I start by saying I am not a Linux expert, I am a competent MSDOS/Windows user willing to have a go at most things and I have wanted to try out Linux for a while but bee reluctant to install it on my PC. So when the Raspberry Pi was announced I had to have one.
I recently received my RasPi just before going on holiday I had previously bought some 4GB SD cards and set them up with different OS's as recommended on the website (http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads).
I connected it up quickly just to have a look, I used both available USB sockets for the keyboard and mouse and a standard ethernet cable to my router, my screen is an old flat screen TV with no HD socket so the resolution was poor but it seemed to work fine, booted up OK logged in and accessed the internet. So I went on holiday happy.
On my return I decided to setup as suggested with a cheap powered USB hub. It has now taken me about a week on and off to get it working properly again, so I offer my story in the hope that it will help some one else avoid the same problem.
The Problem
On switch on the RasPi boots OK logs in OK Startx runs OK, everything seems to work except the internet. On boot up you can open a terminal window and ping the router OK, when you run the ifconfig command you get what appears to me to be a good response, it identifies the network address of the RasPi correctly as it can be seen from the router. But at no point can I access the internet. The Midori browser runs OK but fails to access any website, you get "Cannot resolve hostname...." or other similar messages. I could not easily find any settings to adjust to rectify the problem. After a short while the ping to the router stopped working and the router itself stated the the RasPi was not connected.
I spent hours trying different SDRAM cards with different OS's, switched out all the cables one at a time, I even looked into various online forums to see if anyone else had had the same problem. I Googled every error message I received looking for guidance, nothing. I tried a wireless USB adapter, even connected it directly to the router with no other computer connected.
In short I tried more potential fixes than I care to remember, I am not a Linux expert as I say but I felt that it had to be something I was doing, no one else seemed to have this problem and the RasPi was working all but the internet.
The Solution?
In the end I reverted back to connecting the keyboard and mouse directly to the RasPi without the powered USB hub (I should have realised ages ago but it still doesnt make sense) It worked fine!!
Tried a basic unpowered hub that also works fine, I am now been able to access the internet and Ping the RasPi from my windows PC all of which I couldnt do before.
This episode has been very useful for me, I am now much more familiar with Linux than I was, however as for the underlying cause I am stumped. If anyone can explain the behaviour of the powered USB hub or anything else I have done please let me know. I submit this post for those like me who are just starting and may have the same problem, if you find it useful let me know.
Mick Hollywood
