Arrg! Just what have I got to do?

[raid517]

Hi, well I finally opted for a new modem/router. I bought a netgear ADSL DM602 which is a very nice looking little machine. It helped me get rid of my problem of needing to connect to my last modem/router via a PPTP/VPN connection, that was a veritable nightmare to configure in Linux (not just Gentoo). Now I have a straightforward PPPoA connection, that in theory, should simplify everything greatly. The modem/router has a web set-up - and all passwords and user names etc are handled directly by the modem/router, so in Windows at least (yeah I know, scoff if you like but networking shouldn't be this hard to set up) its a complete breeze to configure. I don't even need to manually configure a networking connection, since the modem/router does it all.

The problem is, that's the theory. Like I said, it should be simple. Unfortunately it isn't turning out that way.

I run adsl-setup and adjust the settings accordingly (unless I'm messing up somewhere). This however appears to be a configuration utility for PPPoE and not PPPoA which much of Europe uses. I ignore this limitation, as I can not be certain if it is significant, since I recall reading somewhere that PPPoE and PPPoA are grouped under the common banner PPPoX and are handled in the same ways, although the protocall itself is different.
I then go to etc/ppp/pap-secrets (and chap-secrets) which is where I flounder a little, as I'm not sure what the exact formula is that these files should take. I recall reading some perfunctory details on how this should be done, but to my simple mind it was just not clear enough. Could someone please look at the details I have given below, advise me on how exactly I should configure networking and of what the precise formula (based on the below details) for my pap and chap secrets file should be? Perhaps it is asking a lot - however I am certainly no expert in this area and I did buy this modem, costing nearly £90 GBP (or about $140) just so I can use Gentoo.

With regard to the address of my router, I have a dynamic IP assigned by my ISP and my router address is of the formula: 192.168.0.1 (common I think to all netgear modems of this model). At least this is where my set-up web page is located. I don't know if my actual IP will vary from this. Your advice on finally getting networking up and running would be deeply appreciated.

My Device: eth0

VPI = 0
VCI = 38
Encapsulation = PPP
Multiplexing = VC Based
Modulation = G.dmt
Protocol = PPPoA (RFC2364 -> Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM)

IP = Server Assigned

DNS = Server Assigned
or
Primary DNS: ns1.fairadsl.co.uk 81.26.107.2
Secondary DNS: ns2.fairadsl.co.uk 81.26.107.3

Password: pinkelephant (not real)

Username: joebloggs.fair@adsl.fairadsl.co.uk (not real).

[mysticalreaper]

Either i'm WAY off, or i have a simple solution for you.

In your post you mentioned that the modem/router took care of all usernames, passwords, PPPoA stuff, right? And in windows, you just used dhcp to grab an IP from the router, and you were online.

Do the same thing in linux. You've now offloaded all PPPoA setup to your modem/router, and you just need to use dhcp, which will allow your router to configure your PC. Set up eth0 for dhcp, SCREW all the PPPoX stuff, and that should work.

Of course, this is only if my theory's corect. Good luck.

[raid517]

Thanks very much for the response.

I can't imagine you would be too far off. As far as I am aware, since the modem/router handles everything on board there shouldn't be any need to set up a direct connection in Linux either. I should be able to just fire up my network and go. I don't know if its even necessary to set pap and chap secrets as these are, as I have said handled by my modem. However, things aint working out too well. When I run adsl-start I get a now familiar progress line that finally, as it has always done, times out.

Etheir I'm way off, or both of us are missing something here. Or maybe not. You mentioned dhcp, so how exactly do I start this service for eth0?

It may, or may not be a side issue, but I can confirm that I am able to log on to my router using Lynx, although as the set-up uses frames, I can't change any settings. It at least confirms that eth0 is live...

Once again thank you very much for your help.

Q

[raid517]

Hi well amazing news! I am now writing this message from within Lynx using the Gentoo live CD RC4! How cool is that??? A thought occured to me that I didn't need to bother with anything, just as you had said. That is, I had to do nothing at all, no adsl-start, nothing. It just worked. I Guess my modem/router was a good purchace after all. Now comes the hard part, or fun part, depending on your perspective. Once again thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Yours,

Q

[ventricle]

Hi,
I'm having trouble with a USB speedtouch, and I've thought of just buying a new adsl router. I saw the same model you have for about £60 which isn't bad I guess.
I just wanted to clarify that you simply put the cable from the router to the ethernet card on your pc, switched on the powerpoint to the router, opened up mozilla and surfed?
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[LRU]

[UberLord]

You still have to put some details onto the router - normally via a web interface.

Details like username, password, local network details, any dhcp options you want, etc.

Bu that's pretty much it

[ventricle]

Cool, so perhaps I'll just ditch this USB speedtouch and go with that one then!
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[LRU]