DSL for us linux ppl?

[mtf8]

I'm in NYC and have looked at a few of the big services that are offered here (verizon, earthlink, and a few others) and I am NOT impressed. These companies always give me the "brush off" when I tell them that I will NOT be installing their software on my box and I do NOT run windows! They are quick to assume that every Joe Shmoe is running 98 and will be more than happy to point and click their way into a relationship with the service provider. I'm very interested in hearing what DSL providers you people would recommend (anyone in NYC?) and any success stories that might go along with it...

have a good weekend.....
mtf8

[KumaSan]

Try Speakeasy.net (http://www.speakeasy.net). I'm pretty sure that they have coverage up on NYC. They're pretty Linux-friendly (no PPoE). It took me a grand total of about 5 minutes to get my box up and on the internet after they installed the line and modem. They have lots of different packages, so if you like you can get static ip's and all that good stuff. It's a little more expensive than, say, Verizon, but I haven't had any problems with the service so far, and they have a much higher rating on dslreports.com.

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jaa, mata-ne...

[arowland]

They "give you the brush off" because without "their software" you won't be going anywhere. Let them think you're using Win98, have a 98 machine around when the installer shows up, then roll your own after the installer leaves.

There are some "underground" Linux users at EarthLink, but you have to try hard to find them. The main issue is PPPoE, PPP over Ethernet. WinPoet and MACPoet are easily available but in Linux you have roll your own (do a search on PPPoE) or buy a commercial solution. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/frown.gif Latest Mandrake and some other distros currently include DSL PPPoE components easily configured at install. My cable modem provider only allows Win9x, MAC, NT Workstation (no Server or Linux) but that would be a waste of my quad processor system. I tell them I have NT Workstation and the installer configures my "Workstation(Server(" for me then I boot into Linux, enable DHCP in networking and bam, done. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif
Broadband changes everything.

I'd strongly suggest you go to http://www.dslreports.com tools section and search the speed test archives. They're listed by provider and ZIP. Should give you an idea of the "best" provider in your area. uu.net, who provides most EarthLink DSL in NY has better transfer rates on the West coast than the East coast. They aren't the only provider subject to regional differences. Has to do with the legacy telco systems. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

It's also interesting to note that despite the telco marketing campaign about shared cable access versus dedicated DSL, the cable companies have a very consistent lock on the top performance positions. As they say, your mileage may vary...

[This message has been edited by arowland (edited 15 December 2000).]

[veloctTX]

roaring penguin will fit your PPPoE needs.

[ds801]

The secret to getting DSL for Linux is to get an external ethernet DSL modem (most ISP's offer them), and to set everything up on a Windows box first, then do whatever you want after that. NEVER tell your ISP that you're using Linux, or they get blow you off.

I'm using Verizon in Queens. When I signed up, I called and asked for an external ethernet modem, which they gave me as part of their self-install kit. At that time (about 6 months ago) You had to install a custom version of Netscape, and go online to setup your account. After everything was up and running, I removed that version of Netscape, and I removed the WinPoet pppoe client, and started using RasPPPoE. On my Linux boxes, I used Roaring Penguin (http://www.roaringpenguin.com/pppoe) for my PPPoE client. Later on, I built a dedicated gateway/firewall box using Coyote Linux (http://www.coyotelinux.com), for connection sharing and to protect my LAN.

Definitely check out DSL Reports (http://www.dslreports.com).

[DrDrake]

Just go with a ISP, get a external modem and then use Roaring Pengiun PPPoE.. I use it, works great. I just called for 3 weeks straight to ameritech and kept saying my internal modem (a efficient 3060) kept uninstalling itself after I rebooted, and kept suggesting that my friend had the same problem and it was solved with a westell external modem. lol

[Shad]

Here in SW Florida, Sprint is the main DSL provider (with Earthlink as the actuall ISP.) Anyways, I told Sprint that I would not accept a USB Modem, nor an internal one. They still shipped me the USB modem, but I traded it when the installation guy showed up.

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Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life

[veloctTX]

I got a choice when the tech showed up, USB or external. Using Sprint wireless in Houston, Texas (1.5mbit to 5mbit downloads kick major ***).

[This message has been edited by veloctTX (edited 15 December 2000).]

[pbharris]

www.telocity.com! (http://www.telocity.com!) they will come right and saysure, we support linux!'

[mtf8]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the great thread. Finally got a chance to read through all the replies tonight and I'm off to check out all the great leads...

mtf8

[SCuSI]

I have earthlink DSL. I didn't have any real problems with them. Covad did the installation on a 98 machine. I switched it over to linux when he left. He took a copy of mandrake home with him. The connection gets dropped every once and a while but I think that they send a signal that terminates the connection to free up IP addresses. I'm looking for a way around that if anyone knows.