Installing Debian Linux

[Magefire]

This is my first time installing any version of Linux on a computer and I was hoping for some help doing it as Debian's website has very little specific information on setting up Debian.

I think I want to do an install from the internet but it is for an extremely old computer which has USB ports but no Ethernet ports.

I am assuming that since it is a Pentium III (700Mhz) with a Nvidia Riva TNT2/TNT2 pro graphics card, I will need the i386 ISO image called "debian-31r1a-i386-netinst.iso".

I have DSL but I don't know if my DSL modem is supported. It's a "WireSpeed" DSL modem from "Westell." It allows the use of a USB to connect to the computer and since the computer that I'm trying to install on has USB but no Ethernet, I suppose that is really my only option.

I would like to know mainly whether I have chosen the right files to download and whether my modem will be supported for installing through a network with a USB connection.

Thank you for reading my question.

[lestoil]

The 386 otimized kernel will work; but you can install 686 optimized kernel-image after install if not availble at install. Hitting enter at install start will use 2.4x,but entering linux26 will use 2.6.8 kernel. Entering expert26 will offer more questions to answer and more control over install. Newer daily builds of sarge net-installer isos may have a newer kernel that 2.6.8x.
Sarge net-installer notes are not as thorough as Sarge install notes.
Have you tried your westell dsl modem under XP or Windows? Device manager will list network hardware. My westell dsl modem was config'd with pppoeconf; and edit of/etc/network/interfaces got me connection to verizon at boot. But it is just a dsl modem that connects to nic on pc.
You need to know if you have a dsl-modem which requires nic,a dsl-router modem that requires nic, a dsl modem/router using usb that doesn't require nic? Or a modem/ wireless combo. When you have Sarge installed, if installer didn't configure your ?nic, lspci or lsusb at terminal as root will list the modem. Hopefully the dsl service connection wont be a problem.
Good luck.

[Magefire]

I wasn't able to use Windows's device manager since the modem is usually connected to a wireless network using an Ethernet cable (the modem can be connected to by either Ethernet or USB). Furthermore, I'm not exactly sure what 'nic' is. I am able to connect the modem to the computer using the USB.

After I finish installing and I am at the point where Debian is setting itself up, I don't know what to do when I am presented with the PPP configuration utility. I don't know what type of DNS I should choose (Static, Dynamic, or None).

I have tried continuing with the installation but I was never able to get back to the PPP configuration screen without reinstalling and I have never been able to get the DSL modem to work.

I was hoping someone would have some advice on setting up a DSL modem ("WireSpeed" from "Westell") with Linux.

Thank you for reading my question.

[techieMoe]

I wasn't able to use Windows's device manager since the modem is usually connected to a wireless network using an Ethernet cable (the modem can be connected to by either Ethernet or USB). Furthermore, I'm not exactly sure what 'nic' is.

NIC stands for "Network Interface Card". If you're plugging an ethernet cord into your computer, the thing you're plugging it into is the NIC. Some computers (most these days actually) have them integrated into the motherboard.

Sorry I can't help you more with the DSL modem. I've never used one myself.

[Recens]

A NIC can be bought rather cheap at any computer store, just look for a pci network interface card or ethernet card. It might be a good idea to check whether the card is commonly supported in linux or not before purchasing. Also I found that debian isn't the easiest point and click install, it takes alot of low level configuring and searching for answers to get a working system. I found Suse to be the easiest; insert, click next a few times and have a working desktop. If your goal is learning then debian is good for problem solveing and researching, www.google.com/linux is a great way to look for solutions but be prepared to do alot of looking around. My guess would be to try dynamic on your ppp but i've never used it, try 'apropos ppp' and look at the man pages, debian is made to need nothing more then those two commands and a adventureous nature. If you can get an irc working on a different machine you'll find answers to just about any quick question in the debian irc channel.

http://www.debian.org/support