Troubleshooting

If for some reason something goes wrong, don't panic.

• Try to re-enter the IP address to get to the configuration page again
• If it doesn't work, configure the network properties with any IP address in the range designated by the manual
• For example, if the factory-default IP for the configuration is: 192.168.1.1, but now it doesn't work. Set a static IP in the network properties from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254, any value within this range may work.
• Try rebooting the system.
• If the router has an option for reset, use it.
• If nothing works call tech support directly (the router's manufacturer)

Connecting Linux to the router

Now that we know the router is working properly; we can go ahead and configure our Linux box. You will be surprised how easy it is to configure your connection.

Once your net card is working properly, the wizard from the control center becomes very handy. At this point you should assign the appropriate IP address to the Net card in your Linux box see Figure 2.15 and also make sure you declared the public IP range in the LAN side in the router.

Because my system is going to be running a web server, in the following configuration I already assigned a public static IP, just as it shows in Figure 2.15, by the time I will run the wizard it will pick the IP address from the NIC card.

Let's go back to the control center:

Fig. 2.41

Click on connection to start the wizard. You probably already noticed that this wizard could be used for all your network connectivity.

Fig. 2.42

Observe Figure 2.42 carefully; the IP address was detected automatically when I clicked on connection. The reason it was able to pick up this IP address is because the net card is active and functional. As a matter of fact look at the picture on the status (state) it says UP.

You may have the correct IP already if you entered one during your net card activation or during the installation process. To continue with our Internet configuration click on Wizard. You will see a welcome to the Network configuration wizard. We are about to configure your internet/network connection…

Fig. 2.43

• Click on Expert
• Then click Next

You will then be presented with several options:

Fig. 2.44

During this process, you may be prompted for additional software installation. Insert the appropriate CD and Click OK.

When connecting your Linux box to the internet using a router, you will have to select the LAN option as shown in fig. 2.44

Fig. 2.45

• Click Next
• The wizard Finds a Net card

Answer appropriately and Click Next.

According to the router; it knows that it is controlling an internal network, either Dynamic or Static IP's for the Clients' side (your computers) as you declared it in the internal network range with its respective subnet.

As in the following example:

IP = 168.34.26.58       Subnet = 255.255.255.248

This Subnet allows me to connect 5 computers in my LAN; by adding a second router, I can then assign a bigger subnet and make it an internal network. I could avoid a second router and make any of the machines within the 5 IP's a proxy server to control an internal LAN. Thereafter, the proxy will act as a router.

Fig. 2.46

Note: If the router was set to assign IP address automatically (DHCP) then instead of placing an IP here, just click on Automatic IP (boot/dhcp) and click on Next

• Make sure the start at boot is selected.
• Click on Next

Fig. 2.47

Look at fig 2.47; it automatically took the host name and the DNS IP address from the net card. If you already entered the gateway it should appear here too; otherwise enter it now. For this to work the router must be configured properly as it is shown in figure 2.40

• Click Next

On the next screen you will see an option to enter the Proxy IP Address, but because we are not going out through a Proxy server we will leave this option blank.

Fig. 2.48

At this point you don't have a Proxy server. But in the future when your network grows, you may. A proxy server is a computer used between the router and the internal network as gateway, and provides Internet security to the internal LAN.

To continue with the last step click next.

Fig. 2.49

• Click on finish to apply the settings.

Once you click on finish it will take you back to where you started on figure 2.42.

• Click on Apply, and then click on OK.
• Exit the control center.

Reboot the system. Launch your browser and enjoy your high-speed Internet connection.