Verizon DSL and Linux
 

I was speaking with a Verizon technician and she told me that Verizon does not support Linux and that we had to have some software installed from Verizon's installation disk.

I told her that my SuSE Linux computer seems to be connecting fine without that except it takes from 5 - 10 minutes for me to be able to follow any links or for pages to load but after that, things work fine. She told me that maybe my computer is using the actual phone line rather than the DSL router.

How can I find out what method my computer is using to connect?

I might be silly, but I don't think that the computer can use 'the actual phone line.' The only way that could happen, I think, is if you're using a modem. Networking is not OS specific - although it may seem so at times due to small differences in default configs between different OSs. If you're having time delay problems which are solved for the remainder of the session after a few minutes, that could be a variety of things.

I would recommend, in any case, putting some sort of a router or switch between your machine and the DSL router, preferably a router. Even a cheap DLink or Linksys would do.

There are several points that apply to this generic situation:

1. Ideally, try to be ready with the logical comeback when someone says "they don't support Linux". In this case, it could be simply that "Ethernet is Ethernet", and it should not matter. Or simply: "Do you not follow the standard networking protocols?"

2. If you're not up on the technical jargon and details, just ask them to explain how the choice of OS would make any difference.

3. Suggest politely that they should consider supporting Linux. Things like "Have your looked at the sales figures for the Asus EEE and its new HP counterpart?" or "Are you aware that this is the fastest-growing OS and Dell sells computers pre-configured with Linux?"

Finally, for the absurd statements: "please explain how I could get a connection if I was going just thru the phone line." If they can't, ask to be connected to someone who can.

I use Verizon DSL with a router setup between the modem and the internal lan. The software is basically to set up a username and password. Ask to speak to another representative that can help you set that up from their end.
Good luck. ;-)

I have set up verizon DSL on a few computers, using the verizon supplied Westell modem. There are some things to be aware of:

The commonly supplied Westell 6100 or 2200 modem, can actually do routing, even though it has only 1 ethernet connector. (Adding a cheap ethernet switch enables the modem to act as a router for multiple computers)

The modem configuration is accessed with a web browser. The factory default ip address for the configuration is 192.168.1.1 Type that into the browwer address bar. TO actually change any settings, you will need to enter user name and password. The default username is "admin" and the default password is "password" Verizon techs often tell new customers to change the password to "admin" also. There is a reset button on the back of the modem that will set it back to factory default. I don't recall whether it must be power-cycled to use the reset button. See the manual for more info; if you don't have one you can find it with google (try "westell 6100 user guide" or something similar and you will find a nice pdf of the manual)

The DSL account ALSO has a username and password. These are NOT the same as the id and pw used to access the router configuration, but you will need to know them and enter them in the appropriate screen when you set up the modem to use your DSL account.

The modem can be configured in several ways. Sometimes Verizon techs will advise customers to configure it in "bridge" mode, especially when it is connected to a router. In this configuration, the modem internal router is disabled, and the external router does the pppoe (ppp over ethernet) to ethernet translation. It is also possible to have the modem in bridge mode and do pppoe on the computer. If you are only using one computer, or using the DSL modem and a switch, then it is simpler to NOT use bridge mode. If you do have a separate router, bridge mode might be of benefit to take advantage of generally greater capability of a separate router, compared to the westell built-in router.

In some areas Verizon uses pppoa (ppp over atm). I have recently seen some info on the web and in some other forums that they also now somehow get dhcp directly to customers over DSL, or maybe this is with their FIOS service. I don't have direct experience with these systems.

So anyway, if you have a westell modem, know your IDs and passwords, and Verizon uses pppoe in your area, you can connect with linux. (For that matter, I am certain that you can use linux with verizon DSL regardless of how they have provisioned your connection) See if you can access the modem configuration using 192.168.1.1, if so then post back with any questions. Or, you can find out on the web with google or another good search engine.

Exactly. Can you imagine a TV station saying "We dont support Panasonic TVs but do Sony?"

pixellany,
I just love your points! I have to write them down. Yes, the tech's replies were rather illogical. She had even called the central office to ask and they told her that they do not support Linux. That statement is weird due to what I've read here in the LXer section: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hlight=Verizon

Verizon Wireless might be a separate section of Verizon itself but still, I think that tech support should be "in the know" about such things.

Yeah, that is dumb indeed!

So, what are the variety of things that can cause this time delay?

Thanks everyone! And thanks Peacedog for stopping by to answer too. :)

Without knowing a lot about your situation, it could be DHCP or naming problems, but it doesn't sound like it's necessarily on your end. I suggested a router so that you'd have a bit more permanent link 'presence' - but I'm not real clear on how the DSL routers work.

I'm beginning to think that it is getting to be the same situation like this one all over again: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ection-515925/ So I'm reading through this link: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13747078 . If we do end up getting a new router, I hope that it does not have some sort of Windows only firmware that would block Linux. You never know with these software/firmware designers who only work on Windows and know nothing else. I'm getting skeptically paranoid that way.

A router is pretty generic--it speaks TCP/IP, etc.----not Linux or Windows.

Is your modem one of the ones that was listed as defective?

Yep, it's a Westell.

I use a Westell 6100 DSL from verizon with Fedora9 and it can be setup in linux, as was stated in an early post.

Without re-reading the thread, I'm not sure how this relates, but.....

When I signed up for Verizon, I got a Westell Modem/Wireless Router combo as part of the package. It has worked perfectly with various computers and Linux versions. Maybe contact Verizon and ask for one: Westell VersaLink Model 327W.

Pixellany:
That's what we have: Westell VersaLink Model: D90-327W15-06 Rev: H Made in China.