StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Recently installed SuSE Linux 8.1 on my notebook computer and ran into a few roadblocks while trying to get online with the newly Linux-ized box, so.....
I turned to a Linux forum for help and asked what I felt to be appropriate questions. I was met by some jargon which to me made no sense, and the fellow asked me if I'd bothered to use the search feature. I replied to his answers, saying that the jargon he'd recommended didn't mean much to me, but I'd try to research it further. I added that I indeed had used the search feature. But then I felt he might have taken what I said the wrong way, so I added the following note at the bottom:

Note: Please don't think I'm trying to be rude -- I really do appreciate your help, but as I'm new to all things Linux, I really am starting out from scratch. For example, if I said to you, "A/2-78 IN sets SBF 3 NLT 200300DEC03 IOT facilitate ME attack into OBJ Wolfhound," you would likely say, "What the hell does that mean?!" I could say, "Look in the TACSOP," and leave it at that, but you likely have never heard of a TACSOP, TOCSOP, RSOP, or any type of SOP unless you've served on a military staff. It's a language with which I and most other military professionals are comfortable, but civilians are left clueless. Similarly, I don't know Linux-speak, so please be patient. Thanks.

Linux geeks can be like that. Not that I use SUSE myself, but what kind of problems are you having?

Darth Wong wrote:Linux geeks can be like that. Not that I use SUSE myself, but what kind of problems are you having?

Well, recognition of my LAN card seems to have taken place...at least what I've seen leads me to believe so. However, getting online through my DSL modem seems to be the nut I've yet to crack. Mine's a static IP (which I entered into the appropriate fields), but like you say, each version of Linux sucks that particular egg differently (or at least the interfaces aren't necessarily the same).

Either way, I'm going to the field this morning, likely not to return until Friday. I'll keep what contact I can on my web-capable PDA.

jegs2 wrote:Well, recognition of my LAN card seems to have taken place...at least what I've seen leads me to believe so.

Do you have another machine on your LAN which you can ping for confirmation of that?

However, getting online through my DSL modem seems to be the nut I've yet to crack. Mine's a static IP (which I entered into the appropriate fields), but like you say, each version of Linux sucks that particular egg differently (or at least the interfaces aren't necessarily the same).

Most DSL modems require a PPPoE daemon (point-to-point protocol over Ethernet), which treats a LAN connection as if it were a modem and performs negotiation with the provider. You have to install and configure the software to do this (even on Windows boxes, you generally must install extra software for DSL for the same reason).

Either way, I'm going to the field this morning, likely not to return until Friday. I'll keep what contact I can on my web-capable PDA.

Have a good week.

Ive noticed many ( Im not saying all or anyone here ) Linux/Unix types hide knowledge and do not share anything. Or at the least they are pompous towards newbies. [/rant]

Who isn't hard on newbies? Waltz into a Windows discussion and say something stupid like "OK, I think there's not enough RAM inside my CPU because the software says there's no space left. So does this mean I need a new CPU?" and you will probably be called an idiot.

Darth Wong wrote:Who isn't hard on newbies? Waltz into a Windows discussion and say something stupid like "OK, I think there's not enough RAM inside my CPU because the software says there's no space left. So does this mean I need a new CPU?" and you will probably be called an idiot.

There is a difference between being a total idiot and a clueless newbie. Im pretty damn nice to newbies and non-technical users as long as they do not insult me. ( The VP of Marketing at my last company told me to my face that IT jobs were a waste of time. This is after she removed herself from the domain and changed all the passwords on her laptop ) She deserved to be called an idiot, but it was not our choice to allow her to use her personal laptop anyway, so what can you do?