I was just given a new computer for Christmas which came with Linspire pre-installed. My old computer runs Windows 98SE (and works just fine) and I have a high-speed DSL connection through Qwest/MSN.

In trying to set up the new system, I find that Linspire uses PPPoA, while my ISP uses PPPoE. Keeping in mind that my finances are limited, is there anything I can do here, or will I need to install a Windows program in order to use the new machine?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Hmm, I never heard of PPPoA ony of PPPoE (if you buy a router they will most likely support PPPoE, Static IP, Dynamic IP, and some ISP specfic ones but I never saw one that supports PPPoE). Knowing that it stands for PPP over Ethernet I guess the PPPoA is a typo (don't know where you've read this).

Now you can't install a Windows program since Linspire is Linux and windows sofware doesn't work on Linux. So incase you can't get it to work (but I doubt it) what you can do is, Eighter install Windows on that system (but that beats the whole reason for installing Linspire or any other Linux/BSD distro). Or you can get a router (wired or wireless depending on what you prefer, but from a budget point of view a wired router is the cheapest).

point to point protocol over ATM.... but I dont think that is what you have! more than likley PPPoE and afaik linspire can handle that depending on your hardware....

Well I had someone post in the Dutch Section of the Official Linspire forums yesterday and he had a similar problem. He has the Alcatel Speedtouch HOME modem and Linspire (his ISP also uses PPPoE). He had to enter a password for his ISP but the dialogbox in Linspire only had the username for the PPPoE and not a password field.

He fixed his problem by connecting an old Router he had lying around.

I never used Linspire with an ADSL modem myself (always through a broadband router) so I don't know if this "solution" was the only one (maybe Linspire supports PPPoE but I honnestly can't say for sure).

Qwest does use PPPoA. They probably also provide an Actiontec DSL modem/router for you to use to either rent or purchase. It will take care of the protocol. Since you are already set up with Windows, you do not need to "set up" anything else. When adding your Linux box, you just connect to the modem/router as you would connect to a network hub via Ethernet. (USB is also an option.) You would not try to set up a DSL connection in Linux. I hope that helps.

Let me add that if at some future date you need to configure the modem/router, you would just use a browser like Konqueror or Firefox to access the setup. (All systems, whether Windows, Linux or Mac would do the same thing.)

My thanks to all for the input.

Yes, Cogar, the Actiontec GT 701-WG modem is the one that I've been using for about a year on my old machine. I'm renting/buying it from Qwest, but their tech support guy never mentioned that being a GOOD thing as far as solving my problem. In fact, he never mentioned it at all.

Unfortunately, although I did all the obvious stuff during setup, like hooking up the Ethernet cable from the modem to the new machine, the DSL setup program did not offer PPPoA as an option-- the only alternatives were PPPoE, DHCP, or Static.

Which brings me to my next question: You mentioned NOT setting up a DSL connection in Linux. Why is that, when that is the kind of connection I have?

The Linux machine makes mention of Mozilla and I've been using Firefox exclusively on my old machine for ages, so that was good news. But could you please tell me how I would go about configuring the Actiontec to use my new machine? Will that prevent me from using the Actiontec on my old machine? I plan to use them both.

Why would I NOT set up DSL on the new machine?

Thanks again!

OK. We are getting closer. Let me make a couple comments that may help.

1. If your DSL connection is working OK with your existing computers, you do not need to change anything with respect to the modem/router. Period.

2. It does not matter what OS you are using. You are actually connecting to the router of an existing, perfectly operating system. All you need for that is an Ethernet or wireless connection. The OS of the computer being added to the network is not relevant.

Regarding creating the connection, when setting up eth0 (or whatever the connection is), I recall that you are given four choices. One is to set up a network connection. This is the one to use. The others mention DSL and so forth. You would not use these, since you are not using your computer as a DSL modem, the Actiontec unit is the modem.

--

To help clarify things, let me add some points for informational purposes. These are not something anyone with an operating modem/router needs to perform, but if you understand how everything works, it is easier to understand the advice I gave earlier.

When connecting to the Actiontec GT 701, one computer has to be connected via Ethernet or USB. This is the computer used to configure the modem/router. The remaining computers have to use a wireless connection. The OS of the wired computer does not matter. It can be Windows, Linux, or a Mac. The reason is because the machine is set up using a browser. That is, the setup tool uses an HTML-based interface. When you use a URL of 192.168.0.1, you are actually communicating with the modem's internal program. With that interface, you enter the id and password of the ISP and so forth. Once it is set up, you do not need to touch it again.

Now, if the situation arose that you had to reconfigure the modem (say if you were downloading a Linux iso using BitTorrent and wanted to forward some ports), you would then use the wired computer to reconfigure the modem. Again, this is done with the browser and has nothing to do with setting up the OS. I hope that helps.

Thank you, Cogar, for your prompt and thorough reply. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be as prompt with my response.

Out of all the people I've talked to about this, you are the very FIRST to mention the fact that second and subsequent computers hooked to the network must do so through the wireless mode. I had not known that, and it is obviously critical stuff to know in this case, so I really appreciate it!

I've never used the wireless option for my Actiontec before, but with the info you've provided I will attempt to set it up. Will let you know how it goes, possibly along with further questions.

Again, thank you!

Short update: No luck.

Using my old computer, I went to the Actiontec setup/config site and jumped through all the hoops to set it up for wireless. The wireless light on my modem is now lit. Thought I was in business.

Closed down that computer and started up the new one (after moving the Ethernet connection from the old one to the new one). Went to the Network Setup page, but when I clicked on the Wireless tab, everything was grayed out.

Tried clicking on the Internet icon anyway, to see if by some insane chance I was connected, but of course not.

I've gone back and forth between the two computers countless times (shutting down and starting up because they share a monitor and I don't have a toggle switch), trying one thing after another in the Actiontec Setup/Config site from the old computer, but nothing has worked.

I've tried enabling/disabling DCHP, moving/not moving the Phone and Line connections, moving/not moving the Ethernet connection...

I can't change anything in the Linux computer because the Wireless screen has all the options grayed out. The only other tabs are TCP/IP or Firewall. Entering info on the TCP/IP screen did nothing to help me, and the Firewall doesn't pertain in this case.

I know I must be overlooking something incredibly simple. What is it?

Thanks bunches.

I am guessing based on what you read that you have not used the wireless portion of your Actiontec modem. Is that correct? If so, here is the way to activate the wireless mode. Using a computer with an Ethernet or USB connection to the modem, do the following.

* Open a browser to the address 192.168.0.1
* You should see the Main Menu page
* Click Setup/Configuration
* Click Advanced Setup
* Click Begin Advanced Setup
* On the left hand side, click Wireless Settings
* Click the "On" button next to "Wireless:"
* Enter your ESSID in the blank
* Enter the channel you plan to use
* Select the Security. I recommend using WPA, but you can use WEP for starters, just to get things going. Please understand that WEP is not that secure. Someone who knows what they are doing can crack a WEP encrypted network in a few minutes.
* Click Next
* If you chose WPA, on the next page select the radio button next to PSK String and enter your passkey. I recall the default is ASCII, not hexadecimal.
* Click Next
* If you are using MAC addressing, click Enable Access List, click Deny all clients, and insert the MAC addresses of the wireless adapters in your computers.
* Click Next
* Click Disable next to the SSID Broadcast.

You should be good to go at this point. Click the Save and Restart link at the lower left. You will be asked to confirm. The modem will reset, lights will blink and so forth, and after a time it will be running again, this time with wireless operating.

You will now need to program your computers to communicate with your wireless network using encryption. You can set it up using the method I posted in this thread:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=390753

Good luck.

How do I get the passkey for the PSK String?

You would match whatever has been programmed into the router. If neither the router nor wireless networking card have an assigned key, you would set it yourself in both like a password (which is what it is). Choose something complex, at least 20 characters.

Please excuse my abysmal ignorance, but how do I find out whether the router or the wireless networking card have an assigned key, and if so, what it is?

And how would I go about setting it myself in either of them if they don't already have it? Do I go to a particular website?

Is the key made up of only letters and numbers, or are there also symbols? Do I just make it up myself like I do my passwords?

As is excruciatingly obvious, this is all brand-new to me, so I REALLY appreciate all your help.

For checking your router, see post #10. If a key has been assigned, it will be in the blank.

For checking the wireless card in your computer, go to the Control Center. Somewhere within the Control Center will be a selection to examine the setup of your network card. It may be in the System Administration section or in the Network section. There, you should find a list that specifies the wireless interface and its properties. I apologize that I cannot give you a more accurate description as this time, but I am not at a computer running Linspire at the moment.

I am so completely LOST. I've spent the last few days trying everything but standing on my head, and STILL NO LUCK!

The Wireless Mode on my Actiontec has been activated for several days, BUT....

On my Linspire machine...

--there is NO YaST anywhere,

--no K menu,

--no Wireless Network Card Configuration option,

--and when I click on the Wireless tab (as opposed to TCP/IP or Firewall), all the options are still grayed out.

I just don't know what else to do!