I started surfing the 'net with AOL and Win98SE. When I loaded Red Hat 8.0 [because of AOL] I started looking for an ISP that specified Linux support.

Now that I know a "little" more, is there such a thing as "Linux support" ? Wouldn't almost any ISP except AOL [proprietary features] and obviously MSN, Outlook Express, etc... work with Linux ?

Is the reason that most ISPs [including Earthlink, Juno, etc..]
do not mention Linux is that they don't want to bother with the technical support required ?

my ISP doesn't have Linux support themselves, but they do have some links to other people's sites who got things worked out on their computers and say how they did that...

I think the tech support is indeed a big reason why they don't mention Linux ... someone might have to write a script for the helpdesk people at the ISP to handle a lot of common problems in order to get Linux support from the ISP (no offense to all helpdesk people )

My ISP says that they do not support Linux. Then they provide an excellent tutorial on how to set up a dial up connection with Linux:

http://www.starpower.net/customer/in..._faq_linux.php

Thanks for responses,

ceedeedoos - I can't even relate to European ISPs and their rates & services.

I suppose I should put in a plug for the ISP I selected.

http://www.sysmatrix.net/ssettings.php3

If you are still using dial-up [I'm old & retired] you can't beat $10 a month.

Most ISP will not say they support linux, most ISP's don't not even support windows. They'll support connecting to their service via a support center manned in most occasions by people who fit a certain smillie voice profile (so called customer service which I increasingly equate with are you wearing the right shoes? If not you ain't gonna get the job) aided by a cheat sheet.

As long as the ISP don't use proprietry software to connect to their service you should be ok, It's my own personal oponion but customer service these days is more and more less to do with actually supporting a particular product more to do with minimising call times.

Good old bona fida knowledge is becoming more and more worthless, a smart tie is ten times more valuable. Pardon my rant

I recently went through the same thing, finding an ISP who takes Linux. I have found that if they make you use their browser chances are not real good. But if you can connect with any browser, you are most likely able to use them. I found a really good local isp (cisbec.net) just googling for them.

Don't be disheartened, keep looking. I got lucky with mine. When I called to set up service the tech I spoke with used slackware himself. They are out there...

If you know how to set up your own connection and they don't require a special browser, you should not have any problems. My local ISP does not support Linux as far as 'Don't call if the problem is on your end'. They do give you all the settings though. Your login, password and the mail server addresses.

That being said, they run Linux servers. When they are having trouble and need to know whats up, they call me. I have debugging on. I try to connect and then call them back with the error messages. Then they know where to look. he he he he he

They also don't support Macs, but it works too. Macs are pretty close to Linux ya know.

Basically, they can help you set up your windoze connection but not your Linux connection. After all, once your connected, your connected. it either works or it don't.

My two cents worth.



Oh, my local ISP is about $10.00 cheaper than AOL. I have never been bumped off either.

Looking_Lost

What you are describing sounds like what AOL Tech Support has deteriorated to here in the "States". It sounds like the "girls" you talk to are based in Sri Lanka and their "sing-song" voices [although perfect English] are impossible to understand.

John55 & dalek

Did you read my 2nd posting and click on the link ?

I set up my modem/kppp just working from their web site.
After six months with them I have yet to call their Tech Support phone number.

I have had them go down twice. Once when a really big storm blowed up a transformer right next to their ISP's building. That took down a lot of people including DSL. Once when they had a problem with the password file. That one was short.

They have called me more than me them. As a matter of fact I just reported a bad modem a little bit ago.

What I do like about them is when there is trouble I can go see them. There are about 8 miles away from my house.



The settings on yours are close to mine. Different name though.

Few are the ISPs that state outright that they support Linux.
Often the best you can hope for is that they allow manual connections and that you are able to aquire the correct hardware.

One thing to look for on dialup providers is a howto for Window DUN connection. If this is possible so is a Linux connection. After that is is a matter of configuring your pop, smtp, news, and etc.....

And actually cable and DSL seem to work fine with the correct hardware. Dialup seems to be the bigger problem.

dalek,

Who are "They" -- you lost me.

I'm completely confused here. It could just be because I live in Canada, but what is all the big deal about having your ISP support Linux?
In BC there's only a few different ISPs, Telus for dsl and Shaw for cable. You get their modem, plug it into the wall and turn your computer on...that's about it. They only contact you when you've downloaded/uploaded to much in a month(if you're capped).

I'm kinda interested in what it's like in the US because it sounds terribly different. Oh and we do have the whole AOL thing with the built in browser but nobody uses that

"They" would be my ISP. Since I use the same OS and have debuuging turned on for KPPP I get detailed errors. They use that to find the problem on the network.

Example, once there was a problem and my ISP couldn't find anything wrong on their end. They called their ISP, telephone company, and were told 'nothing was wrong'. They called me to get info on how far the connection made it. I attempted the connection and then printed it and took it to them. Going to town anyway.

They, my ISP, faxed to thier ISP, telephone company, and there was no wiggle room then. My ISP had proof that the problem was on their end. It got fixed then. Hardware problem I was told. I dunno.

I just think it's neat that instead of them supporting me, I help support them.

Did that make since.

shermang, they are talking about dialup service not cable or dsl. I never did get my winmodem to work, so I got dsl. Plugged it in and it worked right away, just like you.

dalek,

You are much more involved with your ISP then I am. Just a couple of Email exchanges, not telephone contact yet.

When I first got interested in Linux I browsed this and other Forums and noticed many questions about modems/ISPs and the Internet. People appeared to have problems getting on line.

I searched out my present ISP -

www.sysmatrix.net

and choose it for its specific mention of Linux support. Actually I suspect it is a "mom & pop" operation in Silbee, Texas.

With my U.S. Robotic internal modem [model 5610B] and my "zero" knowledge of kppp, I had no real problem getting both Mandrake 9.0 & Red Hat 8.0 online.

Shermang - As someone else posted, this has been about dial-up ISP operation.