[linuxnewbie-mandrake 101]

Hi I have Mandrake 10.0 official installed on my computer. The only way I have access to connecting to the internet is by using the motorola surfboard 4200 cable modem either by ethernet or usb. However when I try both approches I get the same result: nothing. During boot the code says eth0: failed which I believe is partly responsible for this problem. I am currently using realtek 8139 as my NIC.

I also have a DI-514 router to connect my other computers to the internet, this router also does not work. My main concern however is getting the computer with Mandrake installed online. The other computers are second priority.

If anyone could help with any ides or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Also I am new to the Linux scene so please be patient with me and take the tiome to explain the steps I must take. Thankyou in advance.

[danleff]

In order to get Mandrake to work, you need to be connected via the realtek card. The system should be like this;

DL-514 (main connection)-->Cable modem

Mandrake system via Realtek NIC-->DL-514

I assume your ISP uses dynamic assignment of IP?

Did you tell Mandrake, during the install, to use DHCP on start?

Then you can go into the Mandrake Control Center, which should be start-->System-->Configuration--> Configure-->Configure your Computer-->Network & Internet.

Once there, click on Manage Connections.You should see on the first dropdown menu eth0 Realtek|RTL-8139.

Is this the case, or does the internet work after connecting the system as mentioned above?

[linuxnewbie-mandrake 101]

Yes, my ip uses dhcp.
the eth0 still fails on startup.
In config my computer i do see realtek as the first item in the drop down menu.
The internet is still down.
And I did tell mandrake to use dhcp on start.

[danleff]

OK, and the realtek is connected to the router via a cat 5 cable, not directly to the USB modem?

I'll look at Mandrake later on. You can try to add another connection in the Control Center. I think that I remember to set it up as lan, but let me look at this more.

[linuxnewbie-mandrake 101]

Yes the computer is connected to the router by ethernet cable. Also I did try to make a new connection as a Lan but to this did not fix the problem.

[martouf]

a pointer to the documentation your ISP provides for setting up the cable modem
would really help..

it would be best to start off with a "known good" configuration and then
make changes one at a time.

as in (stepwise):

1. one computer connected to the cable modem using a 'configuration supported
by the ISP' (meaning: usually Windows).
(this to learn if your ISP uses an unusual network design)

2. the same computer and configuration now connected to the DI-514,
and the DI-514 connected to the cable modem.
(this to learn how to set up the DI-514 WAN port)

3. once it's known how to configure the WAN port, then it's possible to know
how to set up the DI-514 DHCP server for your LAN.
(this to learn how to set up the other computers on your LAN)

4. if the DI-514 is anything like my DI-774, then it's default is to send all wireless
traffic directly to the WAN port. No wireless to LAN traffic is permitted.
(good for security, but maybe not what you have in mind?)

[linuxnewbie-mandrake 101]

1. Coaxil cable to cable modem- ethernet or usb cable from modem to computer- winodws 98se-xp pro
2. Coaxil cable to cable modem- ethernet cable from modem to WAN ort on DI-514 rouer- ethernet cable from router to computer- windows 98SE- XP PRO
3. I have DHCP server disabled

my ISP is optimum online www.optonline.com
my DI-514 signals my computer is connected.

[martouf]

great!

I gather setup #1 worked just fine, right?

now, did setup #2 work? or were you only able to communicate with
the d-link wifi box (the DI-514)?

btw, thanks for the info about the ISP. I looked through their technical support.
They're careful to avoid actually providing much help in setting up your own
LAN using their service. tsk!

when the d-link box says the WAN port is ready, what does it say about it?
can you collect the info from the Management section about the WAN port?
(don't post a screenshot, if you can avoid it, please)

I'm most interested in seeing what it says the IP addr is of the WAN port.

don't enable the DHCP server of the d-link box until it's clear it won't interfere
with the WAN port settings.

when you have successfully communicated with the d-link box, use WinXP and:
Start -> Run -> "cmd" -> OK (you type what's in the "" chars)
then: "ipconfig /all"
please report: the info from your ethernet interface

so far so good .. one step forward at a time...

[danleff]

Just a note on my config. Senario 2 works on my D-Link wireless router. As long as you avoid USB...use ethernet only to connect each computer to the router.

[linuxnewbie-mandrake 101]

I would like to thank all of you for helping me solve my networking problems especially martouf. AS it turns out, all I needed to do was change the default driver from Realtoo to cdcether.

[Agizor]

Alright. You said you used that other driver, and now it works fine. I am having the exact same problem you were having... Even with a gigabyte! Anywho, when I try to load that driver to use it for the hardware, a message comes up, but goes away just as fast, and then it ask me again to select another driver, or use the default ( RTL8169 ) What can I do to perhaps force it to use that driver?... It won't let me choose anything other than the default.

[danleff]

Give us a little more inforation.

How is your system set up? With a router?

Motherboard make/model. Onboard or pci NIC card?

Are you also using Mandrake 10, as well?

[Agizor]

Sorry.

Gigabyte GA-7n400 PRo2 with onboard nic. I am indeed behind a router. And this is in MDK 10.1. Though I was having the same problem in 10.

I think it says "RTL8169" or somthing along the lines.
[Edited by Agizor on 2004-10-27 08:33:37]

[Agizor]

Yay? Nay? Maybay?

[danleff]

Looks like the RTL8169 is the correct driver for the Gigabyte lan. Did you set it up to use dhcp during the install? I'm assuming this is cable?

Does the connection work with any other os and onboard lan is set active (enabled) in the bios?

No other nic card on the system?

BTW, nice motherboard!

Looks like some have had success.here.

[Agizor]

Yeah, I think it's the right diver. And yep, it's DHCP and all. Tried MANY different times with differnt combo's of settings. I have windows XP duelbooting alongside, and it works just dandy.

And nope, there are no other NICS in the system. Although im nearly to the point to just pop in the Linksys PCI ethernet... I HOPE that would work heh..

Btw, thanks

[danleff]

Interesting! The Mandrake site does not list the board or nic card as supported. I would pop in the Linksys card and see what happens. I would also pop it into a slot which is not next to the agp video card slot. The issue may also be the bForce chipset on the board.

See if it gets picked up, then you can troubleshoot the onboard later on. You may need to disable the onboard support for the nic card in the bio, as well.

[Agizor]

Yeah, RealTek is crap in MDK. Works flawless in Fedora though. ALright though.. I'll put the Linsys 2 PCI's under the AGP and tell ya how it goes.

Thanks

[danleff]

Actually, my realtek 8139 nic cards (I have three of them) work well in Mandrake. The issue is the Realtek Gigabyte onboard.

Once you get the nic up and going, then we can work on the Realtek gigabyte issue.

Remember, stay away from the pci slot right next to the agp card. Sometimes they share resources and there can be a resource conflict. Use pci slot 2, 3 or 4.

[Agizor]

Yeah. I believe it may just be the fact that they are onboard, and I am to newb to configure them properly.. Althogh I can in the control centre, it seems like it needs more help than that

Anyway, trying it out today.. I'll get back to you.