Hi. I'm really really new to linux (this is my first time ever trying to use it), and I'm having some problems here. I'm trying to get my computer to connect to the internet. I'm using vector linux 4.3, and I ran the netconfig program during installation. I entered "localhost" for the host name, and "localdomain" for the domain name. ( I did enter it without the quotes ). I'm currently behind a router right now. The router is a Trendware model TW100-S4W1CA and my ethernet adapter is a VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter integrated on my lappy. Every time I click on mozilla to use the internet, I can't connect . It says something like "Mozilla.org not found" or something. In any case I'm just about at the end of my rope here. I've tried entering all sorts of things for host and domain, and can't get it to connect. I did call my cable company/ISP to see if they used DHCP and they do. Any suggestions here?


P.S. I'm also wondering if this is an appropriate distro for someone learning linux. I eventually want to become very proficient with linux, I'm a computer programming student and want to become as well rounded as possible. I'm using a dual boot system with VectorLinux4.3, and Windows XP. I've only got 10 gigs of HD space dedicated to linux right now, so I'll need something relatively small. Any ideas on decent distros?

Thanks to all who reply !!!

do you know if your ethernet controller has a module loaded for it?

here's a page to look at:
http://www.scyld.com/ethercard_drivers.html

Hey thanks for responding. Actually I'm not sure how to check if there's a module loaded or not. How would I go about doing that? I went to the link you sent and I saw my adapter listed. What next?

Update: About ten minutes ago I found out how to check my modules. I used the vasm tool to check it. It says something like
#sbin/modprobe via-rhine
what does that mean to me though? Does it mean I have it or not? If not, then how do I add it?

run
modprobe via-rhine
in a terminal as root. then check your internet connection.
lsmod shows the loaded modules.