This guide is for setting up an ADSL Internet connection using an ethernet PPPoE modem under Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake).

Introduction

Although it may be very common to use a router to connect to the Internet, often it is needed to directly connect to an ADSL (frequently refered to as 'DSL') modem using PPPoE.

Of course, you will need to have subscribed to an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_service_provider Internet Service Provider], and that your Internet connection be installed and functional. A "DSL" light on your modem usually shows that the line is synchromized.

You will need your username and password for the account. You must also have an ethernet card connected to your PPPoE modem via the correct type of cable.

Configuring PPPoE with the command line

To setup the modem, we will use a terminal. To open a terminal, use the menu bar : Applications > Accessories > Terminal.

You need the PPPoE package to be installed in order for the following command to work. This package is installed by default, but can be missing if the configuration has been changed. If the following command does not work, you will need to install this package (see the PPPoE package installation section).

In the terminal type :

sudo pppoeconf

A text-based menu program will guide you to the next steps, which are :

1. Confirm your Ethernet card is detected
2. Enter your username
3. Enter your password
4. If you allready have a PPPoe Connection configured, you will be asked if it may be modified
5. Popular options : you are asked if you want the 'noauth' and 'defaultroute' options and to remove 'nodetach'. Chosse "Yes" here.
6. Use peer DNS : chosse "Yes" here.
7. Limited MSS problem : chosse "Yes" here.
8. When askes if you want to connect at start up, you will probably want to say yes.
9. Finaly you are asked if you want to establish the connection immeadiatly.

Once you have finished these steps, your connection should be working.

Manual connection control

To start your ADSL connection on demand, in a terminal type :

sudo pon dsl-provider

To stop your ADSL connection, in a terminal type :

sudo poff dsl-provider

Problems

If your connection does not seem to work, try manually turning your previously configured ADSL connection on (see previous section).

PPPoE package installation

To check if the PPPoE package is installed, in a terminal type :

dpkg -s pppoeconf

If it is installed you should see output on the package where two lines show this :

Package: pppoeconf
Status: install ok installed

If the package is not installed, insert your Ubuntu CD and in a terminal type :

sudo apt-get install pppoeconf

If the package cannot be found, you may have to add your Ubuntu CD to the list of software repositoies. To add your CD, make sure it is inserted in your CD drive and in a terminal type :

sudo apt-cdrom add

If all else fails, you can download the pppoeconf package from http://packages.ubuntu.com/. Of course you will need a working Internet connection, and then to transfer the package via a CDR or USB stick for example. Double click on the package in GNOME to install it.

Boot issues

If you find that you have to run pppoeconf each time you boot, you can try two things:

• Edit /etc/network/interfaces as described [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=97135&page=2 here], so that that 'pppoe maintained' lines are before 'auto dsl-provider' :

# added by pppoeconf
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual
pre-up /sbin/ifconfig eth0 up # line maintained by pppoeconf

auto dsl-provider
iface dsl-provider inet ppp
provider dsl-provider

• Failing that, edit /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh, and before the last line ("exit 0, add") :

ifconfig eth0 up
pon dsl-provider

CategoryDocumentation CategoryNetworking