PLEASE help a noob!! (thx)

[rbweh]

I'm brand new to Linux and Fedora. I have FC 4 going, and have been pretty frustrated trying to get it all working correctly. :(

OK, I have a couple of problems going on. First one is the dreaded error message when starting my computer up:

'Could not look up internet address for localhost. This will prevent GNOME from operating correctly. It may be possible to correct the problem by adding localhost to the file /etc/hosts'
with the buttons:
Log in Anyway/Try Again

I did a Google search on it and found tons of references to it, but no solution that made sense to me.

How do i get rid of this? What would I type into the hosts file??

Next question:
I can't access the Internet! It worked all of one time. I believe I physically pulled out my ethernet card and plugged it back in, then did something within Network Configuration (activated the Device), and it magically worked. Now I can activate/deactivate the same Device all I want and nothing works.

Another question:
I installed the Windows network RPMs included with FC4, but haven't been able to see any of my current Windows machine already on my network. Any clues as to what I should be doing to get that going??

PLEASE, PLEASE help me out :D This machine has been sitting here for a month with no luck, and I really want to get it usable. Let me know what to read, what info you need, or whatever. And thank you in advance!

[weinerdogus]

My sympathy. Linux can be very frustrating when you are just starting out. There is lots of help available on the forum if you ask the right questions. Are you behind a router? During your install, did you select "Automatically obtain ip address information using dhcp"
open a terminal
type su -
enter your password
type system-config-network
make sure your device is set to active
edit tab
check "activate device when computer starts"
check "Automatically obtain ip address settings with dhcp"
check "Automatically obtain DNS information from provider"
ok
DNS tab
make note of host name
Hosts tab
there should be an entry
"127.0.0.1 "host name""
if not add it
close window
yes to save changes
reboot

For your second question, the easiest way is to install and configure Samba. Either use Add/Remove programs or yum install samba. Try to set it up yourself, if you run into trouble post back to get some help.

[rbweh]

AAAHH!!!

This is really not making sense. Thanks for the info, Weinerdogus. It managed to get rid of the first problem, 'could not look up...' error.

Unfortunately, now the damned computer gets stuck for two minutes when booting, when it hits:
'E-mail transport'

Then it shows the boot detail, with something about starting 'sendmail'. Then it goes back to a non-graphical environment, and sits there with 'Enabling swap space [OK]' for another two minutes. *sigh*.

What was odd is that the 'hosts' tab in system-config-network does not show anything, even after I Add a new host. I can open the /etc/hosts file now and see '127.0.0.1 localhost'. The file itself changed from being an empty, blank page icon to the blue text document icon.

uhm..Oh, I've got the FC4 box connected to a hub, which connects to a wireless router, which is bridged (or whatever it's called) to another wireless router, and out through a cable modem.

All three of the check boxes you mentioned were already checked. Also, my hostname is just 'localhost', is there a problem with that?

[weinerdogus]

Then it shows the boot detail, with something about starting 'sendmail'. Then it goes back to a non-graphical environment, and sits there with 'Enabling swap space [OK]' for another two minutes. *sigh*.
This is a service that is probably not necessary if you are using a small workgroup (unless you are running a mail server).
You can trun it off > system-config-services > edit runlevel tab > uncheck runlevel 3 4 5 boxes then click the stop button. The service won't run after you reboot.
Also, my hostname is just 'localhost', is there a problem with that?
You can have your hostname "John" if you want. (something that makes sense on your network might be appropriate) "localhost" could cause problems with smb down the road.

[rbweh]

Once again, I appreciate your help.

Now it boots quicker, but still no Internet. And the Host I created is now showing up, after having removed the eth0 hardware and letting Fedora re-discover it, and I re-named my host name. Still none of that first error message, which is one step better.

I've been through your first directions a number of times, even starting and stopping the 'network' service through that service manager you told me about. Any more ideas?

On another note, 'Nautilus' seems to crash and make my desktop icons disappear for a second when I try and access the Network folder.

[weinerdogus]

uhm..Oh, I've got the FC4 box connected to a hub, which connects to a wireless router, which is bridged (or whatever it's called) to another wireless router, and out through a cable modem.
This could be why you have no internet connection. I don't use wireless, so I can't help here. Do a search on the forum as there are plenty of posts relating to wireless problems and thier solutions.
good luck

[rbweh]

This could be why you have no internet connection. I don't use wireless, so I can't help here. Do a search on the forum as there are plenty of posts relating to wireless problems and thier solutions.
good luck
Nope, all of my windows computers have been totally fine in using that connection, and it should be acting just like any old router the way those wireless routers are talking together. (from my knowledge, anyway).

BUT, I spent some time poking around within the system-config-services area, and managed to turn on a 'NetworkManager' service, and restarted the 'network' service

Lo and behold, the freakin' thing works.

So i checked all those NetworkManager runlevel boxes, and believe I have solved my problem.

Now for Samba...
still no luck on that end.

But my odds are increasing ;)

[weinerdogus]

Try this link (http://www.reallylinux.com/docs/sambaserver.shtml) from the Fedora Weekly news 13.