SteamOS isn't connecting to the Internet

[✪♤MechPilot524♤✪]

This is a fresh build. SteamOS was the first install I made. Complete hardware list with pertinent attributes:

Motherboard: Asus Maximus VII HERO, (Z97 chipset, Intel I218-V Ethernet Port)
Wireless Adapter: Asus PCE-N15 (connects into a PCI-E x1 slot)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB Solid State Drive
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K "Devil's Canyon"
RAM: G.Skill Trident X DDR3-1600 CL7 2x8GB RAM
Graphics Card: Coming soon to a PC near me
*No optical drive*

I installed it purely off of a USB 3.0 port directly in the motherboard's I/O shield. For all I know the PCIE wireless unit could be DOA, but it probably just doesn't have drivers. I have reason to believe the ethernet does work, however, as I've observed the activity lights on both the motherboard port and router. Debian just isn't talking to the ethernet port.
I'm at the point in the install process where Steam must connect to the Internet. And for whatever reason, it can't connect. I think that Debian and the ethernet port aren't communicating right.
And that's the furthest I can deduce, because I have almost no idea how to operate the system. I read about tweaking the interfaces file in

/etc/network/interfaces

; basically I tried to do this:

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

But then I was told I would have to enter an administrator password. I have no idea what that password is. So basically, I'm guessing the OS is in a read-only mode which would probably prevent me from installing drivers anyway.

Is there any way to get this to work? Or would it just be advisable to "acquire" a copy of Windows?

[lev258]

First thing, I would try it with a regular Linux distribution in Live mode (don't need to install). I wouldn't recommend manipulating the interfaces file. What kind of internet do you have (any special setups)? In Live mode, you can also get information about your LAN, with the lspci command. Actually, the usually given hardware properties don't say much about them (chipset, ...).

[✪♤MechPilot524♤✪]

Originally posted by lev258:

What kind of internet do you have (any special setups)?

I have Time Warner Cable, basically the router is plugged into the modem. I think that's pretty standard.

[Balderick]

Originally posted by MECPilot524:

Debian just isn't talking to the ethernet port.

If you are using an ethernet cable; Is it possible you need to switch off the wifi adapter in firmware (bios/uefi) settings?

As an alternative if you are not using wifi physicaly remove the wifi adapter.

[✪♤MechPilot524♤✪]

Originally posted by 40-1PvtBalderick:

Originally posted by MECPilot524:

Debian just isn't talking to the ethernet port.

If you are using an ethernet cable; Is it possible you need to switch off the wifi adapter in firmware (bios/uefi) settings?

As an alternative if you are not using wifi physicaly remove the wifi adapter.

I may try physically removing the adapter. I don't know if the adapter's even working or not, it could be DOA as I've seen no sign of life from it whatsoever. However at this point I am beginning to believe that Steam OS just doesn't natively support the Ethernet port and I don't have the drivers for my PCIE wireless unit, and I don't have the user account priveleges to manually change files etc, so I'm just trying to install Windows instead and in the future I may try Steam OS again after I've made sure all my parts are functioning as they should be.

[Balderick]

To be honest going by this Ubuntu (another Debian based OS) thread your wifi adapter does not play well with linux. ref: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1988161 and a quick web search confirms your Intel I218-V Ethernet Port has issues with Debian due to driver issues. You could try and get the driver or confirm your internet connection works or not by following what lev258 suggests in using a non beta installer live session from a well established distribution.
ref: http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/107226/no-ethernet-card-while-installing-debian-stable and http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=112327

You could also post your issue on github where a Valve dev could see the need to do something about getting this hardware supported in SteamOS but the truth is if your machine is not one of the three hundred prototypes or a Gigabyte Brix it is not officially supported as well as Debian struggling with it any hows.
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS

The easy option is just use windows until SteamOS is a bit more functional, capable and user friendly with better hardware support.

[Xeo Matrix]

Hello All after further testing and all of your recomendations debian doesnt like my motherboard at all and the wifi adapters. Right now im using windows + XMBC + Steam BP

[✪♤MechPilot524♤✪]

Hi, thought I might as well follow up on this. I aborted any further attempts at installing Windows 7. The PCI-Express wireless LAN card did not have any drivers whatsoever, but it is operating normally. There were no drivers for the Ethernet port, either. That was the reason why Debian was not connecting - as I had previously suspected, the OS didn't have drivers for either my ethernet port or my wireless adapter. I used my DVD drive to try and install the drivers from the included discs, but I couldn't get Debian to run the autorun files on those discs. I gave up on Steam OS and I now have Windows 7 happily running on my computer. All system components are working as they should. It should be noted, therefore, that Steam OS doesn't natively support the Ethernet and Wireless units.

[Balderick]

Originally posted by MECPilot524:

I used my DVD drive to try and install the drivers from the included discs, but I couldn't get Debian to run the autorun files on those discs.

Referring to your mobo vendors's website[www.asus.com] the user manual[dlcdnet.asus.com] indicates the supplied DVD has windows drivers only.
Intel do provide linux drivers for their hardware and for your ethernet you want the e1000e driver. You can download the ethernet linux driver here[downloadcenter.intel.com]
For wifi the linux driver you want can be found here[support.asus.com]
Reading the links in my last post will help getting gist of what you could try to get things working the trouble is steamos needs that internet connection to install awak.

[✪♤MechPilot524♤✪]

Originally posted by 40-1PvtBalderick:

Originally posted by MECPilot524:

I used my DVD drive to try and install the drivers from the included discs, but I couldn't get Debian to run the autorun files on those discs.

Referring to your mobo vendors's website[www.asus.com] the user manual[dlcdnet.asus.com] indicates the supplied DVD has windows drivers only.
Intel do provide linux drivers for their hardware and for your ethernet you want the e1000e driver. You can download the ethernet linux driver here[downloadcenter.intel.com]
For wifi the linux driver you want can be found here[support.asus.com]
Reading the links in my last post will help getting gist of what you could try to get things working the trouble is steamos needs that internet connection to install awak.

Well I was trying to install the driver for the PCIE Wireless unit. I examined the DVD for the wireless unit and there was a folder for Linux drivers on the DVD, but for whatever reason Steam OS did not want to execute the autorun from the DVD. I can't help but wonder if Valve could have just included the necessary drivers in the OS. Either way, I'm running Windows now and it will be a long, long while before I try Steam OS again.