OT: Linux NIC setup

Appologies, this is somewhat off topic, but it relates to getting EMC
going, so I'll sneak it in.

Could someone supply, or point me toward a source for,
detailed 'dummy level' instructions for setting up the linuxconf
networking tabs for simple local PC to Linux ethernet? I've been
through it, but cannot get it to work. No Linux install details are
available on the vendors (Netgear) website.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Ron