Linux Newb - Problem with NIC after install.

Hey all.

I have decided to try Linux.

I have just installed Fedora Core 1.

The install went well, and everything is working except for the NIC. The OS sees it, but apon bootup, it's in a state of "inactive". When I try to activate it, I get the following error.

SIOCSIFFLAGS: Device or resource busy. Failed to bring up eth0.

I'm guessing resource conflict. However, being a Linux newb, I have NO IDEA what to do about it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

System

Intel Celeron 466.
256 Megs Ram
Intel 810 chipset
NIC 3com 3c905B

What distro/flavor of linux are you using?

By activate do you mean you are cliking on a graphical button to activate it? If so try opening a terminal window and typing: ifconfig eth0 up

It should go right back to the command prompt and then by typing: ifconfig it should list eth0 and lo. eth0 should have an ip assigned to it.

after you boot into linux and log in can I have you type this

dmesg >& dmesg.txt

and copy paste the text thats from the dmesg.txt file in here?

also do the same with this

cat /proc/pci >& pci.txt

thanx

P.S. What NIC is it?

Question in post 1. The distro I installed is Fedora Core 1. (aka red hat 10)

Question in post 2. The NIC is a 3com 3c905b

You both asked me to "type" something. Remember, I have never used linux before. You mentioned a command prompt. The closest thing to that I could find was called "terminal". When I type that, I just get an error. Do I need to be in a specific directory, or am I in the wrong application all together?

Sorry to sound like such a newb, but, well, I'm a newb. :-)

Thanks for your patience guys.

you're in the right application, there are other options besides a shell/terminal/command prompt.

As with many many many other things Linux, it can't be easy and involves a bit of reading. :)

Right here are some instructions that should set you strait. They are based on Red Hat 9 so there may be a few cosmetic differences between that and Fedora.

This should give you a graphical way of setting up your NIC as well as terminal/shell/command prompt options. Also note that many of the things they tell you to do require root priveleges.

good luck.