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Internet & networking

Edit a wireless connection — Learn what the options on the wireless connection editing screen mean.

Find your IP address — Knowing your IP address can help you troubleshoot network problems.

Manually set network settings —

What is a MAC address? — The unique code assigned to network hardware.

What is a proxy? — A proxy filters websites that you look at, usually for control or security purposes.

What is an IP address? — An IP Address is like a phone number for your computer.

Troubleshooting internet connection problems

My computer connects to the wrong network — Delete the network connection that keeps being connected to accidentally.

Other users can't connect to the internet —

Other users can't control the network connections — You need to uncheck the Available to all users option in the connection settings.

The internet seems slow — Other things might be downloading, you could have a poor connection, or it could be the time of day.

Why does my wireless network keep disconnecting? — You might have low signal, or the network might not be letting you connect properly.

Wireless connections

Connect directly to another computer with a wireless connection — You can connect computers together by forming an ad-hoc wireless network.

Connect to a hidden wireless network — Click the network icon on the top bar and select Connect to Hidden Wireless Network.

Connect to a wireless network — Get on the internet - wirelessly.

I can't see my wireless network in the list — The wireless could be turned off or broken, there might be too many wireless networks nearby, or you might be out of range.

I've entered the correct password, but I still can't connect — Double-check the password, try using the pass key instead of the password, turn the wireless card off and on again...

Resolve problems with wireless connections — Troubleshoot your connection to a wireless network.

Turn off wireless (airplane mode) — Click the network icon on the top panel and switch Airplane Mode to ON.

What do WEP and WPA mean? — WEP and WPA are ways of encrypting data on wireless networks.

Why does my wireless network keep disconnecting? — You might have low signal, or the network might not be letting you connect properly.

Wired connections

Connect to a wired (Ethernet) network — To set-up most wired network connections, all you need to do is plug in a network cable.

Create a connection with a fixed IP address — Using a static IP address can make it easier to administer some network services.

Security

Do I need anti-virus software? — There are few Linux viruses, so you probably don't need anti-virus software.

Enabling and blocking firewall access — You can control what programs are accessible by the network.

Firewall port list — Look at a list of programs that can be allowed through your system's firewall.

VPN connections

Connect to a VPN — VPNs allow you to connect to a local network over the internet. Learn how to set-up a VPN connection.

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