Connect to the internet via DSL connection

DSL is short for Digital subscriber line. DSL is a broadband connection that uses the same copper wires as a regular telephone line. DSL technologies use sophisticated modulation schemes to pack data onto copper wires.

= set up DSL =

Linksys Wireless-N Gateway
This chapter describes how to set up an ADSL connection; this example uses a Linksys Wireless-N Gateway, SUSE Linux 11.1 and Deutsche Telekom as the ISP. However, the procedure should be same or similar for all DSL modems and distributions. The Linksys Wireless-N Gateway is a WLAN router with integrated ADSL modem, this article will refer to it as "your DSL modem".
 * Connect your ADSL splitter to your phone box
 * Connect your DSL modem to your ADSL splitter
 * Check that the "DSL" connection light is illuminated
 * Connect your computer via wired network to the DSL modem
 * Assign your computer the IP 192.168.1.2
 * Use firefox to surf to your DSL modem, IP is 192.168.1.1
 * Enter the administrator name and password, see the Linksys description if you do not know it
 * Enter your DSL provider's name (e.g. Deutsche Telekom) and your account data in the Linksys' web interface
 * Check that the "Internet" connection light gets illuminated
 * Check your internet connection by surfing the web

Alcatel/Thomson SpeedTouch Modem
This chapter describes how to set up a DSL connection on the example of Alcatel/Thomson SpeedTouch Home DSL modems. You will need the PPTP client software and a pppd package for your distribution. PPTP may also be available as a package for your distribution.

Disclaimer: These steps may or may not be what you need to get your ADSL modem up and running. At least you will know what to look for when setting yours up. Look on the Internet for others using your ISP and see how they have configured their ADSL modems (if you have access to an Internet connection, of course :-))

The modems are commonly configured to have the static IP adres 10.0.0.138. You should configure your NIC to within the same network range (give it an ip address in the 10.0.0.* range). You should also add a route for your 10.0.0.0 address.

You should edit the file /etc/ppp/options.adsl (make a new file if it doesn't exist yet) and add the following options: idle 0 noauth defaultroute usepeerdns nodetach lcp-echo-interval 10 lcp-echo-failure 3

Edit /etc/ppp/pap-secrets and add the login and password you use to authenticate yourself to your ISP. A valid entry will look like this: yourlogin * password * You can now start up your connection with the following command on your shell command: /usr/sbin/pptp 10.0.0.138 file /etc/ppp/options.adsl

DSL Connectivity
A dial-up Internet connection is limited to about 56 Kbits per second. That is why most home users want broadband and DSL technologies.

You will need to find out your distribution and proceed accordingly.

DSL Configuration
Start up the Internet Connection Wizard and select xDSL

1.Select xDSL connection in the select device type screen and click on the Forward button. A screen showing the DSL configuration will be displayed.

2.The Ethernet device type will have been selected automatically (This is usually eth0 unless you have more than one Ethernet card.) and entered in the box for you. If this is incorrect select the correct Ethernet device in the pull-down selection. Enter the ISP provider name as well as the login name and password provided by the ISP. Click on the Forward button.

3.A summary of the configuration just entered will be displayed. If something is incorrect, click on the Back button to go back and make the changes; otherwise click on Apply to accept and end the set up.

4.The Network Configuration window will pop up; exit from it.

Activating the DSL Link
To test your DSL link and Internet connectivity, select the Network Device Control tool from the Main Menu:

Main Menu --> System Tools --> Network Device Control

If you are using DHCP over Ethernet, select the Ethernet device name (Usually this is eth0.) you have used in the configuration set up by clicking on it and then click on the “Activate” button.

If you are using PPPoE, select the ISP name you used in the configuration set up by clicking on it and then click on the “Activate” button.

The link will be established after a few seconds and the status of the profile in the Network Devices Control screen will change from “Inactive” to “Active”. You are now connected to the Internet.

To disconnect from the Internet bring up the Network Devices Control window. For a DHCP over Ethernet setup select the Ethernet device and click on the “Deactivate” button. For a PPoE over Ethernet setup; select the ISP name which was activated above and click on the “Deactivate” button. You will be disconnected from the Internet and the status of the profile will be changed to “Inactive”.

= TroubleShooting =

Symptome: e-Mails are not downloaded

Reason: Wrong packet sizes

Solution: Schedule a task (see Scheduling Tasks) to set your network card's MTU to 1400 using the command ifconfig eth0 mtu 1400 Where eth0 is your network device.

= See also =
 * connecting to the Net