Networking :: Establishing an internet connection



I am a complete Linux newbie and need some help getting onto the internet.

I have a near-zero knowledge level of Linux (other than downloading the live CD for DSL 2.4) and have been using Windows for years. I am new to Linux commands.  I would like to get into Linux but my interest has coincided with a hardware problem on my PC (my motherboard has developed a boot problem and I can only get into XP in safemode and am using a friend's PC to type this).

I really would appreciate an idiots guide in how to get into the Internet using DSL (and I mean Idiot)!

I have previously been using a usb modem to connect to Broadband (ISP =Tiscali in UK). However I now also have an ADSL router (which I have never used) and an onboard ethernet port on my PC (using a K7S5a mobo). I have never used the Ethernet port but it is enabled in the Bios and according to the specs is a Sis900 card.

I am supposed to be able to connect to my router (Safecome SAMR-4114, a 4 Port Ethernet with 1 Port USB LAN ADSL Modem Router) just by typing the ip address 10.0.0.2 into Internet Explorer (when using Windows of course).  However I don't know what to do to set this up with DSL.

When I boot DSL from the CD (I haven't done an install), it shows that it finds eth0 (which I guess is a good sign).

So, please help: what do i press to make it all work?

Many thanks in anticipation.
Some ideas:

1) Google
2) wikipedia
3) The search button
4) your ISP customer service (you pay for it, don't you?)
5) Do you feel any particular pleasere in asking to be considered an idiot?
I'm conducting a study about people who get pleaseure from pain...
Huh, so what is your actuall connection to the internet? Are you on dial-up, dsl,...

normally if you have a always on connection with dhcp connected by ethernet dsl will automaticly set it up. in other words just take the wire coming from the modem and plug it to the ethernet.
" just by typing the ip address 10.0.0.2 into Internet Explorer" you can use firefox and do the same thing.

You have to be more clear on what exactly your using. you list several things/ways you connect to the net, we just need to know the one you want to work.
Kerry,

Many thanks. You may be surprised to find that you solved my problem.You were able to confirm that as long as I had the LAN card, Router and cables set up correctly then DSL should 'just work'. No need to mess about with the confusing  ppp0e settings etc.

Well, the fact that it wasn't working told me that it must be something wrong with the way I had set up my new router. Focussing on this, I worked out that my ethernet cable was not a Patch cable and I was using the wrong kind. A quick search in the back of the cupboard and - well I am now typing this from within DSL.  
Fantastic.  
Now to get my old laptop and ethernet card woking.

I just needed to know where to start.
Many thanks.

original here.