AVR-Chat

> The software is Mandrake Linux and PonyProg.  I've
> tried both the serial and parallel dongles and can't
> seem to get them to communicate with the prototyping
> board.
> 
> Any pointers?

You could try the AvrDude programming software. I think it compiles under
Linux.

http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/avrdude/

Alex