet". You should get something such as:

Code:

root@wired_silas:~# lspci | grep -i ethernet
00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8001 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 13)

Then to see if there is a module (driver) in your kernel for that piece of hardware, issue in a terminal "lsmod" and read post the output here. Please use VBcode. If you can't see how to do that when you post, put [_code] without the underscore before your output, and [_/code] without the underscore after your output.

You can also issue from a terminal as root "ifconfig" and post that output.

TonyHK · 11-28-2007, 07:01 AM

Unless I absolutely have to I will not post the whole output from lsmod. Too much typing...

it turns out the belkin card uses a realtek 8139 chip.
I guess the relevant lines are:

Code:

8139too               25472   0
mii                    8576   1 8139too

ifconfig gives me:

Code:

Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0

and some more info about packets sent etc which are all zeros.
To me it looks like the info i give running netconfig wont "stick".
Is this enough information?

onebuck · 11-28-2007, 07:09 AM

Hi,

Bruce has given you some good advice. I would like to add my .02 to the mix.

From the cli do a 'ifconfig -a' to see all the network devices that the kernel is aware of. If your device is there then I would setup a static IP first, do as root from cli;

Code:

~#ifconfig -a                      #get recognized devices
~#ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.10       #set to a available IP
~#route add default gw 192.168.0.1 #set to your gateway
~#route -n                         #show the route table
~#ifconfig eth0 up                 #should be up already
~#ping 192.168.0.1                 #ping your gateway
~#ping 208.69.32.130               #google.com IP
~#ping google.com                  #test DNS, if fail then
                                   #check /etc/resolv.conf

You should have your '/etc/resolv.conf' setup with your 'ISP DNS' nameservers or use a third level DNS. Verizon has;

Code:

4.2.2.1
4.2.2.2
4.2.2.3
4.2.2.4

You can place these in your '/etc/resolv.conf' file. I use these as a backup to my ISP DNS. Do a '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 restart' from the cli to reset the 'inet' after any changes to the configuration files.

You can edit the '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf' file for your device(s) instead of running the 'netconfig' again. Well commented and you should remember to restart the 'inet' with the '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 restart' command.

Once you get the network functional and wish to use 'dhcp' then you can edit the '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf' file to reflect the setting(s) for the device(s).

BTW, Welcome to Slackware & LQ!

onebuck · 11-28-2007, 07:14 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyHK

Unless I absolutely have to I will not post the whole output from lsmod. Too much typing...

it turns out the belkin card uses a realtek 8139 chip.
I guess the relevant lines are:

Code:

8139too               25472   0
mii                    8576   1 8139too

ifconfig gives me:

Code:

Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0

and some more info about packets sent etc which are all zeros.
To me it looks like the info i give running netconfig wont "stick".
Is this enough information?

You can redirect the output to a file that can be posted.

Code:

~#lsmod >mylsmod.txt            #post the mylsmod

The file can be stored on a common file system, floppy or other media.

Looks like your device is detected. Do the 'ifconfig -a' to see it. You can always 'man ifconfig' from the cli to understand the options.

Man is your friend!

TonyHK · 11-28-2007, 07:20 AM

Woohoo. Onebuck you are my hero. It now appears that the network is working. Took me some time to figure out how to stop the ping as it just kept running but i finally tried ctrl-c.

TonyHK · 11-28-2007, 07:25 AM

I can now browse the web etc. Network seems to be working fine. When I got o control center-internet&network-network settings i get a box telling me my platform is not supported and gives me a list of other platforms. What should I choose here? Slackware is not on the list.