Setting up tcp/ip for RedHat 4.1 and kernel 2.0.27

First off, jeh.linux.org will only work if your computer is registered in the linux.org domain and in their name server.  I have tried to ping it, and so far it doesn't exist.  So you can't use that name.

Second, you have to make sure the kernel recognizes your NIC.  If you have it compiled as a module, you should change /etc/con.modules to be (for a 3Com 3c5x9):

alias eth0 3c5x9
options 3c5x9 io=0x300 (or irq=, whichever you know)

(and for an NE2000)

alias eth0 ne2000
options ne2000 io=0x300 (or irq=, whichever you know)

It all depends on your NIC.  If you don't have it as a module, you can still have it probe for the NIC in lilo.conf.  In lilo.conf, you want to have something similar to this:

prompt
timeout=20
append="ether=0,0x300,eth0"
image=/dev....

The append statement is what you need.  You can put the append statement either before all the images (to have it appened for all kernels) or one in each image section (to initialize a different NIC based on kernel).

Once the kernel has detected the NIC, it then runs /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifup ifcfg-eth0.  ifcfg-eth0 is the file to change if you want to change your IP address, netmask, or broadcast address.  If this is not setup properly, you will not have the interface available.  Read ifup for details on what it does (ifconfig 207.111.222.233 netmask broadcast eth0)


Now.  Since you don't have any network cards, most of the stuff above doesn't matter.  But when you do get one, if will be vital.

As for ppp, the first thing you have to do is change the name of your computer.  As noted above, jeh.linux.org doesn't exist in the linux.org domain.  So what you need to do is ping your assigned ip address once connected.

CONNECT 115200
Your IP address is : 11.122.233.34
[root@jeh /root]# ping 11.122.233.34
PING 11.122.233.34 (11.122.233.34): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 11.122.233.34: icmp_seq=0 ttl=128 time=0.5 ms
64 bytes from 11.122.233.34: icmp_seq=1 ttl=128 time=0.5 ms
64 bytes from 11.122.233.34: icmp_seq=2 ttl=128 time=0.5 ms
64 bytes from 11.122.233.34: icmp_seq=3 ttl=128 time=0.5 ms
^C
--- 11.122.233.34 ping statistics ---
4 packets transmited,  4 packets recieved, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/ave/max = 0.5/0.5/0.5 ms
[root@jeh /root]#

Now you have your ip address.  As for looking it up, you could try a dnsquery with some of the options, or you could do a traceroute to find out the name.

As for the files in /etc that pertain to networking, there are several to look at:
/etc/sysconfig/network
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 (ifcfg-eth1, ifcfg-eth2, whatever)

/etc/hosts.equiv (computers you trust)
/etc/hosts.allow (if you have anything in here, everything not in here will be denied access)

/etc/hosts.deny (if you have a name in here, it will be denied, everything else allowed)

/etc/inetd.conf (how services run depending on port #)
/etc/services (which services your computer knows about, needed for inetd.conf)

/etc/protocols (ip protocols allowed by this computer)

And thats about it.

Mike Crist
mike@mwaz.com

I probably haven't made my situation completely clear, so let me embellish it a bit:

1. I do not have any LAN hardware at all.  However, I will hang onto your instructions for the future; thanks!

2. The reason I assigned the name jeh.linux.org was (perhaps) a misreading of the HOWTOs.  The Net 2/3 and DiP/SLiRP/SLiP HOWTOs both say to use the domain name linux.org as a dummy, if you don't have a "real" one, and they give an IP address to use (I am at the office and don't recall what it is).  They say to put <hostname>.linux.org in /etc/hosts and various places, so that is what I did.  From what you say, I suspect that this is not the right thing to do....

3. I do understand how a temporary IP address is assigned by the PPP server.  I never get that far, however.  I use DIP and a script which used to work under Slackware 2.3 to dial my university; when DIP returns control to the command line, I type <ifconfig> immediately, but see only the loopback, indicating that a PPP connection was never negotiated.  DIP aborts itself after about 30 seconds, presumably because the remote server gave up.

Let's say, for a "reductio ad absurdam" example, that I have no LAN, no desire to do PPP connections, and all I want to do in life is telnet to my own host (this does not currently work; it says jeh.linux.org is unreachable).  What should I use for host and domain names?  What files have to be set up to minimally specify this configuration?  

Now suppose I decide I would like to do a PPP connection after all; does anything in my setup have to change?  What files do I need to modify or define?  Do I even need a domain name defined for my system, since PPP is going to assign me a full IP address at connect time?

I hope this clarifies the question a bit.  Thanks!

JEH

For just plain telnet into your box, all you should need is a line in hosts saying:

198.123.0.5  jeh.linux.org

I think it's 198, might be 192 also.  But you put in your ipaddress then your hostname.  hosts is a list of computers your computer knows about.  Also, in resolv.conf you need to take out your name servers lines.  This will get your one computer talking to itself.  You can also try telnetting in through the lo interface (127.0.0.anything).

-------------PPP changes---------------------
As for ppp, what you'll need to do is put the proper name server addresses in resolv.conf.  You will also need to change your computers name since it is not valid on the net.  You then have to take out the IP address you assigned, as it too is not valid on the net.  I think the reason you can't connect is your computer is requesting a 198 number from the server, and the server denies it.  As for more specific ppp setup, I don't know but could look it up.

Mike Crist
mike@mwaz.com

I can't seem to get this thing to work.  I have followed all the FAQs and HOWTOs, plus the suggestions supplied by the Experts here, but something is still wrong.  I suspect that it is something so simple and so trivial that we are all overlooking it.  Basically, all I am trying to do is install a clean, new system with no LAN, but working tcp/ip capability via PPP connections.  I don't have a permanently assigned IP address or domain name, but clearly all the various /etc files want me to specify one (or at least a benign "made-up" one).

None of the guides and info sources seem to have a step by step procedure to assure that all the right stuff is where it belongs and all the right defaults are set up right in such a simple configuration; they all assume you are on a LAN or have been given a valid IP address and domain by some Higher Authority.  I'm just a poor standalone PC at home, guys.  Where do I find the step-by-step for this simplest of all cases?

JEH

Could you send an output of ifconfig and route programs.

Did you include:
PPP support in your kernel?
SLIP support? (needed for dip even if you use PPP).

I think I am running OK, by a combination of all the hints you kind folks have sent me, plus some good old fashioned cut and try.  

One interesting, lingering question is about the domain name for my box.  It seems that all the various configuration files insist that I have to have a domain name, even though in reality I do not.  I will always be assigned a temporary IP address when I log in via PPP to my ISPs, but I still have to assign a nonexistent domain name to "feed the beast" here.  Any outgoing mail I send shows that domain as the origination point of the message, which seems like a bad idea.  Of course I set my reply-to address to something valid, but I am still wondering if there is another way...