newbie needs help with cable modem connection

[Kardinal]

Hi there.
I recently installed linux on my pc with Red Hat 7 as the installer. I use Gnome as my default gui and have a limited understanding of bash commands hehe. ****, not even sure if I'm making sense. The thing is I can not for the life of me work out how to get my cable modem internet connection running. I've tried online help and it's way to confusing. A far as I can understand I must set up a firewall is this correct? I am running a small two pc network so I do have 2 network cards. I do not have a hub, it's just pc to pc using crossover cat 5. Linux has detected both of my ethernet adapters as far as I can see (judging from the kernelcfg) Could someone run me through the process of geting my internet connection working? Under Gnome there is a internet connection setup program ala windows but it does not support a lan connection, it asks me for a modem. Man I have so many other questions but I figure, if I can get my internet working I won't have to reboot into windows whenever I want to drop a post. I need help desperately.

[VRay]

Ok, you have a few things to do, let me try get you started. Take a look at your cable intall work order the cable guy left for you, it has all the important information, ip, gateway, netmask, dns, computer name, workgroup, write it all down. StaticIP is easier I think. Open linuxconf (look in redhat/systems in the start menu) and add the network info for basic host congiguration; host name (cxxxxx-a) adapter1 (your cable modem - ip address, netmask); and then DNS, and plug in the numbers (the 2 dns servers from your cable co, and search domain1 will be xxxx.xx.home.com or similar)

Quit linuxconf, activate changes, probably need reboot, hopefully it will work.


[This message has been edited by VRay (edited 28 January 2001).]

[Kardinal]

Thanks Vray.
There is a problem however. My ISP just assign me a username (which is my pc name) and then everything else is detected. It's assigned dynamically so I don't have an actual DNS to enter. ****, am I screwed? In Winblows the PC name is enough to get me connected.

[JoniMitchellRockedMyWorld]

Kardinal: In windows run winipcfg. It will give you all the info you need to know.

[VRay]

Cable co's recommend and support dhcp (assigned ips) only to make it easier on them and the windows os that most customers use. With very rare exceptions, the ip they assign you on the work order form (read it!) is the ip that is yours forever, until you close your account. When dhcp renews, they just give you the same one. I tried to do it dhcp; pump and dhcpd and it didn't work; you don't want to bother with this. Do it static as I said, it is much easier and works flawlessly. Between the info on the cable order, and winipcfg as outlined above, you have all the info you will you need. It is easy, if it doesn't work, is probably because you typed something wrong. (Be sure to get the netmask right)

[This message has been edited by VRay (edited 28 January 2001).]

[triplehex]

Do you have a connection via your linux box? If not go into linuxconf and make sure that your ethernet adapter to runs to your cable modem has DHCP support checked.

[Kardinal]

Ok thanks all for the input.
I ran winipcfg under windows and got all the information I needed.
But I found linuxconf a little confusing or perhaps it's just that I'm a tad ignorant in networking. I don't know which data goes into which field. I mean I have some idea but as yet netscape gives me an unable to find domain error msg. Could anyone perhaps go into further details or even post a screenie or two? hehe.. to much to ask? http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Kardinal (edited 28 January 2001).]

[TechGuy]

Do you have a one way or two way cable modem? Do you still have to call in with a modem?

[zax0r]

well, i dont know if this will help, but it DID help me.

as root, open a text editor and open "/etc/sysconfig/hwconf"

now, scroll down a bit to where you see the information for your network card. It will say "NETWORK" under type. Now, delete the section with your network stuff. save. retart Linux, and if it works correctly, it will redetect your card, and assign it to an IRQ that will work best. Worked for me, hope you get it working.

[Aelfinn]

I'm a complete newbie but what I did was log in as root using KDE and found "kernelcfg" under Redhat -> System and added eth0 using the tulip driver for my linksys NIC and saved. Then I went to to "Network Configuator" under Redhat -> System and under the interface tab I selected eth0 and set it for DHCP and activate on Boot. That's all I did and it worked -- go figure. :)

Note: I think you can do the same thing using gnome.

[Kardinal]

I think it's a two way cable modem. That is, I have a permenent connection to the net via a lan card. And as for the other advice I will try what everyone has suggested and will repost. Thanks again guys for the help, all responses are appreciated http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[VRay]

Dunno about screen shots but open linuxconf, select networking/client tasks/basic host info.
Host name + domain, put in the comp name, yours will be something like c123456-a.
Then select adapter 1, if this is the card to your modem, input your ip where it says ip, and input your netmask, probly 255.255.255.128 or similar.
Hit accept at the bottom.
Then select Name server specification(DNS)
Put in the two dns addresses in ip of nameserver 1 and 2. Search domain 1, I have sttls1.wa.home.com, yours will be similar...
That should be it, hit accept, act/changes and reboot.

Other things to try: Try typing netconfig in a terminal, this is another way to set it up. Or open the Network Configuration under redhat/systems. There are many ways to go, just keep plugging away, you get it working.

[Kardinal]

Thanks for the replies.
At this stage I have installed Mandrake 7.2 Over the red hat install because as far as I've read (and have now seen for myself) Mandrake is alot easier to configure. My feelings thus far are mixed but the most important point is I am still not 'online'. Mandrake had a cable modem setup 'wizard' that looked nice but didn't do much so I did what Vray suggested, word for word. I'm sure I am close but am missing something. The linux OS boots without any errors, before I followed Vray's advice it would pause at the eth0 IP assigning or something until it would eventually fail and move on. But now it loads it fine but I am still not connected. Netscape gives me a 'the following host is unknown' message. And it lists every page I try to visit (eg, www.netscape.com) (http://www.netscape.com)) so I'm not sure whats wrong at this stage, I ask that you don't give up on the advice as I am not giving up on Linux http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif
Also, I have set the adapters (both 1 and 2) to manual instead of Dhcp. Could this be the problem? also what is bootp?

[mis]

Try to do these things and let us know where you get

ping yourip
ping yourgateway
ping dnsserver
ping www.yahoo.com (http://www.yahoo.com)

you can also post what is in certain files and I will try and help you out.

/etc/hosts should contain 2 lines with localhost
your host info

/etc/HOSTNAME one line containing your hostname

/etc/resolv.conf should have 3 lines
search yourdomain
nameserver 123.123.123.123
nameserver 123.123.123.124

/etc/sysconfig/network
will have about 6 lines with info on your connection

post these files.

Mis

[Kardinal]

Mis,
Here are the details you were after;

When I pinged my IP(s) I received a successful response from both. That is, I have an IP assigned to both ethernet cards.
When I pinged my gateway I received no response, no data was received at all.
When I pinged my DNS number (both of them) I received an error 'network is unreachable'.
Etc/Host had two lines.
127.0.0.1. localhost.localdomain. localhost
203.164.133.2 co3010000-a

I could not find a file called HOSTNAME nor a directory.

Resolve.conf had 3 lines
Search sunsh1.vic.optushome.com.au
nameserver 203.164.20.147
nameserver 203.164.20.148

Sysconfig had 6 lines
NETWORKING=yes
FORWARD-IPV4=false
DHCP_HOSTNAME=co3010000-A.sunsh1.vic.optushome.com.au
HOSTNAME="co3010000-a"
DOMAINNAME=sunsh1.vic.optushome.com.au

At the moment I'm saving the html file of this forum to a floppy as it's the only way I can view it in Linux. Also, it's worth noting that the co30... etc is not my real username, I changed it because it wouldn't be a wise idea to post it on a public forum.


[This message has been edited by Kardinal (edited 29 January 2001).]

[bassreflex]

#IF ALL ELSE FAILS...
#edit your /etc/resolv.conf file and add #these lines, if they aren't already included

nameserver <dns primary>
nameserver <dns secondary>

#add these next few lines to the bottom of #your /usr/rc.local file. This should set #up your eth0 every time that you boot #up:

ifconfig eth0 <ip-address> netmask <netmask>
up

#...all on one line.
#then, enter:

route add default gateway <gateway IP>

#and save

Hope this helps http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/redface.gifP

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I can ...
I will