Internet and Linux

[Chris M]

I just installed Elx Linux but I cant seem to figure out how to setup my internet with it.

A7N8X bios rev 1004
linksys 4 port cable router

[Computer Hobbyist]

We could give you two hours on IP addresses, gateways, DNS servers, and related stuff, but since you connect to the internet throught a cable router, I suggest you set your protocol to DHCP and go from there. I am not familiar with Elx Linux. Does it have any instructions on setting up your internet connection?

[Chris M]

I think i have it set for dhcp but there are problems with the network adapter. I was conversing with a friend who is familiar with the Red Hat distro, he says its a better bet to go with that one.. I downloaded the RH build and will probably install it tomorrow. I think I am sure to find more info using this distro.

[Computer Hobbyist]

What kind of problems with the NIC?

[Chris M]

Well my NIC is integrated and of course I know nothing about Linux and its equivelent to device drivers. It's really a problem of me not knowing how to properly configure my hardware, particularly the integrated stuff.

[LocoCoyote]

You are not the only one who has problems with internal stuff Chris...the whole world does!
Modems and Ethernet cards are a pain sometimes.
The reason is that companies that produce these things cut corners and save a few bucks by providing software to replace some of the chips on the cards. Of course this software is made to work with Windows and *nix users are left to their own devices!
Check out www.linmodems.org for some help on this problem

[Chris M]

OK I have a new question. I got rid of the Elx Linux and downloaded and created the cds for Red Hat 9. I have about 5 gigs of unpartitioned space on my drive. When I went to install it, the only partition I could see was my big(70 gig) one. I'll admit that I'm ultra paranoid about losing my windows information, so I'm looking for a good walkthough f the partitioning process.

[Chris M]

Cmon everyone. Someone has to have installed RH Linux 9 with a pre-existing windows partition.

[LocoCoyote]

I always choose to partion with Disk Druid. Just create a partion from your unused space.

Well, to be fair I set up my partions with Partion Magic before I started my install, but you can do it fairly easy with Disk Druid.

[Chris M]

I'm still shakey about this. Do you think you could walk me through an install without using partition magic, or show me a site to accomplish this. It would be MOST appreciated since i dont wanna buy another hard drive.

[David_Jones]

If you use PM to shrink your existing partition(s) then Linux should identify the empty space, and set up its partitions accordingly.

At least that is what happened when I installed RH7.2 if I recall correctly.

Therefore, just us PM to resize your existing partition(s), and then boot from the Linux install CD.

HTH,

David.

[Chris M]

I've never used PM. What do you mean by shrink?

[LocoCoyote]

Shoot me an email and I will send you the material you need.

[Chris M]

Thanks for the offer LocoCoyote but I managed to get RH 9 installed no problem. All I had to do was make an extended partition and it worked fine. However I now need drivers for Linux because it is not seeing my integrated NIC on my A7N8X. Do you know where these can be found?

**Edit** I will look on the ASUS website. I raced to the forum before looking there.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Originally posted by Chris M Thanks for the offer LocoCoyote but I managed to get RH 9 installed no problem. All I had to do was make an extended partition and it worked fine. However I now need drivers for Linux because it is not seeing my integrated NIC on my A7N8X. Do you know where these can be found? **Edit** I will look on the ASUS website. I raced to the forum before looking there.

You might also look on the NVidia site.

[Chris M]

I found drivers on the ASUS site. Incidentally they are the only Linux file I could find for the a7n8x. Anyway, I unzipped it in RH9 and it showed me 3 .rpm files. I doubled clicked the first one and it did a package installer. I went to my network setup wizard and it had a NIC preselected so I thought that I had installed the drivers right. I made my settings auto detect for dyanmic IP. At the end it told me that it was inactive so I went to activate it and I asked me to save changes, then it told me that the device doesnt exist. I tried everything I could but as a Linux newbie I cant try much. I double clicked one of the other .rpm files but it told me that a newer version of "nvidia nforce" was already installed. How do I remove the first file I installed?

[Computer Hobbyist]

Can I make a suggestion. This might not work, but I have read that if you turn off "Auto Plug and Play" and "Auto Virus Protect" in the BIOS screen you might be able to get the LAN connetion to work. Don't know why and haven't tried it myself, but that is what I have read.

Edit: you asked how to remove an RPM. Well

To remove the contents of one of the binary rpm files, use rpm to remove it:

example% cd
example% su
Password: ******
example# rpm -e nforce-1.0-1.rpm

To remove the contents of one of the source rpm or tar file, go to the build directory, and run "make uninstall":

example% cd
example% cd nforce
example% su
Password: ******
example# make uninstall


If you want to know more you might try reading the linux guide at The NVidea homepage. I would pay close attention to the troubleshooting section. It will probably solve your problem.

[Chris M]

This could take awhile...the linux commands are in greek! :-P I will read the nvidia thing.

[Computer Hobbyist]

You might not have to use the linux commands, but for future reference they are entered in a terminal. "cd" means change directory. "su" means super user (that is root.) Password means the root password. "rpm -e" is a direction to the rpm to remove a file. The "nforce-1.0-1.rmp" is the name of the nforce rpm file. I didn't know the name of the Asus driver file or I would have used it instead. The file you installed is the one you want to remove.

Again, you probably won't have to remove the driver you have installed, if you follow nvidia's troubleshooting instructions. They tell you what to do depending on the bios manufacturer. I don't know what brand of bios Asus is using since I have never looked at an a7n8x board. If somebody would tell me I will translate the troubleshooting instructions for you. But I suspect you can handle it. Seems this problem has happened a lot. The fix is very simple.

[Chris M]

Ok I'm super frustrated but determined to get this thing to work. I deleted the Linux partition through windows and reinstalled Linux. I havent put anything on it yet. I'm sorry to keep asking the same questions but obviously I can't get this on my own . Once again I am using the asus a7n8x mobo and I connect via a linksys cable router. I want to use the drivers from the ASUS website.

BTW- CH The remove thing wouldn't work. It kept telling me that the package is not installed even though I'm making sure that Im typing the name correctly. (I have since done a fresh installation)

[Computer Hobbyist]

Did you change the bios setting?

[Chris M]

I was looking through the troubleshooting thing you linked me to but I couldn'd find the correct option. I couldn't figure out which BIOS I had because it says both Phoenix and Award Bios at the setup screen so I tried following both guides but it didn't work.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Without getting my hands on your system, I don't know what else to say. Maybe your best bet would be to disconnect the on board Lan connection and install a NIC. They are pretty cheap.

[Chris M]

Perhaps. My college is telling me that I need a certain card to connect to their network, so I may end up with a PCI NIC soon. I'll keep working at it in the mean time. There has to be a way.

[LocoCoyote]

www.linmodems.org has done tons of work with getting onboard modems and NICs to work. That is what I would suggest.