UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

ok -- i've got the main install done, but when it goes to set up apt, i can't get to an http or ftp server to get the packages. seems my dns isn't working. problem is -- i have no way, or at least don't know a way, to get into any sort of gui, in which i think i could get it going myself. i'm stuck at the cp.

so -- how can i get my dns going from a command prompt? as per usual, i can ping via IP, so i know i have connectivity.

any help or pointing me to an older thread would be appreciated!

To get Xwindows going, assuming it is installed correctly, you can usually just type:
startx

If you can ping by IP, but not by hostname, I'd check your /etc/resolv.conf file first. It would normally have the following format:
$ cat /etc/resolv.conf

domain yourisp.net
nameserver 123.321.123.321
nameserver 321.123.321.123
search yourisp.net
$

Of course, you need to replace the information there with your own - if you don't know what your nameserver addresses are, your ISP can provide them for you.

Hope that does it!