noob networking advice

[MNuTz]

Hi all,

Ive currently got 1 XP PC downstairs with my ADSL modem conencted, this is the gateway PC. My PC is upstairs, also running XP.

Yesterday i was in WHSmiths and had a spare tenner so bought myself "Get started with Mepis linux" by Linux Format magazine. I figured it would be a good jumping off point to learn the basics and then try out different distros.

Anyway, installed it onto a spare IDE HDD and had trouble getting it to load the bootloader but changed the HDD boot sequence in the BIOS and it starts fine now.

Next problem: Connecting to the Net.

I made a note of all the info that my XP OS is using to connect. Ive gone into Mepis Utilities and then into Network interfaces. Ive set the static DNS servers and then into 'eth0' tab, ticked :

Start at system boot
Start when plugged in
Use Static IP address

Ive set the IP address to one similar to my XP one. set the subnet mask to the same. Gateway IP to that of the OC downstairs and its the same as the XP one.

However there is a 'Broadcast Address' that i have no idea what it is and i just cant get it to connect.

The gateway uses Zonealarm and ICS, normally i try to connect a new windows PC and then have to go downstairs and 'allow' it access on the firewall but im not even getting that.

Do i need special software in order to connect through and XP ICS connection??

 

[MNuTz]

if you are using ICS i think that has a DHCP server, set everything to be set automatically

I dont use the DHCP as for some reason it was causing problems for me when we had 3 PCs set up over the LAN. I just set all the IP address etc myself. Its not really a problem over such a small network.

EDIT: It was also set up to use DHCP from the start but wasnt finding anything.

 

[MNuTz]

as a last resort changed it over to DHCP and it wouldnt work at all.

Entering the IP address manually actually seems to work, the eth0 icon in the toolbar turns green to indicate that its functioning. Ive also found the network monitor and you do get a bit of transfer according to the graphs but thats it.

Anything i should be looking at on the XP machine to allow access?

Ive allowed access to the linux IP in zonealarm and even turned zonealarm off. Ive tried the linux firewall off too!

stumped!

 

[MNuTz]

tryed setting the browser proxy to your windows xp address?
can you access a web address using an ip i.e. 66.249.93.104 = google.co.uk
I presume you can Ping websites?

Those the only questions that come to mind you should ask your self.

tried all of the above and still the same, i cant ping a website. I load the Konsole and type ping 66.249.93.104 and hit enter and it tells me its sending 56 packets but thats all that happenes, i dont seem to get a reply.