linux newbie trying to configure my cable modem/router

[Scot L. Harris]

On Fri, 2005-02-04 at 20:49, iurodivii wrote:
> have installed fedora core 3 and am stumped trying to configure the DNS, DHCP, NIC, router, etc.  I have never programmed before and am used to the plugnplay installation of windows.  which is exactly why i am intent on learning this stuff...
> 
> I know that my cable internet provider provides me with a dynamic IP but i don't even know what to do with that. I have been cruising the web for days and reading a couple of books but they all assume a little more foundational knowledge than i have.  can anyone steer me in the right direction?  
> 


Will need a little more info to provide a specific response.

What does your home network consist of?  Is it a cable modem connected
directly to your linux box or do you have one of the
NAT/firewall/routers between your system and the cable modem?  

Typically an ISP will provide DHCP for one system.  I recommend you use
one of the cheap hardware firewall/NAT/routers that are available. 
netgear or linksys make some nice ones.  These will protect your network
as well as allow you to have multiple systems on your LAN that can use
the Internet at the same time.

Either way you will need to connect the LAN port of your linux box to
the cable modem or the firewall depending on your setup.  In the network
configuration settings if you set it to use DHCP it should get an
address automatically along with default gateway and nameservers.  

Use the following commands to gather information on your network setup:

netstat -rn

ifconfig -a

cat /etc/resolv.conf

Use the man command to get more info on these commands.

If you post info you get from those commands those on the list can help
guide you if you are still having problems.

Good luck!

-- 
Scot L. Harris
webid at cfl.rr.com

You can't play your friends like marks, kid.
		-- Henry Gondorf, "The Sting"