Configuring Mandrake 6.1 for ResNet*

Note: This documentaton assumes you have a working ethernet card that is supported by your kernel. If you do not, please see the Kernel HOWTO and the Ethernet HOWTO for information on these topics.

Before you begin:
Before your computer will connect to the campus network through your Ethernet connection, you must register your NIC's hardware address with ResNet. Information on registration can be obtained from: ResNet: Getting Connected.

To Determine Your Ethernet Address:
At a shell prompt, type 'ifconfig eth0'. Look for the field labeled "HWaddr". The long series of hex digits separated by colons beside "HWaddr" is your hardware address. Use this number when registering for ResNet services. An example is given below:

user@host$ ifconfig eth0
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:6F:C9:5D:AD:9F  
          inet addr:152.2.145.112  Bcast:152.2.255.255  Mask:255.255.0.0
          UP BROADCAST NOTRAILERS RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:4179659 errors:15 dropped:0 overruns:31 frame:15
          TX packets:815637 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:48635 txqueuelen:100 
          Interrupt:10 Base address:0x6000

ResNet: Getting Connected website from a lab computer, or another residence hall computer that is already connected. Along with your hardare address, you will need the following information:

Your ATN userid and password
Residence hall name
Room number
Phone number
Data Port number (D-## from the label on the wall jack)

Configuring your NIC for DHCP:
Log into your machine, and start up your XWindows session if you have not already done so. At a shell prompt, become superuser. Make sure that you have the proper DHCP client packages installed, with the command rpm -q dhcpcd. If the packages are not installed, you will need to retrieve and install them. The latest versions are usually available for download at MetaLab and can be installed with the simple command rpm -i dhcp*. Be sure to get the appropriate package for your kernel version.

Linuxconf Instructions:
When the dhcpd package is installed, start up linuxconf by simply typing

        linuxconf &

at a shell prompt, or from the linuxconf icon on your desktop (if you have one.) From the initial window, select "Networking".

Then, select "Basic Host Information."

Under the "Adaptor 1" tab (or whichever contains your default ethernet card) , select the DHCP button for the config mode, as shown:

Click "Accept", and then the "Activate Changes" button on the dialog that pops up:

You may preview what has to be done, but it is usually just a restart of your inet init script. Once you activate the changes, you're done!

Make sure that your connection is live by trying to ping sites such as isis.unc.edu, www.yahoo.com, etc. from a shell prompt.

If DHCP still does not work for you, please try the DHCP Mini-HOWTO.

* I assume here that the user has a working Linux Mandrake 6.1 installation with X Windows support, and that Networking support has been included in the build (may or may not be currently active). If that is not the case, it is the user's responsibility to take care of this, either by locating the appropriate packages, or perhaps recompiling their kernel. In any case, it should not be the responsibility of RCC's to perform such duties. I am of the opinion that if someone wishes to run Linux, it is his or her responsibility to take care of such basic system administration tasks. If the user is incapable of doing so, I am of the opinion that he or she has no business running Linux in a networked environment, as a lack of system administration leads invariably to compromises of security, both for the user, and the rest of ResNet as a whole. Linux is a powerful operating system, and users of it should be prepared to accept the responsibility that comes with it.