connecting

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Subject: Re: Unconscious sublimity and perserverance unlimited
From: Gordon Messmer <yinyang@eburg.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 11:05:09 -0700


James Hamilton wrote:
> I yearn to find some document that will explain, in a way I
> can grok easily enough to put words in to action, a simple
> way to get online on the internet using Linux to get there.

>From start to finish with 'netcfg'  (with diagnostics):

1) Find out what your ISP uses for their DNS servers.  They will mosts
likely give you two IP addresses, a primary and secondary.  You will
need at least one.   If you run 'netcfg' you will notice that there is a
space for nameservers.  Type each nameserver in this area, each on a
line by itself.  "Save".
2) Click the "Interfaces" button at the top of the netcfg window.  Near
the bottom you will see a row of buttons that can be used to manipulate
and configure your connections.  Click "Add".  You will be prompted for
the type of network interface you want to add.  Be sure that "PPP" is
selected, and click "OK".  'netcfg' will now prompt you for information
about your dialup connection.  Enter your ISP's dialup phone number,
along with your login name and your password.  If your ISP supports PAP
(and most do), click "Use PAP authentication".  Click "Done" to confirm
the information you've entered.  You'll be asked if you'd like to save
this interface's information.  Click "Save".
3) Bring up the interface either by clicking on "ppp0" and then the
"Activate" button, or typing 'ifup ppp0' at the command prompt.  Your
system should dial and connect to your ISP.  If you are having problems,
in another terminal, type 'tail -f /var/log/messages'.  You will get all
of the messages from ppp/chat and probably some pointers on why the
connection is failing.  Success will be indicated by messages similar
to:
--
Oct 17 13:57:08 ascension pppd[27348]: Serial connection established.
Oct 17 13:57:08 ascension pppd[27348]: Using interface ppp0
Oct 17 13:57:08 ascension pppd[27348]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/modem
Oct 17 13:57:12 ascension pppd[27348]: local  IP address 192.168.0.1
Oct 17 13:57:12 ascension pppd[27348]: remote IP address 192.168.0.2
--
To test your connection, type '/sbin/route -n' at the command prompt. 
You should notice several routes set to use the ppp0 "Iface".  One of
these should be an IP address, with a gateway of "0.0.0.0" and a genmask
of "255.255.255.255".  You should try to 'ping' this address.  If you do
not recieve a reply, you should see if your ISP can help you debug the
connection.  I honestly can't think of any reason this would happen. 
You should also notice that your default route, "0.0.0.0" uses this IP
as its gateway.  You should now try to access something outside your
network, perhaps '/usr/sbin/traceroute www.yahoo.com'.

That should be enough information to get your connection working, eh? 
:)
If you've already set up your connection (sounds like you have), you can
skip step two.  If you have problems, however, I suggest you delete your
ppp0 configuration and start from step one.

> I can connect to my ISP, but I can't get any program in
> Linux to use that connection.

This is most likely because your name servers are not configured
properly.

> Redhat is so deliberately vague and unhelpful in this regard, 
> and their pomposity is so shameless

Come, now.  That's not a nice thing to say.  Red Hat sticks by what they
offer.  The support offered with their product is for installation
alone.  It would cost them greatly to offer further support to
everyone.  I've worked in support.  I know. (I'm also intimately
familiar with the truth that if you DO relax your guidelines for
support, people will call you for every damn thing that goes wrong, even
people who aren't your customers at all.  e.g.:  Hello, I bought this
modem at Future Shop.  Can you help me install it??)  Whew...I'm done
with that rant.

> I desperately want to know what needs to be there for me to
> understand clearly the different things I need to do as a
> Superuser and what can be done as a normal user. I am
> surrounded by geniuses who seem only to be able to sputter
> about helplessly. I am empty, fill me up!

Be nice to your community, too  :)

Simply:  pretty much anything that requires changing files outside of
your /home/ directory will require superuser access.  For this there is
sudo.  Normal users get to use the software, the super user has to
install/uninstall/configure it.

===





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