The pc I am using has the ethernet embedded with the Intel motherboard. Using Mandrake 10.1 I am able to connect to the internet without a problem using pppoe and a DSL modem. I decided to upgrade to Freespire, and from previous bad experiences with the Mandrake I decided to install the Frespire on a separate hard drive.
I cannot find an option to configure the pppoe to make the connection. I was expecting to be asked to input the customer id which is a very long number and a password. I do not own a router and I have no firewall. My plan was to get it working before adding complexity and more variables. The network icon seems to detect the ethernet connection and exhibits a red cross if I disconnect the ethernet cable. Putting the original hard drive back gives normal function so I assume that the ethernet connection and modem are working.
I have a nasty feeling that this particular Freespire assumes that you are using a router and if not you cannot configure a connection. Following other links in this forum I tried using pppoeconfig from a command window (looks a bit like DOS)and taking only the default options I ended up with an "active" message, but still no connectivity!

Apart from using diesel and matches have I missed something here?

Hello,

I am not so firm to FreeSpire and those Mandrake stuff but you should take a look at the
"Roaring Penguin" Project.
Using rp-pppoe all you need to configure is the /etc/ppp/pppoe.conf
The option ETH must be the Interface attached to the Modem, and USER will'be your I guess "t-online" userdata.
In the /etc/ppp/pap-secrets resists your connection password.

You can either setup the files by hand or you could use the cli utility adsl-setup.

After the configuration is ready to go you can establish the connection using
adsl-start / adsl-stop