Help! How to configure network connections?

[Chuck Vose]

In linux the ipv6 addresses don't mess with anything. My understanding
is that since they're formed in part based on the mac address of a
network adaptor we could use the address even if you couldn't see the
address in the ifconfig output. It's pretty cool.

Anyways, two things to check would be to ping the router and then to
ping something like google.com. If you can ping the router you know
that your dhcp is working and all is happy. If you can't you have a
pretty good idea what's going on. If you can ping google you know that
DNS is working, if not... well you get it.

I hope that points you in the right direction. When in doubt, unplug
the router and cable modem and turn off the computer. Boot the cable
modem, boot the router, boot the computer. Rather than reboot the
computer you can also run sudo dhclient to renew your ip address.
After all three have done their thing if you're still having trouble
I'll be happy to try to continue to help :)

-Chuck