Linux NOOB New install can't connect to the internet :(

[jayd512]

Open up your terminal. Issue the following commands:

su -               #<enter root password>
nano /etc/apt/sources.list

This will open an editor program. We're going to add another server that your system will call out to.
Add the following line to the end of the file:

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free

To save the changes, hit Ctrl+x, y and enter.
Then, two more commands:

aptitude update               #updates software list
aptitude upgrade               #updates system

You might be good to go after that. If not, do this as well:

su -               #<enter root password
aptitude install firmware-ralink wireless-tools

After a reboot, see if you can get online.

[Kodocha]

Then you should be using Network Manager to connect. What shows when you left click on top r/h side of top taskbar where network manager applet sits.

I mentioned the older kernel just because a newer kernel will probably give you out of the box wireless since later
kernels have more modules in them.

the 2 computers ikon opens a menu that says "wired networks" then under that greyed out "disconnected"

then "Wireless Networks"
"disconnected" also greyed out
below that "VPN connections"
below that Connect to Hidden Wireless Networks"
below that "Create New Wireless Network"

see what I mean. Now to jump through hoops because of your older kernel. Add this line to your /etc/apt/sources.list .

yes I see... my Kernel missed it by "that much" I don't know how to add that line... err wait Jay explains how to do that later in this message...

cant post url

did that... sortof I don't think it worked... this is what I got

Err no urlftp.us.debian.org squeeze Release.gpg
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/contrib Translation-en
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/contrib Translation-en_US
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/main Translation-en
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/main Translation-en_US
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/non-free Translation-en
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Err nourlftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze/non-free Translation-en_US
  Could not resolve 'ftp.us.debian.org'
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01] squeeze Release.gpg
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01]/ squeeze/contrib Translation-en
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01]/ squeeze/contrib Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01]/ squeeze/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01]/ squeeze/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01] squeeze Release
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01] squeeze/contrib i386 Packages/DiffIndex
Ign cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20111008-13:01] squeeze/main i386 Packages/DiffIndex

the editor had most of the lines # out I will try to do it again and paste all of what it said because it looked important

Then follow steps 2 through 7 in the link I provided.

This is where I get confused again.......

but I think Jay explained it but I don't think it worked here's what it said

Open up your terminal. Issue the following commands:

su -               #<enter root password>
nano /etc/apt/sources.list

This will open an editor program. We're going to add another server that your system will call out to.
Add the following line to the end of the file:

cant post url yet

To save the changes, hit Ctrl+x, y and enter.
Then, two more commands:

aptitude update               #updates software list
aptitude upgrade               #updates system

You might be good to go after that. If not, do this as well:

su -               #<enter root password
aptitude install firmware-ralink wireless-tools

After a reboot, see if you can get online.

and crap i missed something with my copy paste.... GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

any way for aptitude upgrade (or was it install... this is why 2 machines is a pain) I got

No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 0 B will be used.

for install frimware-ralink wireless-tools I got

Couldn't find any package whose name or description matched "firmware-ralink"
Couldn't find package "wireless".  However, the following
packages contain "wireless" in their name:
  wireless-tools 
Couldn't find package "tools", and more than 40
packages contain "tools" in their name.
Couldn't find any package whose name or description matched "firmware-ralink"
Couldn't find package "wireless".  However, the following
packages contain "wireless" in their name:
  wireless-tools 
Couldn't find package "tools", and more than 40
packages contain "tools" in their name.
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 0 B will be used.

I will try to go back and see if i can post what the editor said as it seemed important


the editor said this

  GNU nano 2.2.4          File: /etc/apt/sources.list                           

# 

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 2011$

deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 6.0.3 _Squeeze_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 201110$

# Line commented out by installer because it failed to verify:
#deb htp:/security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib
# Line commented out by installer because it failed to verify:
#deb-src htp:/security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib

# squeeze-updates, previously known as 'volatile'
# A network mirror was not selected during install.  The following entries
# are provided as examples, but you should amend them as appropriate
# for your mirror of choice.
#
# deb htp:/ftp.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib
# deb-src htp:/ftp.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib
deb htp:/ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free

just note that I had to change the http and // so it doesn't show as url because i have less than 15 posts

[Kodocha]

ok i downloaded the 2 thingys in step 2 manually from this machine and put them on a flashdrive and plugged it in to the other machine... do i need to put move them onto the linux machine before trying to install them or can they be on the flashdrive if i need to move them (screw it I'm putting them on the desktop) where should they go???

it seemed to like wireless-tools but not firmware-ralink but while installing wireless tools it asked for my debian install disk

3. ???

4. PROFIT!


WOOT!!!!! I think that did it... I put the installers on the desktop and did the aptitude and wifi tools installed and not the ralink but i did a rt click and a properties on the ralink and it gave the option of archive manager and some other package installer it installed fine from the desktop and I finished tho steps on the link and vwallah! since I told it to connect automatically before... it did! I didn't even have to re-boot!!! THANK YOU!!!! and I just checked it and it works.... let me log off here and log in on that machine and start making all my bookmarks for all the tutorials!!!!!

THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH!

This ought to make it so much less of a pain to try to learn... that and with the internet connected it should be easier to get this machine all updated the way it needs to be... without the million trips back and forth with the flashdrive.


WOOT!!! This Edit done from the Linux wifi set up you guys helped make possible

[jayd512]

Congratulations!
I'm glad you stuck with it and got it up and running!

[rokytnji]

Way to go Kodocha. Hopefully with a Kernel upgrade. You won't have to re-enable these steps again.
Keep those files you downloaded on the pendrive in a new directory in /home and maybe name it

Backups. Inside if Backups make a new directory and name it raylink. Put the files in there just in case you may need those files again.

It is a habit I have that any files I edit or download. I keep a folder named Backup that I place the original files in so in case I screw up a edit or whatever. I have the original to fall back on later. Just a suggestion is all.

Another thing I do is in my Documents folder I I have a another folder inside I made called Useful Commands. I place a text document in there and any new commands I learn and what they do. I put it in there for remembering later, in case I forget. Saves me time going online and searching for a command.

[Kodocha]

thanx jay thanx rok...

also rok I kept the files they are in a folder on my desktop... tho I like the idea of keeping a txt file of the steps just in case... thanks for that suggestion. hopefully I don't have to go thru all this every time I boot... I have a couple additional questions tho...
first

the editor had all those URL's "# Line commented out by installer because it failed to verify:"

should I go back in to the editor now that there is an internet connection and un-comment them out??? they look like they have to do with updates so they might be important...

I post that here as it seems related... my other questions I will start in other threads where appropriate.

[rokytnji]

Example - stable

The sources.list for using stable reads --

# See sources.list(5) for more information
deb Index of /debian squeeze main contrib non-free
deb http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US squeeze/non-US main contrib non-free
deb Debian -- Security Information squeeze/updates main contrib non-free

I'm posting that because my sources.list won't match yours since I run testing.

Try a reboot. Then a apt-get update while connected to the internet. Then take a look at /etc/apt/sources.list and see if it changed now that you have internet. It might overwrite the file on it's own now that you have internet.
Just a guess though as I just got back from christmas party (wifes work) and I am a bit tipsy responding right now.

P.S. Don't uncomment anything till you try what I just said. Hopefully Debian will backup old /etc/apt/sources.list and write you a new one. Like I said Just a guess. I posted what a stock debian sources.list looks like in the above quote for a reference.

In terminal you can

man 5 sources.list

For more info you can read up on. It is the man pages.

There's a Debian package called apt-howto which is useful documentation.

[jayd512]

I'm gonna agree with Roky on part of that.
Try an update. That may clear up any error messages/confusing messages.
As root:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

After that, if still getting errors.
Post your entire /etc/apt/sources.list.

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

In fact, since this thread is pretty much [Solved], I'd start a new thread regarding the next issue.
That way, you get the most visibility on your question

[Kodocha]

sounds like a plan... I did the update but they seem to still be listing as commented out... I will start another thread... also to deal with the other problem I keep having

whenever I

 less

it displays the info and then says END
it gives me a cursor but doesn't take commands like cd / or ls -l so I need to figure that out too... will be posting shortly

Cheers


FYI I don't see a solved button so....

[jayd512]

will start another thread... also to deal with the other problem I keep having

Here's the secret... detail. Give lots of detail!

FYI I don't see a solved button so....

That feature has been broken for a little while now, so don't sweat it.