Web Browser doesn't connect to Google [SOLVED]

[Cariboo]

Hello all,
I'm back working on a machine with a very old Mobo (Intel Pentium MMX). The only Linux System I could install successfully was VectorLinux!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm connected to the Internet (as one can see writing this post) but I can't connect to Google.
I start at the tool bar clicking the icon 'Web Browser' -->'Bookmarks' -->'Search the Web' -->Google'. After that I get the message:

Address Not Found

 www.google.com could not be found. Please check the name and try again.

The browser could not find the host server for the provided address.

    * Did you make a mistake when typing the domain? (e.g. ww.mozilla.org instead of www.mozilla.org)
    * Are you certain this domain address exists?  Its registration may have expired.
    * Are you unable to browse other sites?  Check your network connection and DNS server settings.
    * Is your computer or network protected by a firewall or proxy?  Incorrect settings can interfere with Web browsing.
Try again

What do I miss? Has somebody an idea what is happening here?
Thanks for any reply in advance

[hata_ph]

do you have another windows machines with you?
do it have the same problem?
I am not sure about network command in linux but can you do a ping and tracert for the google.com site from your VL?

open up a console as root and run below command......does it return any reply?

ping google.com
tracert google.com

[rbistolfi]

May be appending the opendns addresses to your /etc/resolv.conf, that could fixit if the cause of the problem is dns related.

[toothandnail]

I hit a problem (at one site) where I could access some internet sites, but not others. After a lot of hunting, I found some mention of problems with later Linux kernels and tcp window scaling.

I found that by adding the following command to /etc/sysctl.conf, I got round the problem:

Code:

net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=0

You might need to create /etc/sysctl.conf - I don't recall if Vector has one by default.

One of the references I found to the original problem:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.17/+bug/59331

Strangely enough, the site which was giving me problems has changed. Instead of an OpenBSD based firewall/router, its now using Linux-based SME Server, and the problem has gone away.

May be worth trying, since it only takes a few seconds to do...

paul.

[Cariboo]

Hi hata_ph and thanks for the reply. you wrote:

do you have another windows machines with you?
do it have the same problem?

I have another Windows and another Linux machine>
No problems at other machines.

I am not sure about network command in linux but can you do a ping and tracert for the google.com site from your VL?

tracert didn't work --tracert command not found

---ping gives the following reply (endless):
64 bytes from py-in-f99.google.com (64.233.167.99): icmp_seq=20 ttl=247 time=187 ms
64 bytes from py-in-f99.google.com (64.233.167.99): icmp_seq=21 ttl=247 time=187 ms
64 bytes from py-in-f99.google.com (64.233.167.99): icmp_seq=22 ttl=247 time=189 ms

I have no idea what that means....

[Cariboo]

I hit a problem (at one site) where I could access some internet sites, but not others. After a lot of hunting, I found some mention of problems with later Linux kernels and tcp window scaling.

I found that by adding the following command to /etc/sysctl.conf, I got round the problem:

Code:

net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=0

You might need to create /etc/sysctl.conf - I don't recall if Vector has one by default.

One of the references I found to the original problem:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.17/+bug/59331

Strangely enough, the site which was giving me problems has changed. Instead of an OpenBSD based firewall/router, its now using Linux-based SME Server, and the problem has gone away.

May be worth trying, since it only takes a few seconds to do...

paul.

Thanks Paul,
No, I don't have /etc/sysctl.conf.....for creating it, do I just have to use any text editor, name the file sysctl.conf, enter

Code:

net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=0

and put it in /etc?

[toothandnail]

Thanks Paul,
No, I don't have /etc/sysctl.conf.....for creating it, do I just have to use any text editor, name the file sysctl.conf, enter

Code:

net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=0

and put it in /etc?

Yes, that should do it. I had forgotten though - that would require a reboot to take effect. You could try (as root):

Code:

echo 0 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_window_scaling

If that fixes the problem for you, create /etc/sysctl.conf as already mentioned.

paul.

[Cariboo]

Yes, that should do it. I had forgotten though - that would require a reboot to take effect. You could try (as root):

Code:

echo 0 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_window_scaling

If that fixes the problem for you, create /etc/sysctl.conf as already mentioned.

paul.

Thank you,Paul,
I tried, but still no "Google"!
When I typed

Code:

echo 0 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_window_scaling

in a terminal as root, nothing happened, I mean, I didn't see any reaction or reply.
I'm not experienced enough to figure this out.
Do you have another idea?

[toothandnail]

Sorry that didn't help. The only other thing I can think of is a DNS problem. It might be worth your while to try something like the OpenDNS - DNS ips are as follows:

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

  I've had to use those for a number of Windows Vista machines - for some reason, Vista often fails to resolve DNS entries when connecting to wireless networks. Hard coding the DNS ips usually fixes it - don't know if it will help in the case of Linux.

paul.

[hata_ph]

usually the internet provider (ISP) will give a specific DNS.......try consult your ISP....

[toothandnail]

usually the internet provider (ISP) will give a specific DNS.......try consult your ISP....

The OpenDNS often works when an ISPs DNS server doesn't, which is why I suggested it.

paul.

[Cariboo]

Thanks, toothandnail and hata_ph,
I'm sorry bothering you with this issue..
GrannyGeek recommended to type the address, for example http://www.google.com, directly in the address field....and it works...
But, now I can also connect via the Bookmarks path...--->Search the Web --->Google.
what I couldn't before...
I wonder what happened
I didn't change anything

[hata_ph]

Thanks, toothandnail and hata_ph,
I'm sorry bothering you with this issue..
GrannyGeek recommended to type the address, for example http://www.google.com, directly in the address field....and it works...
But, now I can also connect via the Bookmarks path...--->Search the Web --->Google.
what I couldn't before...
I wonder what happened
I didn't change anything

lol....mystery of life....

[Cariboo]

lol....mystery of life....

Yeah,.....
 for me the whole computer world is kind of a mystery...
and I envy you guys who understand/invent all this ....
 

Anyway, I like VL very much and the people behind it and their effort to keep it simple...
as A. Einstein once said:
"Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler"

[hata_ph]

lol....mystery of life....

Yeah,.....
 for me the whole computer world is kind of a mystery...
and I envy you guys who understand/invent all this ....
 

Anyway, I like VL very much and the people behind it and their effort to keep it simple...
as A. Einstein once said:
"Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler"

I am just newbie same as you.......just that maybe I have encounter some problem similar that you haven't yet.......life itself is a learning experiences.....