how do I connect Debian to Cox Cable modem successfully

To bring closure on this thread...

Yes, "pump", with no parameters, ran silently for the default ethernet port eth0. That, after I followed the advice given here to set my proxy (for Konqueror and for Firefox) to "Direct Internet Connection", did indeed get me in contact with Cox Cable. More effort was still required, though, as the response was similar to: "sorry, ducks, automatic online configuration isn't one of your options". I then called the free long distance number for Cox Internet, and the nice operator at the other end took enough information to identify my hookup, pinged my cable modem to make sure it was accessible, and enabled my account. After power cycling the modem, rebooting my Debian box, and executing "pump" again in root mode, both Konqueror and Firefox were live to the internet when launched.

Thanks again for all the clues and help. By the way, Cox Internet is blazingly fast for an at home connection. It is no T3 cable, but I got consistent download rates of 500kbps in off-peak use (7 AM local (MST)). I cannot tell you how thrilled I am not to be stuck going back to MS-Windows to use this Internet service.

FYI

xanthian.

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