ADSL FOR LINUX

If you are using Linux it is easy to set up your computer to connect to a dsl line using "DHCP" or with static addresses. For our examples we are using a recent version of Red Hat Linux, but other versions should be similar.

Hardware

Before you get started, make sure that you have a network card installed and working. When GTE comes out they will bring a "crossover cable" which you should connect directly from your computer's ethernet card to the modem. Do not use a hub, and do not use some other cable. Using the wrong hub/cable combination will make it impossible to get online. This is one of the most common problem for people who have problems with ADSL.

Configuration with DHCP

If you have a personal account you use "DHCPCD" to configure your setup. "DHCPCD" is a client program that uses the "DHCP" protocol. It's very simple.

  1. Make sure you have the application called "dhcpcd" installed. To do this, enter "dhcpcd" in a console window and then hit return.

  2. If you get "bash: dhcpcd: command not found," try looking for dhcpcd with locate and find. If you determine it is not installed, get it from sunsite(?). It is part of Redhat distribution and probably other Linux distributions too.

  3. Once you have dhcpcd installed, and you have run it on the command line, you are done. Test your configuration by typing "ping brandx.net."

  4. Verify your IP address by entering "ifconfig." It should tell you your IP address under eth0.

  5. NOTE: If you have multiple ethernet devices on your system, you will have to specify the one you wish to use by entering "dhcpcd eth0," "dhcpcd eth1" etc., instead of just "dhcpcd."

That's all - you are done.

Configuration With Static Addresses

If you have static addresses we will give you an address, netmask, a default route, and name server addresses. You can follow the instructions for your system to set these neworking values. On some version of Red Hat Linux the following examples will work:

  1. Open the file /etc/sysconfig/network and make it look like this:

    NETWORKING=yes
FORWARD_IPV4=yes
HOSTNAME=pix.brandx.net <-- put the name of your computer here
DOMAINNAME=brandx.net
GATEWAY=206.117.28.1 <-- put the gateway or default route here
GATEWAYDEV=eth0
  2. Open the file /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 and make it look like this:

    DEVICE=eth0
IPADDR=206.117.28.236 <-- put *your* address here
NETMASK=206.117.28.1 <-- replace last digit of your address with a "1"
NETWORK=206.117.28.0 <-- replace the last digit of your address with "0"
BROADCAST=206.117.28.255 <-- replace the last digit with "255" 
ONBOOT=yes
BOOTPROTO=none
  3. Open /etc/resolv.conf and make it look like this:

    search brandx.net
nameserver 209.55.67.2
nameserver 209.55.67.3
nameserver 209.55.64.2
nameserver 209.55.64.3

  4. Reboot and you should be online.