Hi all. I'm a Linux newbie and I'm having a problem connecting to the Internet with a fresh install of Slack 10.1. I'm on a DSL connection, through a router handing out DHCP. On my slack box, I can pull an ip address, I can ping my xp machine, I can ping my router, I can ping google by ip but not by name. I've been reading for hours but can't seem to find a solution for this. I've seen suggestions for adding the DNS nameservers to my hosts file, but I'm using a router running DHCP so I don't see what that would do. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Welcome to LQ.

Have you configured your dns servers?

If not then make sure you add your dns servers to /etc/resolv.conf in the format:
nameserver ip.of.primary.dns
nameserver ip.of.secondry.dns

I also use a router and get my IP via DHCP on Slack 10.1 and found it was necessary to add a nameserver entry to /etc/resolv.conf. All you need to do is use the IP of your router, eg.

nameserver 10.0.0.1

At least try it .

Edit: damn it David!

That did it. Thank you very much. I'm still learning...