PPP accounts are used to dial in to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
using a modem, ISDN, or DSL connection. Using PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol), you connect to a large network
(the Internet) through your ISP; your machine becomes a part of that
network and you use the resources of the network.
Red Hat Linux offers a useful tool for establishing and modifying PPP
accounts used to connect to ISPs and networks. This utility removes much of the
guesswork in creating an online connection; in many cases, your only
requirement is an ISP account.
Your own ISP may have specific connection requirements for their service
which differ from the instructions in this chapter. Before connecting with
either of these tools, check first with your ISP for any specific
instructions that they provide, including the following information:
Internet Druid, the Red Hat Internet
configuration tool, makes easy work of connecting to the Internet.
To establish an Internet connection, click on the Start
Here icon (in GNOME, there is one on the desktop and one on the
panel) and click on System Settings in the next window to open. In KDE, select
from the main menu and select
.
Click on Internet Configuration Wizard. If you are not
logged in as root, you will be prompted for the root password. Enter the
password and the Add New Device Type screen
opens (see Figure 5-2). There are three Internet/network account setup options:
ISDN connection - Integrated Services Digital Network. A connection using
high-speed, high-quality digital telecommunication lines as opposed to an analog modem connection.
Modem connection - A connection using a peripheral device, a modem, to
connect computers to each other. Digital data is modulated into
analog signals and sent over phone lines.
xDSL connection - Digital Subscriber Line or Loop. High-speed
transmission through telephone lines.
There are different type of ISDN and DSL connections. The information provided
here provides general guidelines. You may need to contact your ISDN or
DSL provider for help configuring your Internet/network connection.
To setup an ISDN account, choose ISDN connection in the
New Device Type screen (see Figure 5-2) and click on
Next. The Select ISDN
Adapter screen opens (see Figure 5-3),
where you fill in the ISDN Adapter,
Resource, and D
Channel Protocol fields. Your system may probe for these
automatically, in which case you can just accept the defaults. Contact your ISDN provider for more
information if needed. Click on Next when
finished.
On the next screen, Select Provider
(see Figure 5-4), you can expand the
list of Internet providers on the left and select yours if it is there.
If it is not, type the name and phone number of your provider in the Internet
Providers field. Also, enter your ISDN user name and
password. Click on Next and you will be asked to
verify the information. Go back if you need to change anything or click
on Finish to create the account.
Once the account is created, neat closes. Launch
Mozilla (an icon for
Mozilla appears by default on the panel)
or other Internet software application to launch an interface for the ISDN connection.
To configure your Internet connection with a standard peripheral modem, select
Modem connection and click on
Next on the Add New Device Type
screen.
Internet Druid will probe the system for a modem. If
it finds one, the information on the next screen, Select
Modem, will be filled in for you. If it does not detect a
modem, you must fill in the location of your modem device on the
filesystem (/dev/modem by default), the baud rate,
and the flow control. Refer to your modem's documentation if you need
more information.
On the Select Modem screen, indicate if your
telephone uses touch-tone dialing and adjust the modem
volume if you choose. Continue to the next
screen (see Figure 5-4). Select your provider
from the list on the left or enter it
manually in the Provider Name field. Enter the phone
number, login name, and password and continue to the next screen.
On the final screen, you will be asked to review the information
you entered. Go back if you need to
change anything or click Finish to complete the
setup.
Click on the Mozilla icon on the panel to launch an
interface for your Internet connection.
To configure a DSL network or Internet connection, choose xDSL
connection and click on Next on the
Add New Device Type screen (see Figure 5-2).
On the Configure DSL Connection screen (see Figure 5-6), select an Ethernet
device and enter your provider name and login information. Continue to
the next screen, verify your information, and click on
Finish to complete the setup.
Now click on the Mozilla icon on the panel to launch
an interface for your Internet connection.
