Network card setup

[nrbocke]

Hi,
I am very new to Linux and just installed Debian 2.4.27-3-386 on my old PC (1999 UMAX) to try to learn Linux for work. I just downloaded the installer file and everything seemed to go fine except the network card. I have read all over the net trying to figure out what to do next but I am lost. All of the commands and things the pages say to get into I can't even find. Not even sure if I find these files if the are executables or I need to edit them in VI or what...like I said
very new to Linux!

I do know I have a 3 Comm Etherlink III card which I found is driver 3C509.0.

I would be great full any help and hope I am not wasting anyone's time.

Thanks

[iwanabeguru]

Hi
Use nano text editor for editing config files.

So you found the driver name, now load it

modprobe drivername

without .ko extension

if the driver loaded properly you have an interface
you must edit the /etc/network/interfaces file
read
man interfaces
man ifconfig
man route

[nrbocke]

Thanks for the help!
I was able to run the modprobe and it looked like everything went ok. It shows my card name and give me an IRQ and that sort of thing.

But when I go into the interfaces file it just has 2 lines commented out. See interfaces(5) manpage or usr/share/doc/ifupdown/examples for more info.

I am guessing this means it didn't work. I went to the files but I can't do anything with them.

You said read man interfaces, man ipconfig, and man route. I didn't catch your drift. Are these Linux files or info out on the net?

Thanks again for your time and help!

[iwanabeguru]

Hi
man command is the help on linux
#>man interfaces
gives info to you about the /etc/network/interfaces file

but here is a basic config file

iface lo inet loopback #loopback interface for local programs

iface interface_name inet static
#the interface_name is an ID for interface but if you use your own #names you need mapping the system device name for this ID
#the kernel identify your etheret cards as eth0-eth9 in detect order
#if you use static ip you must configure all the informations
#ip , netmask , gateway, broadcast address(its not needed ) , etc.
address your_ip
netmask your_netmask
gateway your_gateway_ip
broadcast
network

if you use dhcp the config get more simple

iface iface_name inet dhcp #thats all , maybe you configure the maximum lease time
leasetime time_in_secods

and the line which tell the kernel which interfaces must configured at boottime

auto lo interface_1 interface_2 ...

here is an example

####################
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

iface eth0 inet dhcp
leasetime 1500
hwaddress ether XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
#name kulso netcard
#address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
#netmask xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
#gateway xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

auto eth0