[vox-tech] networking

[Kevin Hooke]

Some external ethernet DSL modems/routers will include PPPOE connectivity
built into the hardware so you don't have to worry about it within linux (or
any other os) - turn the modem/router on and you're connected. Most have a
web interface in the hardware for setup, so you just hit it with your
browser to do the config.

I had a Speedtouch USB DSL modem (from PacBell) that I tried for ages to get
to work with linux ( I think I almost got it working - I had the drivers for
the modem working and it would get sync ok), but I couldn't get PPPOE
working for the life of me.

So rather than pulling out any more hair, I replaced it for an all-in-one
ethernet DSL modem/router/ hub/NAT firewall from Netgear (DG814) for about
150 bucks. It does the PPPOE signon for you, and works great, straight out
of the box with minimal (3mins) setup.

Kevin


Quoting Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>

>Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 00:11:56 -0800
>To: vox-tech@lists.lugod.org
>Subject: Re: [vox-tech] networking
>From: Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>
>Reply-To: vox-tech@lists.lugod.org

>Quoting Matt Holland (mdholland@ucdavis.edu):

> You think so?  PPPoE is really pretty easy to set up these days....

>Glad to hear that, I guess.  I deliberately avoid it, as it's a horrid
>and techically unjustifiable kludge that's best avoided.

>In general terms, any additional mandatory layer of software is yet
>another thing that can go wrong.  People think this isn't a problem,
>until the day that setup doesn't work and it's necessary to do
>diagnosis.  At that point, they learn the uncomfortable truth about how
>presence of too many suspects tends to complicate one's diagnostic
>efforts.

>> I would suggest being aware of one possible hardware issue, though...
>> when I set up my DSL with Pac Bell 1.5 yrs ago, I had to specifically
>> request a modem with an ethernet interface; the other "option" was a USB
>> interface.  Maybe they've gotten away from that with the near ubiquity
>> of ethernet adapters in PCs now, but I'd make sure.

>Yes, that's definitely another problem area.

>--
>Cheers,                   I once successfully declined a departmental
retreat,
>Rick Moen                 saying that on that day I planned instead to
advance.
>rick@linuxmafia.com                  -- Alan J. Rosenthal, in the Monastery