10.2.1. Configuration of network interfaces
All the big, userfriendly Linux distributions come with various
graphical tools, allowing for easy setup of the computer in a local
network, for connecting it to an Internet Service Provider or for
wireless access. These tools can be started up from the command
line or from a menu:
-
Ubuntu configuration is done selecting ->->.
-
RedHat Linux comes with redhat-config-network, which has both a graphical and
a text mode interface.
-
Suse's YAST or YAST2 is an all-in-one configuration tool.
-
Mandrake/Mandriva comes with a Network and Internet
Configuration Wizard, which is preferably started up from
Mandrake's Control Center.
-
On Gnome systems: gnome-network-preferences.
-
On KDE systems: knetworkconf.
Your system documentation provides plenty of advice and
information about availability and use of tools.
Information that you will need to provide:
-
For connecting to the local network, for instance with your home
computers, or at work: hostname, domainname and IP address. If you
want to set up your own network, best do some more reading first.
At work, this information is likely to be given to your computer
automatically when you boot it up. When in doubt, it is better not
to specify any information than making it up.
-
For connecting to the Internet: username and password for your
ISP, telephone number when using a modem. Your ISP usually
automatically assigns you an IP address and all the other things
necessary for your Internet applications to work.
