RE: DSL and Debian questions
On 24-Aug-2000 David Bellows wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I'm contemplating getting DSL service through my local phone co.
> Bellsouth (anyone have specific dealings with them re: DSL) and find
> myself in total ignorance of what's involved, so please bear with me as
> I ask these questions.
>
> 1. The service comes with an external DSL modem. I was under the
> impression that DSL hooked up through one's ethernet card. Since I
> appear to be wrong, what does the DSL modem do and is it likely to be
> GNU/Linux compatible?
The DSL modem has a connector for cable. You use cable (10BaseT in my case)
to connect the DSL modem to a network card in your computer. My Network card
is PCI, since I was not brave enough to try the type with a USB connector.
>
> 2. I installed the default kernel in my system and didn't set up any
> networking stuff (currently using a dial up connection -- I'm presuming
> that DSL is a kind of networking thing). Where do I find the
> information about these things and is there a Debian tool that will help
> me configure whatever needs configuring?
>
I downloaded Roaring Penguin from www.roaringpenguin.com and then used Alien
to make a Debian package from the rpm I downloaded. I have PPP and SLIP (I
don't believe SLIP is actually required) compiled in my kernel, along with the
tulip driver for the network card being installed as a module. Of course, you
need to have the PPP package installed too, which you probably already have
since you are using a dialup. I had to empty my /etc/ppp/options since pppoe
has its own options file.
> 3. The webpage for Bellsouth DSL mentions three requirements (in
> addition to MS or Mac) a) USB (probably not currently supported in
> Debian, eh?) OR b) ethernet card OR c) NIC. My question: what is the
> difference between ethernet and NIC? Which should I get?
NIC and ethernet refer to the same thing. NIC= Network Interface Card.
>
> 4. Another requirement was that I needed a dial up modem installed,
> which I do have, but why would I need that?
I have no idea why you would need that. I didn't need one.
I am using Pacific Bell, btw.
--
Andrew
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