UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

hi , i have sparc machine , i want to connect my le0 (ethernet interface) directly to cable modem ,
i have created a file resolv.conf,hosts, dhcp.le0,defaultrouter,nisswitch,hostname.le0. i dont know my cable companies <domain name> and <name server assigned to me> , also they even dont know how to help me with this.
so i have created a empty file resolv.conf, i think DHCP can update it. after rebooting , i get error as no carrier or cable disconnected to hub , and error in ifconfig timed out , and argument error in /usr/lib/inet/in.dhcpd -r argument.
i m unable to connect to internet using cable modem.
i hope u people can enlighten me of my mistakes here , thanx in advance.
or just tell me procedure to connect using cable modem.
raju

Do you need a cross-over cable between the cable modem and the machine? Are you using a straight through RJ45 cable? That might be a problem.

auswipe ,i use cable provided by cable modem company , which is crossover,
when system boots , i get following msgs or errors...
1.configuring network intefaces : le0
2.starting DHCP on primary:le0
(at this moment LED on cable modem for connection to ethernet on sparc , dosent light)
le0 cable disconected..(this comes only once)
(now LED showing sparc to ethernet connection goes on)
ifconfig timed out
....all msgs for starting..
in.rdisc: no interfaces up
setting default interfaces for multicast 224.0.0.0...
in.dhpcdbad file number: no interfaces up....

and then i log on to root , on CDE.
after loging in , i check ifconfig -a , it shows
both adapters , la0 (local loopback), and le0 but it shows le0 BROADCAST, RUNNING,MULTICAST,DHCP...it is not up(even though i set the ifconfig with earlier and did like ifconfig le0 broadcast +).and inet0.0.0.0 netmask 0 , ether hex address.
netstat -rn shows:
127.0.0.1 as destination ,127.0.0.1 as Gateway ,with UH Flags.it does not list le0 at all.
so i do , ifconfig le0 x.x.x.x ( IP Address of my machine i had set in /etc/hosts) up
than i get it up in ifconfig -a , and also arp -a shows some i.p. adresess of my cable provider,and le0 with x.x.x.x , Mask ff.ff.ff.ff. flags SP and physical address ,and le0 with multicast address(224.0.0.0) and mask 240.0.0.0.
but when i try to browse i get host unreachable or not found...
i hope you people can help me here , is it my ethernet interface speed (10mbps) which is problem.
thanx in advance...

I know little of Sun OEM equipment. Is your interface a 10/100 or just a 100 Mbit only interface? From your description it sounds like the hardware is reporting that the connection isn't being made.

I am assuming that you have tested the cross-over cable with another machine that the modems works correctly?

hardware is 10mbps only , and same crossover cable works fine with another machine.
but why do i have to run ifconfig again after booting to make my le0 up????
thanx in advance

okay , guys thanx alot , for your help , i could get it resolved by my self , here is procedure:
1.ifconfig interface name address mask up example:ifconfig le0 xx.xx.xx.xx netmask (subnet mask here) up
2.create /etc/hostname.le0 , add ur host name to it ,for example sparky or whatever.
3.edit your /etc/hosts file to have locol host and your host name with i p address you set.
4.add i p address of your ISP default gateway to your /etc/defaultrouter
5.edit /etc/nsswitch file , to read host line as dns files
6.creat /etc/resolv.conf , add your domain name and nameserver
7. and better create a file /etc/dhcp.le0 (to get ip of your cable modem provider automaticaly using DHCP.
and reboot with init 6.
but never forget to switch of ur cable modem and restart again, (that was mistake i made , and coudn't figured it out)
make check on reboot with ifconfig -a , and netstat -rn
thanx any way
raju