Network problems

[Boggess Rod]

>By the way, it has been suggested that I do a reinstall on the affected
>computer... I am getting to that point but not just yet.  You see, I
>learn the most when confronting a problem and I am certainly learning a
>lot now.  When my frustration reaches a certain point, I will
reinstall.
>
Now that I'm caught up on the emails, a quick recap:

1) This is primarily a learning experience, as opposed to a production
setup that you have to have running no later than yesterday. 

2) You have (at present) two computers running Linux. 

3) Ping works for name and IP for one, but only IP for the other. For
the one that does work, IP by host name is more than a hundred times
slower and does not resolve to the correct, desired IP.

4) You have double-checked cabling, but not the router.

5) You're adding a third (windows) computer.

Is that about right? Or am I off on that third or fourth bit? Are you
using fixed IP or are you running DHCP in the router or one of these
machines? Can we assume that the firewall has no filtering enabled,
neither ports nor SNMP replies?