@ Pixellany:
Sorry about the previous post. I hadn't realized that my son-in-law was logged in, lol. I have 2 computers: 1 linux and 1 Windows. I'm on the Windows one atm.

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

since you already have a modem/router combo, getting it working with Linux should be no issue.

Do you have both computers connected?

From either computer, can you access the router configuration page? (using 192.168.1.1 in a browser)

In the router config page, you set the connection method (ie DHCP or static IP) then you simply have to set each computer to match.

Yes, I can access the configuration page from my computer. Yes, it is already set for DHCP and it says connection type: PPP. It sees my Linux computer fine. It also sees that my Windows computer is offline atm (and it is). So, there's no problem there.

As I've read in another post, Most Verizon (and cable) techs don't know how to tell their customers how to get their linux computer set up for the internet so they say that they don't support Linux, and I guess that's supposed to mean that you won't get any help from them, so go someplace else for help.

I also found it a bit irritating that the tech lady kept mis-pronouncing Linux as "LENux". I tried to politely correct her but she insisted on her pronunciation. Maybe it's just her accent, lol.

So.....do you still have a problem?

For clarity:
When you are dealing with a router, there are two networks: The outside world (often called WAN) is your DSL connection. That is typically DHCP and is where the term "PPP" would have meaning. On the other side (the 4 Ethernet ports + the wireless), it is typically called the LAN (local area network). This has it's own addressing rules and can be set to either DHCP or static IP. The term "PPP" is not used.

On the LAN side, everything is standard protocols. What that means is that any normal computer can connect to any router.

On the Outside, the key point for this thread is that noone should care if you have Linux on the inside...it makes no difference in how the modem connects to the ISP.

Funny, I am having the same issue.

Verizon used to work great for me but then a few weeks ago some websites take 5 min to load up others load up instantly. First I thought they were censoring or something but then the websites switch around.

Ex. I could not go to google.com but i could go to yahoo, msn
A few days later google.com was fine, but i could not go to some other sites like foxnews.com
Also, some smaller sites gave me problems.

I called a Verizon rep a few days go.

The menu asked:
"If you are using Windows, press 1, otherwise press 2"
I press 2
"If you are using Mac OS, press 1, otherwise press 2"
I press 2

A rep comes on, verifies my account info, then asks:
Rep: "Are you using Vista or XP?"
Me: "I'm using Ubuntu"
Rep: "Sorry"
Me: "I'm using Ubuntu Linux"
Rep: silence
Me: "It's linux"
Rep: "So what Windows are you using?"
Me: "It's not Windows, it's Linux"
Rep: "Millenium?"
Me: "No, it's not Windows, it's Linux"
Rep: "Leeenuexe?"
Me: "Yes, Linux"

Basically, the only suggestion she gave me in the end was to switch the two ends of the phone cord.

After I hung up I messed around with my Westell setting. Rebooted the modem, changed everything to default, reset it, etc. It started working great for about a half hour. Just when it was working great a "Network Specialist" from Verizon called me. I told her that temporarily it's working. She suggested sending out a Verizon tech to my house. I said no thanks. I figured if the guy comes and looks at what OS I have installed he would freek and get nothing done.

Hi stepanstas, Welcome to LQ! Best bet would be to get yourself a good, solid router, and set the Westell into bridge mode. I've found over the years that those modem/router combos from Verizon and from Adelphia/Comcast aren't very reliable. My .02.
Good luck. ;-)

Good to see this discussion alive, but too bad we have lost OP....

First, I repeat that the Westell combo (model 327W) supplied by Verizon has been great. The only issue is a minor one and not related to this thread.

The thing I really want to emphasize is to not allow the tech support people to claim that the issue is Linux in order to avoid dealing with you. Unfortunately, this requires you to arm yourself with some technical knowledge and be prepared to be politely assertive. I once broke thru the BS by calmly but firmly telling the person at the other end that I was not asking them what was happening--I was telling them. I of course has to be prepared to explain my basis for knowing.

Ideally, try to always be in the position to explain to the person why their explanation does not fit the situation. Then, as appropriate---when it becomes obvious they don't know something, ask (politely) to speak to someone who does.

That is the problem. The "Tech Support" that I've dealt with have no training aside from the "card that contains the questions".

If you can get to 2nd or 3rd tier support, you may be able to discuss DHCP or in the case of Verizon, PPPoE connections and Bridge mode for their devices, which they will understand because it's not OS specific.

DHCP, PPPoE, Bridge modes, etc. are not proprietary. They're industry standards.

I'm not sure that we have any disagreement.....

Ask the support person a specific question. If they don't know the answer, ask to be transferred to the people that do.

I am certain that we do not have a disagreement. ;-) I was just commenting on some of the support I've witnessed. From my experience, if you (anyone) can get the ticket elevated to tier 2 or 3 support, it's more likely that you (anyone) will be able to deal with a tech who isn't as concerned with the OS as they are the industry standards because they're not reading questions and answers off of a card. Sorry, I should have been more clear. ;-)

You're clearer than most people here.....;)

Someday, I will write up my Bank of America adventure (1.5 years to fix a small glitch in online banking---eventually fixed by changing 1 word in the code.)
At one point, I was on a conference call including the tech support people and the actual programming contractors. Prior to this, I had sent tech support the code with the problem highlighted and--on several occasions--had asked the person on the phone if they were familiar with web programming.

update:
 

Well it's been a few months [all is well now] and I forget the details but:

We finally got a tech person who knew what he was doing. He fiddled with something on the wires around the block from us and then went farther down another street to fix something with those wires. He explained something about the copper being affected by the weather/rain and that the problem will probably return someday. Anyway, there's no problem atm.

Thanks all for your great info!!

gymnart;
Thanks for the follow-up. Glad to hear things are working....

I had a very similar experience, but it was simply with the phone. (Computer was on a 300BPS modem!!)

Every time it rained, the phone would get a bunch of static. Finally, the repair tech. pointed out the wires on the street which had lost most of their insulation. A few days later, I called the phone company and simply said: "Please replace the phone wires on this street." To be sure, the first reaction was resistance, but--within a few weeks--we had new wires.

The wheel that squeaks gets the grease.....