Connecting to the Internet

[cr0ssfiRe]

Right, connecting to my ISP with Windows, obviously I would just whack the setup CD in, and click a few buttons, and BAM, done...

So, I need some help with connecting my cable modem up with Mandrake 9.1

What do I use to do this?
Is there a wizard that can help?
Do I HAVE to have an ethernet card/adaptor? Ss I don't have one & use USB with Windows.
Might it be an idea to contact my ISP about certain information?

Hmm... can't think of anything else I might need to know, I'll keep considering.

[lynchmob]

With a single computer it's easier using a ethernet card,plus it may be a little faster than usb.
Most usb cable connections in Linux are hardware/manufacteror specific,too.
I'd use ethernet.You can get a decent card fairly cheap.
Be sure to find out if you need to use DHCP or a static IP address.
HTH
lynch

[CMonster]

In the Mandrake Control Center there is a network wizard which may even work for you providing your modem is supported under Linux.

[cr0ssfiRe]

I believe I tried that network wizard, but it only detected my internal fax modem. (which it said it couldn't install as it didn't know what type it was, ugh)

Anyway, I managed to bring up the list of all supported modems too, but my modem being specific to my ISP obviously wasn't in the list... so, am I screwed? Or is there a way round it?

I could phone my ISP to get information like I already said, but I want to try and find EVERYTHING I need to know, coz last time I phoned them it took roughly an hour & a half before I got to talk to someone, & they didn't have a clue!

[jkrohn]

I personally would reccomend calling the cable company and getting an external modem!
1) They work better
2) They are platform independent as all you need is a network card to connect to them
3) It is VERY easy to put in a router and add more connections then

That being said could you list the make and model of your cable modem?

Jkrohn

[cr0ssfiRe]

No no, I mean... i have an external cable modem... but the PC came with an internal fax modem too, which I used to use before I got cable.

It's just that when I run the wizard, it only detects the internal modem, not my cable modem.

Edit: The modem is an ntl:home100 (I believe) - ntl being my ISP, sort of a "home brand" cable modem.

[CMonster]

If you run the hardware detection in the Mandrake Control Center does it properly detect the modem device on USB? What does it see/say? Is there a "configure" option when you highlight the device?

I concur with the idea that an ethernet connection is best, perhaps you can ask your ISP if it is possible to switch your modem for one that supports ethernet. You could also setup internet connection sharing on a Windows PC and run ethernet to a hub in order to share other computers in the house, but this is a poor solution at best.

[cr0ssfiRe]

It detects something like winmodem (I'm guessing this is the internal modem), but can't configure it... and it doesn't seem to detect the cable modem at all... I'll boot Linux up & find out EXACTLY what it says.

My cable modem does support ethernet, I just have no ethernet card.
The windows setup CD simply asks whether you wish to setup with ethernet or USB.

[jkrohn]

Sorry I wasn't more clear, by external I meant one that connects via an ethernet adapter and does not require drivers.

From what I am finding on the net, your modem (ntl:home 100) is capable of connecting to the PC via either USB or Ethernet.

From what I can find, USB will not work. There has been a patch put out for 2.6, but that is not reported as working yet AFAIK. People do not have problmes when using the ethernet connection though.

My advice? Head to Best Buy and pick up one of their ethernet cards, you can probably pick this up for uinder $10 and it will solve your problems

Jkrohn

[CMonster]

My cable modem does support ethernet, I just have no ethernet card.

oh, okay, then I echo what jkrohn said about getting a $10 NIC (don't know about how many euros) -the ones with a Realtek 8139 controller chip work very well with Linux. In any case check the hardware compatibility list on the Mandrake site before you buy one.

It could be that there is yet a driver for the USB but the ethernet option is much easier. In fact, if you are not using the fax modem you could just replace it with a NIC.