Connecting to the Internet with PPP Under Linux

LinuxSA - May 1997 Meeting
Geoffrey D. Bennett

Topics of Discussion

• Requirements
• Setting up
• Making a manual connection
• Automating PPP with chat and ppp-on/off scripts
• Red Hat's netconfig tool
• Available applications

Requirements

• Computer, Modem, Phone Line, an ISP, etc :)
• A Linux Kernel with PPP support
• minicom, pppd, chat

Setting up

• /dev/modem link to the appropriate serial device
  • Eg. ln -s ttyS1 /dev/modem
• /etc/resolv.conf
  • Domain Suffix
  • DNS Server(s)

Making a manual connection

• Dialing in with minicom
• Noting down the connection procedure
• Starting PPP
  • pppd /dev/modem defaultroute
• Checking the Connection
  • /var/log/messages
  • ping
• Stopping PPP

Automating with chat and ppp-on/off scripts

• /usr/doc/ppp-*/scripts/
  • ppp-on
  • ppp-on-dialer
  • ppp-off

Red Hat's netconfig tool (netcfg)

• /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/
  • ifup and ifdown
  • ifcfg-ppp0
  • chat-ppp0

Available applications

• Telnet
• FTP
• WWW
  • Netscape
  • Mosaic
  • Grail
  • Red Baron
  • Lynx
• Email
  • EXMH
  • Pine
  • Elm
  • Netscape
• News
  • Slrn
  • Tin
  • trn
  • xrn
  • Pine
  • Netscape

Further Reading

• PPP-HOWTO
• /usr/doc/ppp-*/*
• ppp(8)
• chat(8)
• Red Hat PPP Setup Tips

Last updated: Wednesday, 18-Jun-1997 18:11:39 CST