First off, what Linux distribution and version are you using? I'm guessing Slackware, but that is no more than a guess (based on the filename rc.pcmcia ... of the major distros, I think Slackware is the only one that still uses rc* filenames for init scripts).
To get an IP address assigned by DHCP, a system needs to run a DHCP client. The one most commonly used, these days, is pump. Others include dhcpcd and dhclient. You need to see which of these you have on your system, then create or activate an init script that starts one of them with appropriate settings. If you have none of them, you need to see which of them your distro provides and install one of them ... also maybe create an init script, or maybe the install will cause an init script to be installed too.
Or maybe changing the settings in network.opts as you guessed will work, if the needed daemon is on your system. It's hard to say. The form of init scripts is a bit distro dependent (very much so as regards Slackware), so without seeing the script in question, it is hard to be definite about what you should do. Usually, if you are using DHCP, you do not fill in fields for IP address, netmask, broadcast address, gateway, and maybe nameservers.
Since you are a beginner, I'll close with a bit of beginner advice: whenever you pose a question about Linux, here or on any list, always mention what distro you are using, what version, and (usually) what kernel version (e.g., "Red Hat 9.0 with kernel 2.4.20" or "Debian Sid with kernel 2.4.19"). It saves everyone a lot of time.
At 08:57 PM 7/24/2003 -0500, James Miller wrote:
I've set up a small home network and managed to get a few computer talking on
it, including an old laptop. The laptop prompts this query. So, I have a
basic grasp of some Linux networking concepts, as well as general networking
concepts. I set up the home network with static addressing, which seemed
more approachable to me. Now, I'm going to need to tweak the laptop a bit so
I can use it at some larger institutions (schools) where I visit or study.
Almost surely these places will be using DHCP for assigning network addresses,
and they will likely expect computers hooking up there to be DHCP-capable.
Well, I'm sure I have such capability on the laptop, so that much is in place.
I've also gotten some information from the PCMCIA how to, as well as some
other sources, on ways to select between DHCP and static addressing setups.
In this initial inquiry, I just want to ask for some further information on
how DHCP works, so I'll have an idea what to expect. Let me pose my questions
as follows: in the network.opts file, which is where rc.pcmcia gets its
information about the network from, there are various entries - ip address,
gateway address, subnet address, network address and the like. I have at least
a general idea of which of these fields I must fill in on my static, home
network, as well as the values that go there. What I'm not sure about when
using DHCP is which of the fields (if any) need to be filled in? Apart from
enabling DHCP there (by entering a "y" in the appropriate field), which other
fields might I need to fill in? Do I need to know anything about the network
addressing scheme where I'll be using the laptop, or will DHCP take care of
detecting and utilizing all those values?
Depending on the enlightenment or confusion that results from answers I may receive to this query, I may need to pose additional questions. Thanks for your help.
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