Internet connection issue in Linux

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting internet connection issues on a Linux system, focusing on potential causes such as DNS problems, VPN configurations, and firewall settings. Participants share their experiences and suggest diagnostic steps and solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially suspects a DNS issue due to inconsistent website accessibility, noting that some sites load while others do not.
  • Another participant resolves their issue partially by using a VPN, suggesting that the problem may relate to local network settings or an outage.
  • Several participants propose diagnostic steps to check for DNS issues, including pinging the DNS server and accessing websites via their IP addresses.
  • One participant mentions that they could ping their DNS server but encountered issues with redirects when trying to access websites directly via IP, leading them to believe the problem lies elsewhere, possibly related to VPN changes.
  • A suggestion is made to modify the "resolv.conf" file to include specific DNS server addresses, including OpenDNS, as a potential solution to the connectivity issues.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the source of the connectivity issues, with some attributing it to DNS problems while others suggest it may be related to VPN configurations or firewall settings. No consensus is reached on the definitive cause of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the lack of specific error messages or detailed information from the original poster, which complicates the troubleshooting process. The discussion reflects uncertainty regarding the exact nature of the issue and the effectiveness of proposed solutions.

CRGreathouse
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My (new*) linux system is having trouble connecting to most websites. Originally I thought it was a DNS issue, because I can connect to some websites (Google, thanks goodness, and physicsforums of course), but now I'm not sure.

What do you think this is? Is it me, my connection, or an Internet-wide disruption? (Amusingly, I can't access http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ .) Is there anything I can do?

* Thanks again to those on this and other boards who helped me set this computer up!
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Well, I was able to resolve my issue (most of the way) just by using a VPN to connect. I'm still curious as to the source of the problem, but I guess that suggests a problem with either my VPN (changing settings that make it hard to connect normally) or a local outage (avoided when I go through the VPN).
 
You can easily check if it's a DNS issue by:
1) ping (trace) your DNS server and check for disrupted packages.
2) Look up the IP addresses of the websites you can't access using someone else's computer. Then try to access the website directly from its IP. If you can you have a DNS problem.
If you can connect to google then you don't have a TCP/IP problem. Maybe your IP tables are corrupted? Maybe your firewall isn't configured properly? What error message do you get when you can't access a website?
You didn't really give us any information to work with so I can only guess.
 
daniel_i_l said:
You can easily check if it's a DNS issue by:
1) ping (trace) your DNS server and check for disrupted packages.
2) Look up the IP addresses of the websites you can't access using someone else's computer. Then try to access the website directly from its IP. If you can you have a DNS problem.
If you can connect to google then you don't have a TCP/IP problem. Maybe your IP tables are corrupted? Maybe your firewall isn't configured properly? What error message do you get when you can't access a website?
You didn't really give us any information to work with so I can only guess.

I could ping my DNS server just fine. I was able to find some IP addresses but couldn't actually tell if that worked (funny, I know): the sites that I tried didn't load, as such, but they found the IP address and then choked on a redirect. Still, I think the issue was not a DNS problem but something else, probably something caused by installing, turning on, or turning off my VPN (since that's the only network-related thing I've changed recently).
 
CRGreathouse said:
I could ping my DNS server just fine. I was able to find some IP addresses but couldn't actually tell if that worked (funny, I know): the sites that I tried didn't load, as such, but they found the IP address and then choked on a redirect. Still, I think the issue was not a DNS problem but something else, probably something caused by installing, turning on, or turning off my VPN (since that's the only network-related thing I've changed recently).

Hi friend,
I had the same trouble in this issue. The problem is DNS servers on your "resolv.conf" file.
If you go to /etc/resolv.conf, and then add this line into it, It probably works.
nameserver your.dns.server.ips
nameserver your.dns.server.ips
nameserver your.dns.server.ips
or you can use free services such as OpenDNS
nameserver 208.67.222.222
nameserver 208.67.220.220
Sorry for my poor Engish,
I hope this works.
 

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