Bellsouth ISP with 3Com 3C920 Ethenet

[DemosthenesB]

I have two questions for those of you who either use Bellsouth and the Ethernet controller or just know the answer to the questions:

1. Modem init string

2. The Authentication Method(i.e "CHAP", "PAP")

P.S. Thank you VERY much. In case you wanted to know, I am using the Slackware disto.

[DemosthenesB]

Also, if there is no chance of this card/ISP working with linux please give me some suggestions on which to get. Thanks again.

[DMR]

Kind of just a *bump*, but...

Any reason why you can't just call BellSouth and get the Auth method and init string from them?

[DemosthenesB]

I DID call Bellsouth(You'd think that'd be the first thing I would do), but they gave me a bunch of crap about "I'ts all handled by the druvers blah,blah,blah,blah...ect." And that is why I am now posting this on this forum. There must be SOMEONE that can help me...

Thanks anyways

[DMR]

I can't really help with the modem issue as I use a cable modem. Is the modem an external dial-up modem which you connect to via the Ethernet card, or are the modem and Ethernet card separate issues?

As far as the Ethernet card goes:

-What have you done to set it up so far, and what are the exact problems you're encountering?

-Which version of Slack are you using?

-Post your full system specs; the more info we have, the better.

-I believe your NIC uses either the 3c59x.o or the 3c90x.o module. What module/driver are you trying to use for the card?

For some basic instructions/suggestions for setting up an Ethernet card in Linux, go here (http://www.stevewolfonline.com/Downloads/DMR/Doc/Linux/Network/NICConfig.txt).

Try the steps there and let us know what happens. Post the exact text of any error messages you might receive.

[DemosthenesB]

Ok I am using a ppp program in Slackware(8.1) Linux. So far I have added the module for my ethernet card(3c90x.o, and they seem to be working). The only real problem I am encountering is when I try to connect to get online it gives an error along the lines of "Failed to initialize", and I know that in order to initialize I need the correct init string. I am not really in need of the Authentification method because if one does not work I can just try the other, and so on until I find one that does work.

P.S. One thing I thought was strange. Whenever I input the command "Ifconfig eth0" The IP address it gives me is something like "0B.G0.1B.A0", or something to that effect(I am kind of busy right now and will post the exact IP later).

P.P.S. If for some reason you think this is a lost cause please recommend a DSL service provider and/or an ethernet card. Thanks.

Specs:
-Dell
-Slackware Linux 8.1
-Bellsouth ISP
-3Com 3C920 Integrated fast ethernet controller(Which is 3c905 compatible)
-P4 1.3 Ghz
-128 MB RAM
-GeForce2MX

[DMR]

Is this a dial-up (phone line) modem or a DSL modem that we're dealing with?

Regarding the weird IP- yes, post the exact "IP" when you get a chance.
From the looks of it, my guess is that the number you're seeing is the MAC Address (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212506,00.html) of the NIC. Has Bellsouth assigned you a static IP, or are you supposed to have it automatically assigned by them when you connect?

[Echolord]

FYI
User Authentication = Clear Text

The IP address you typed looks exceedingly like a Hardware MAC address. You may want to configure a static internal IP address on the card ie.. 192.168.0.1 If I'm not mistaken, PPPOE won't work without an IP address to do broadcasts.

[DemosthenesB]

Ok, I checked the "IP" I posted and it WAS the Hardware MAC address, very sorry. But no real IP address shows up when I put "ifconfig eth0"
I am working with a DSL(ADSL to be exact) modem.
My IP is Dynamic.
Echolord, how should I go about configuring an internal IP address on the card?

[DMR]

When your IP is assigned dynamically by your ISP the "inet addr" entry reported by ifconfig will normally be blank as far as I know.

In terms of assigning a static IP address to your NIC, you can't do that unless:

A) your ISP is willing to a give you a fixed, static IP.

B) you have a router/firewall providing NAT (http://searchWebServices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci214107,00.html) between your machine and the modem.

[Lorithar]

Okay .. anyone --> Bellsouth .. are they pppoe or pppoa??

for the initial user ... your ethernet card is up and running this is good... what
Kernel version are you running 8.0 shipped with two kernels.
what is the result of (from a command line as root)
pppd --version
(which version of pppd are you running)

what if any files are in /etc/ppp?
have you made any entries there ??

1) pppoe will require pppd 2.4.1 or greater and kernel versions from 2.4.9 and up have pppoe support directly in the kernel.
Roaring Penguin has the solution for you if you need it with a series of scripts that will solve your problems without the above.

2) pppoA I know *nothing* about ...but the principles are exactly the same.

3) give this a quick try ..
put your login info (from the login that bellsouth gave you for the windows client - not nessesarily your email) in BOTH pap and chap secrets.
mv /etc/ppp/options /etc/ppp/options.orig
touch /etc/ppp/options
(fav editor) /etc/ppp/options
#start of file
name username@isp.domain.name
noipdefault
noauth
defaultroute
hide-password
mtu 1492
mru 1492
noccp
netmask 255.255.255.0
lcp-echo-interval 15
lcp-echo-failure 4
lcp-restart 10

plugin /usr/lib/pppd/2.4.1/pppoe.so

# end of file.
note that /usr/lib/pppd/x.x.x/pppoe.so

thats the guts of this thing. If your version of pppd is 2.4.9 .. change it accordingly.

save the file.
type at the command line
pppd [ethernet interface that the modem is plugged into]
in my case its
pppd eth0
once done (it may complain about a corrupt TDB database ...don't worry)
ifconfig -a
if you have a ppp0 with an ip address ... you are away to the races my friend.

[DemosthenesB]

AHH, there is a new problem, whenever I try to connect now(I tried all that Lorithar told me and it did not work, will explain in a minute, and then changed it back) it gives me a "pppd failed unexpectedly" error. PLEASE HELP

Lorithar, I tried what you told me, but there is no "/usr/lib/pppd/2.4.1/pppoe.so"(Not even "/usr/lib/pppd"), what chould I do?

[DemosthenesB]

HELLO? Anybody?...