Comcast, Linux, and You!(well... me)

[Zaren]

I've been trying to configure Linux to acquire an IP via DHCP on my comcast network for longer than I'd like to remember. I've tried on 2 distro's, I've used dhclient, dhcpxd, pump, and one or two other dhcp flavors to no avail. I've read through the linuxnewbie forums MANY times, followed links and followed advice to no avail. I've run through wizards, I've read howto's and man and info pages. I've taken to using ethereal to sniff for packets to try and duplicate the results.... but just can't get it to cooperate. If anyone wants me to go into details on the packets being sent... I can do that too.

Of course I AM new to linux but I have installed some other things... samba for example - but that was easy.

So here I am, pleading for help.

I'm running Mandrake 8.2, I need connectivity to a comcast network via DHCP - I don't want to enter a static IP and have to mess with it every two weeks when my IP lease is up. I read and followed the document at www.astro.umd.edu, and that didn't help.

The only thing I can imagine is that I need to configure the dhcp (probably dhcpxd, since it looks to be the most configurable) to send what information the server is expecting. If that's the case I need configuration help.

Thanks in advance.

[endoalpha]

What information does comcast need from your box? Maybe the hostname? OR maybe a particular mac address? They don't have some sort of odd login procedure do they? Have you been able to connect in a WIN box? We need information to help. I have found dhcpcd is really the best for me.

[Zaren]

All I know is they require the hostname, which I have supplied(I checked the packets as they left). There are no weird procedures, no passwords, no nothing. I can connect via windows 98 with no problem and all you have to do is specify the computer name and that you want to capture the IP via dhcp. I tried dhcpcd first, I believe.... I tried all that came with Mandrake with the exception of one, which I can't recall right off the top of my head.

I also send my request spoofing as a windows machine... which didn't work either.

Thanks for replying.

[endoalpha]

Is the linux box and WIN98 box the same? (Are you duel booting?) If they are different machines, sometime ISP's record MAC addresses and only let the 1st MAC address registered to connect. Unplug the cable modem (power) for a few minutes and plug it back in. This resets the MAC registration, usually...

[Zaren]

You deserve a beer.

I've been messing with this damn thing for months with no success... takes you all of two posts.

Thanks a bunch!

~Z

[endoalpha]

Awsome... Post something here while you are in linux, you will feel free....

[Zaren]

That last post WAS with linux. Now all I need my windows machine for is storage space, Civ2, Morrowind, and XCOM

*smile*

thanks again boss, I appreciate the help

[jumpedintothefire]

there is a linux version of civ....

http://freeciv.org