LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 11-05-2005, 08:54 PM   #1
newbie9500
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Posts: 10

Rep: Reputation: 0
linux ISP - recommendations?


anyone have an ISP that supports Linux that they are happy with that they can recommend? Do they support dial-up and DSL and broadband?

thx
 
Old 11-05-2005, 09:12 PM   #2
btmiller
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: In the DC 'burbs
Distribution: Arch, Scientific Linux, Debian, Ubuntu
Posts: 4,290

Rep: Reputation: 378Reputation: 378Reputation: 378Reputation: 378
I've used both SBC and Verizon DSL without issues. So long as the DSL is standard PPPoE it tends to work fine, although you may need a Windows or Mac computer to run their special software to set up your account. I've also heard good things about Speakeasy, but have no personal experience with them. As for dialup, pretty much anything the lets you use a standard PPP or SLIP connection should be fine, but the only one I've had any experience with is AT&T Global which supports Linux. Also if you're a member of SDF there's a cheap *nix compatible dialup service available.
 
Old 11-05-2005, 11:26 PM   #3
AwesomeMachine
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: USA and Italy
Distribution: Debian testing/sid; OpenSuSE; Fedora; Mint
Posts: 5,524

Rep: Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015Reputation: 1015
Cable Modem

Cable modems all work out of the box with linux. If you have a network card that will configure, all you do is plug in the ethernet cable and restart /etc/networking, or network. From then on it will connect on boot. I don't know if you have Road Runner where you are. Road Runner is really worth the money. If your budget is a little strained, DSL is another option. I'm no wealthy, but cable internet is one of the things I treat myself to. I get download speeds of 600 kiloBYTES / s if the server will give it to me. I can usually max out three servers at a time. Some servers will give me the full 600K/s. The linux mirror "mirrors.kernel.org" is very fast. With cable internet you always get connected during an install because nothing has to be configured for internet itself. it is exactly as if you were on a lan. As long as the network card is configured, and a daemon is running to get an IP, you've got internet.

I have nothing against DSL, but it isn't as easy. I'm not sure if DSL modems are lan compatible now. That is to say, they are seen by the operating system just like a lan connection. You will never be sorry you got cable, until you get the bill. Then you'll cry for a little while, but for most of the month you'll be in heaven.

If you are in an area with Cox cable internet, you might want to just go ahead with DSL. The website:

http://www.dslreports.com

can find everyone who can supply you with DSL. TDS Metrocom is the best. You have to live within 10,000 feet of the telephone switch to have DSL work. I recommend being within 7.500 feet. Dslreports can tell you how far away the telephone switches are from you.
 
Old 11-06-2005, 07:11 PM   #4
MasterC
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, UT - USA
Distribution: Gentoo ; LFS ; Kubuntu ; CentOS ; Raspbian
Posts: 12,613

Rep: Reputation: 69
I'll just comment shortly, as most has been addressed above:

If you have cable OR DSL, I suggest you also get a seperate router. They are dirt cheap, and will make your life a lot easier for configuring your internet (they are OS non-specific generally). You configure the router once, and you are done, the rest is all taken care by the router, and your computers are all local on the network. It gives you a bonus because most routers are capable of NAT which assigns private local IP's to allow multiple computers on the internet with 1 public IP.

If you are going dial up, pretty much any ISP *should* work, as they do have proprietary dial up agents, you generally don't HAVE to use them, they are just a convenience. So the only problem you should fine with this is finding a modem that works in linux, which has been covered extensively around the web. External is pretty much the way to go.

Cool
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Linux Scanner Recommendations jswhite Linux - Hardware 1 08-27-2005 09:36 PM
Linux Jukebox - recommendations snainton Linux - Newbie 2 02-21-2005 11:30 PM
Linux Server Recommendations Urlryn Linux - General 9 03-08-2004 07:16 PM
Recommendations on linux change? Linux - Newbie 3 06-28-2003 12:33 PM
Any ISP recommendations for Laredo, TX DavidPhillips General 2 01-29-2002 09:13 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:34 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration