<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt">Hi Chris,<br>
Just seen your email and I sympathise with your problems. What
you're asking, however, isn't rocket science. I imagine you must
have a PC (maybe it connects to the Internet already with Microshaft's
Windblows). <br>
<br>
If this is the case and it connects the Internet through a broadband
connection, booting it from a Linux CD/DVD with "Knoppix" on it (so
Linux runs and Windblows doesn't) will (almost certainly) pickup your
Internet connection without you doing anything. No need to
install the Linux (unless you want to) as it will run everything fine
from the CD. <br>
<br>
If you use dialup to get to the Internet, it's a bit more
complex. You'll have to "tell" the Linux the phone number in
(almost) the same way as for Windblows. If this is the case, you
need a different Linux like Fedora or SuSE which you'd need to install
on your PC.<br>
<br>
To get a whole lot of other PCs connnecting to the first one and
sharing its Internet connection does (as you've rightly said) need an
ethernet connection. This means all your PCs would need network
cards and you'd have to link them all together with cables via a
network hub/switch (an extra box you'd have to buy). These other
PCs can be running either Windblows or Linux as you wish.<br>
<br>
I don't often get to the Linux groups monthly meetings, but if I do,
and we bump into each other, I'll gladly help you some more. In
the meantime, if you want a bootable CD with Knoppix on it, you just
email me and ask, and I'll put one in the post to you.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
<br>
Walter James.<br>
<div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><br><br>----- Original Message ----<br>From: Chris Tompkins <chris.tompkins@phonecoop.coop><br>To: Preston and Lancashire Linux User Group <preston@mailman.lug.org.uk><br>Sent: Monday, 8 May, 2006 7:58:10 PM<br>Subject: [Preston] What is an Ethernet?<br><br><div>Dear All,<br><br>Periodically I get an urge to try to connect a Linux system to the <br>internet. So far these urges have ended in frustration. My requirements <br>have become slightly more complex, I want to connect two Linux systems <br>to one broadband connection. I have been reliably informed that I <br>should connect the machines to a router/modem using ethernet connections.<br><br>At or after the next Usergroup meeting, could someone give me a short <br>tutorial on the theory and practice of the Ethernet and tell me what bit <br>needs to be physically plugged into where. (If its
after the meeting I <br>will provide adequate lubrication).<br><br>Please bear in mind that I'm not a complete idiot - I've never completed <br>anything in my life.<br><br>Tours hopefully,<br><br>Chris<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Preston mailing list<br>Preston@mailman.lug.org.uk<br><a target="_blank" href="https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/preston">https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/preston</a><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>