DNS & Firefox fails on Linux, WindIE works only on older windows OS, ex not Vista

[giovanni_re]

I'm trying to get a Linux (KUbuntu) laptop with Firefox working on a network, INet supplied probably by ATT (The USA national phone company) DSL. It has a router/gateway, maybe including a firewall, about 3-6 yrs in place, which I can't physically access.

Under Linux, it gets an IP assigned (either automatically, or with dhclient? ifup eth0?), but dig & nslookup fail. Can ping the gateway. Ping offsite IP = untried.  Firefox fails to bring up web pages, IIRC because unable to look up host name.

One key fact, I suspect, is that older ms windows InternetExplorer works (probably due to the os or Internet Explorer web browser, I'm guessing 2000-2225, like windows 2000 professional), but newer ones fail (for sure wXP professional fails, maybe a 2007 date. & I've been told, windows vista fails).  In fact, the primary users of this network bought new Windowss Vista laptops, their tech failed repeatedly to get them working, & they returned them for older non vista laptops.

Is there someone here with networking, dns, gateway, firewall, web browser knowledge who can suggest a clue for fixing, or further debugging, this situation??  Thanks  :)


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What's the command to find out the currentt network settings? -netstatt?  I think it says the DNS server has the same IP as the gateway, 192.168.111.1 .IP assigned to the laptop: .14

How doesFirefoxx find outIP addresses? Query theDNS server itself?  Ask the Linux OS to find out? If that, how does Linux find out? - use a command like netstat/dig? Part of the built in networking stack? If not, what?

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Older windows laptops work, loading web pages in IE. Newer laptops (vista definitely, maybe whatever was before that) fail - a (probably junior) sysadmin/tech tried to get some new windows based laptops to work, & failed, & they had to downgrade to older laptops, running an older windows OS.

On a windows 2000 professional laptop, HP, Maybe 5-10 years old, IE can pull up web pages. "ipconfig" shows the gateway & assigned IP. But "netstatt" fails, timeout after 2 seconds, to get IP address.

I'm thinking the router/gateway/dns system is talking to older Windows Internet Explorer directly, & supplying it the dns lookup directly, through an alternate dns access method than the standard method??

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I had a method to find the gateway box manufacturer, but forgot it. Was it by telnetting to it's IP, & that showed the manufacturer? What else could have showed that (underlinuxx or windows)?  Traceroute? Ping?? Something else???

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Something is weird in that older windowsIEE are able to load web pages, but newer ones can't.

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Anyone heard of, or anything about, or can figure out this problem, or any useful analysis steps/probes??

Thanks.


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SOME SPECIFICS ABOUT WORKING & FAILING LAPTOPS:

Works:
windows 2000 professional -Aproxx year 2000? HP laptop
IEE works, nslookup fails, ipconfig shows .1 as gateway? doesn't show dns server
 old flag windows start button
 The strange thing here is that InternetExplorer works, but nslookup fails.

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Fails:
windowsXPP Professional - Compaq
 auto assigns gateway, nslookup fails, IE won't pull up web pages.

New Vista? laptops fail

KUbuntu 9.04 Fails nslookup, dig, &Firefoxx.

Untested:
windows xp Home Edition - SonyViao
 new flag green

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Note: 6-12 months ago i did something that gave me a manufacturer or model name for the gateway/router, but I forgot what I did. Telnet to some port on it's IP? traceroute??

Do you have any idea of any likely command/tool to find out the name from the g/r?


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Any help appreciated.  Thanks :)