Connecting to the World

I think you can still have a computer and not be connected to the Internet. Wait, let me check on thatumm, yes, you can, but it's like cutting off your computer's head in today's world. Without the Internet, you and your computer are just going to play Solitaire in your underwear all day. Of course, maybe that is what you like to do anyway. I'm not insulting your chosen path in life, but don't you know what else is out there on the Internet? At the very least, you could order more underwear (see http://www.freshpair.com/).

Dial-up

While most of the Internet world is speaking in terms of broadband, many people are still using dial-up connections. If you need to connect to the Internet with a dial-up modem, pull up a chair because we need to have a talk.

Support for many modems in Linux is not so good. The culprit is a type of modem called a Winmodem. A few years back, hardware makers tried to cut costs by manufacturing cheaper modems that used lesser hardware and instead, relied on some bundled Windows software to run the modem. The result is that we now have what are called hardware modems and software modems. Hardware modems, such as those made by U.S. Robotics, are mostly supported in Linux. Software modems, which usually include the cheapest choices, are sparsely supported in Linux. Even the few software modems that can claim Linux support (sometimes dubbed Linmodems) often require a lot of configuration that is extremely complex. You might as well go out and buy a hardware modem instead of wasting lots of time futzing with all the necessary configuration to get a software modem running in Linux.

How do you tell whether you have a Winmodem or a hardware modem? The best way to find out whether something works is to actually try it. You can also look online to see what type of modem you have. Open the hardware browser in your distro to get the brand and model of your modem.

Network Around the Problem

Many people these days have more than one computer in their home. If you are one of those people and you have a software modem that you cannot get to work in Linux, try networking. A local area network is not just for broadband users; you can have another computer dial up to establish the Internet connection and then share that connection with your Linux computer. There are many online resources on how to network two or more computers together. Search online or check out these URLs: http://www.linksys.com/faqs/default.asp?fqid=16 and http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network11.htm.

Hardware Browser in Fedora

Main menu > System Tools > Hardware Browser

Hardware Browser in Mandrake

Main menu > System > Configuration > Configure Your Computer

(from inside the Mandrakelinux Control Center) Hardware > Hardware

Find your modem in the list of hardware, and write down the brand and model of the modem. Next, go to an online listing of Winmodems at http://www.devidal.tv/~chris/winmodems/ to see which list your modem is in. There is also a Linux Documentation Project page on Winmodems at http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Winmodems-and-Linux-HOWTO-1.html#ss1.3. If you do have a Winmodem and want to try to make it work, check out http://www.linmodems.org/.

KPPP

Program Startup

Fedora/GNOME menu	Internet > KPPP
Mandrake/KDE menu	Internet > Remote access > KPPP
Terminal command	kppp

KPPP is the KDE program for Internet dialing. The program is included with both Mandrake and Fedora if you chose to install KDE. If you don't have KPPP, you can install the program from your installation disks. (See "Installing New Software," later in this topic, for more information.) Even though KPPP is a KDE program, it is really the best choice for both GNOME and KDE users. There isn't a GNOME substitute at this time that is easier than KPPP.

TOOL KIT 3.3

Create a Dial-up Connection with KPPP

After you have successfully established that your modem will work in Linux and have gotten Linux to detect the modem, you need to set up the connection in KPPP so the modem knows where to dial up.

1.	Start KPPP (see Figure 3.7). You are asked for your root password. Figure 3.7. KPPP tabs and settings.
2.	Go to Setup. A configuration window opens in which you should click the Modem button.
3.	Before you try to enter the info yourself, click the Query Modem button. KPPP searches for your modem. If it finds your modem, you will see a results window and KPPP will fill in the information it needs in the Modem area. If your modem is not found, you will see an error. In case of an error, first check the device location that KPPP is using to find your modem under Modem Device in the Device tab. This is a drop-down list, so you can choose different ones and keep selecting Query Modem if you want to try the hit-and-miss method. If KPPP cannot find your modem, it is probably not compatible with Linux.
4.	Next, go to the Accounts tab. Click New to add a new account. You can then use the setup wizard and the settings that your Internet service provider (ISP) gave you.
5.	Close all configuration windows that you might still have open. In the main KPPP window, choose your new account from the Connect To field. You also need to complete the Login ID and Password fields.

Now you should be ready to try to connect. You will hear all the creepy noises that modems make. When the connection is successful, the KPPP window minimizes to an icon on your panel.

UNDER THE HOOD

DIAL-UP SETTING INFORMATION

Your Internet service provider probably gave you instructions for setting up a dial-up connection in Windows. Don't let that confuse you because the information you need in Linux is in there. You need to match up similar information. Most likely, you will need only the phone number, username, and password, but you might need DNS or IP information as well. Most important, do not let your ISP bully you. If they say they don't support Linux, insist that they give you the pieces of information you need, regardless of what operating system you are using.

Broadband and Local Area Networks

Linux likes you. Broadband connections, such as cable or DSL, and local area networks (LAN), such as those found in offices and some homes, are the easiest kind of connections to work with in Linux. In an office environment, you need to find out from your network administrator whether your office uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or whether you need specific IP information. In your home, using a cable or DSL connection, you need to find out from your ISP whether it automatically assigns addresses using DHCP or whether you need IP and other network configuration information. Some cable Internet providers also require you to give your computer a specific name in the network settings, so make sure you get all the necessary information.

As noted earlier for dial-up modem users, you might run into some attitude from your ISP. Many ISPs say they do not support Linux. If you end up having to ask your ISP for network configuration information, be firm. You are not asking them to support Linux; you are just asking for the network information. Insist that you get the help and information you need: You are paying them.

Setting Up Your Connection in Fedora

The Network Configuration window (see Figure 3.8) is the place to enter any IP or other network information. You can get to the Network Configuration window by going to your main menu and selecting System Settings > Network. You will be prompted for your root password before you can enter any information.

Figure 3.8. The Network Configuration tool in Fedora.

The Network Configuration tool has a menu, a toolbar, and a series of four tabs. In the menu options, you can save your changes, work with multiple profiles, and access the help documentation. The toolbar choices change, depending on which tab you are in.

Devices Tab

The first tab lists the network devices that are configured on your computer. These are not the physical devices, but they refer to virtual connections. For each piece of physical network hardware in your system, you usually have a device listed. You can also associate multiple devices with one piece of hardware.

Hardware Tab

On this tab, you can configure your network card. Most likely, the settings that were put in place during installation will be fine.

DNS Tab

If you are using DNS on your network, you can enter a hostname and DNS addresses.

Hosts Tab

You can enter specific IP addresses and hostnames for computers on your network. If your network is using DNS, these settings override that.

TOOL KIT 3.4

Setting Up Your LAN Connection in Fedora

If you had your network card in your computer when you installed Fedora, your settings are probably already okay. If you need to install a new network card or configure the connection, here is how to do so.

1.	From your main menu, go to System Settings > Network to open the Network Configuration window. You are prompted for your root password.
2.	Click on New on the toolbar. You will see the Add New Device Type wizard (see Figure 3.9). Choose the type of connection you want to addin this case, most likely Ethernet Connection. Figure 3.9. The Add New Device Type window in Fedora, entering IP information.
3.	You will see a list of the hardware on your computer. Choose your network card and click Forward.
4.	The easiest thing on a home network is to use DHCP to automatically assign and obtain IP addresses on your network. If you are using DHCP, all you need to do on this screen is choose Automatically Obtain IP Address Settings With and then select DHCP in the drop-down list. You can also check the box next to Automatically Obtain DNS Information from Provider if your ISP requires it. If you are not using DHCP on your network, you can choose Statically Set IP Addresses. If you are taking this harder route, I will assume that you either know the IP information to enter or can ask your network administrator for it.
5.	The last bit is to click Apply to end the wizard. The new connection (or device, to use Fedora's word) is now listed in the Devices tab.

Setting Up Your Connection in Mandrake

Remember the Mandrakelinux Control Center? We're going back to it. Open the Control Center and choose Network & Internet. Now you have a lot more choices to look at here. Most of the icons in this category are task oriented, so if you want to add a new connection, choose New Connection. Here is a look at what all those icons are for.

New Connection

This opens a wizard with which you can add any of the available Internet connections that Mandrake knows about, including modem, LAN, and wireless.

Internet Access

Many of the fields on this tab are for information that you should enter when you add a new connection. This module gives you a shortcut to edit or enter DNS and hostname information.

Manage Connections

At the top is a drop-down menu where you can choose a connection to edit the settings. Below that are a few tabs where you can edit IP and other network information.

Monitor Connections

Here you can view the activity on your configured connections. Information displayed includes the volume of data sent and received and the speed.

Remove a Connection

This module lists your connections in a drop-down choice so that you can choose one to delete, if you need to.

Proxy

If you are behind a proxy server, you can enter the address information for the proxy here.

Internet Connection Sharing

If you are on a small or home network that does not have a computer acting as a dedicated server for the Internet connection to the rest of the computers on the network, some computer has to step up and volunteer for the job. If yours is the computer on your network that is directly connected to the Internet, this module walks you through a wizard of choices so that you can share that connection with other computers on your network.

TOOL KIT 3.5

Setting Up Your LAN Connection in Mandrake

Mandrake puts everything in one place for you, making it easier to find, but the interfaces for some of the tools are a bit clumsy. Nevertheless, it is a wizard, so let's step through it.

1.	From the Mandrakelinux Control Center, click Network & Internet > New Connection.
2.	The first step is to choose a connection type. Click LAN Connection and then click Next.
3.	Choose your network card from the list and click Next.
4.	Now you get to choose whether you want to use DHCP (Automatic IP) or manually enter your network IP information (Manual Configuration). DHCP is the easiest choice. If you want to manually enter everything, I am going to assume that you know your IP information.
5.	Your next screen will look different, depending on your choice of DHCP or manual configuration. In either case, you have a few self-explanatory check boxes to complete. The defaults are good if you aren't sure what to choose.
6.	Your next step is to optionally enter a hostname for your computer. After you click Next, there is a choice to enter a Zeroconf hostname. Zeroconf is a new network protocol that is trying to cut through the current tangle of proprietary protocols to make networking more simple. You are probably not using this, but it doesn't hurt to retype your computer name in this box and click Next.
7.	You are asked whether you want to restart your network. Of course you do. Yes. This action restarts the network service.
8.	Read the happy Congratulations screen and click Finish.

Wireless

Many homes and businesses are now using wireless networks. You can go to many public wireless "hot spots," from libraries, to baseball stadiums, to coffee shops, and be able to get online. Some prominent ISPs are giving wireless routers to new customers with broadband service.

Wireless support in Linux is new, so it can be shaky still. There is a little extra work to setting up a wireless connection and getting it to work in Linux. If you are undecided about whether to go wireless, make sure you consider all the reasons.

Wireless may make sense for you if . . .

• You have a laptop computer with a wireless network card.

• You have a home network, and it would be difficult to string network cable all through you house.

• You already live or work in a place with an existing wireless network.

• You mainly use your computer for e-mail, Internet browsing, music, office applications, and other basic desktop functions that don't require constant high-speed bandwidth.

• You want to take the time and patience to configure and secure your wireless connection.

Think twice about wireless if . . .

• You have a desktop computer that doesn't move very often.

• You do a lot of bandwidth-intensive activities online and might feel limited by the reduced bandwidth capacity of wireless compared to a broadband-wired network.

• You do not want to spend the time and money to set up and configure a wireless network or to make sure that it is secure.

• You never wish you could be sipping a latte while surfing the Internet at a coffeehouse.

What to Get

A basic wireless network consists of an Internet connection, a wireless router or wireless access point, and a computer with a wireless network card.

Wireless Protocol Choices

There are three common wireless protocols right now. A protocol is a format for transmitting data. When you go to buy your wireless hardware, you will need to be familiar with the different protocols to choose the right hardware for the protocol you want to use.

802.11a

This protocol is mostly used in large offices right now. 802.11a is not nearly as common as b or g. You probably won't be using this.

802.11b

This is the most common protocol in use right now. At 11Mbps, 802.11b is slower than g, but b is the protocol used by most public wireless hot spots in coffeehouses, airports, hotels, and some college campuses. 802.11b cards also have the best support in Linux.

802.11g

The 54Mbps speed of 802.11g makes it the fastest protocol, but Linux support is lacking for many g network cards. Look around online to find which of the latest cards for the g protocol are supported. If you do buy 802.11g hardware and you have a laptop, buy hardware that also supports the b protocol; then you have flexibility when trying to get online when you are out and about.

The wireless access point or router you get does not matter in relation to your Linux system. The two will never meet. Buy the access point or router that you deem best for your needs. The wireless network interface card (NIC) you buy matters a lot in relation to your Linux system. Right now Linux support for wireless NICs is best for PC cards. Although there are wireless NICs that can connect to your computer via a PCI slot or USB port, there are not easily available drivers for those types of cards. Determined types can try searching out and installing drivers for other network card types, but most users should stick with PC cards. You can find the latest information online and buying advice on wireless hardware for your Linux system. One good site is http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/. New hardware comes out all the time, so search online to find up-to-date information.

Configuring Your Wireless Network Access Point or Router

To set up your access point or router, you need the manual that came with it. The setup disks and instructions probably were written for Windows users. If you have a Windows computer in your home or office as well as your Linux system, keep that software aside. Follow the instructions in the manual to hook up the device on your network. This usually involves hooking up the access point or router on the network somewhere between your broadband connection and your computer. When the device is hooked up on the network and plugged into power, you can usually go to the IP address that is listed in your manual in a Web browser. From the configuration screen in your browser, you can change the settings on the device.

UNDER THE HOOD

SPEED RACER

The need for more bandwidth, more speed, faster processors, and more memory is a common myth. Most people don't need all of that computing power and speed for every day tasks, and the same goes for faster Internet connections. If you use your computer only for light Internet surfing (not watching a lot of online movies or loading streaming media often) and e-mail, you can probably get along just fine with the slower 802.11b protocol.

Wireless Security

Do not leave your wireless network open. Although this practice is common and might seem harmless, it is just asking for trouble. An open wireless network is an open invitation to let malicious people do things online that can be traced back to your Internet connection. You don't want to get in a position of trying to prove your innocence. Can you prove to the RIAA or other media groups that you didn't do that illegal file sharing? Can you prove to your ISP that you didn't send all of that spam e-mail? Can you prove that you're not uploading child pornography online? It's all pretty hard to prove if your Internet connection was used. Check your wireless access point or router manual to see how to set up three things:

• Enable WEP security

• Enable mac address filtering

• Turn off broadcast of your network's SSID

If you have a lot of trouble and there is a Windows computer in the house, don't be afraid to cheat: Use the Windows software that came with the device on a Windows computer to do the initial configuration for your access point or router. It's not your fault or Linux's fault that wireless hardware makers skew everything toward Windows. You can always jump over to your Linux computer after the initial configuration and change more settings through the Web browser administration page.

Configuring Your Wireless Network Card

The first thing you need to do is get your NIC connected to your computer and detected by Linux. With a PC card, the most common wireless NIC, pop it into the PCMCIA slot on your computer. The easiest way to see that the card was detected is to look in your hardware browser to see if it is listed.

Hardware Browser in Fedora

Main menu > System Tools > Hardware Browser

Hardware Browser in Mandrake

Main menu > System > Configuration > Configure Your Computer

(from inside the Mandrakelinux Control Center) Hardware > Hardware

Fedora's Wireless Bug

Although this bug might be fixed in Fedora Core 3 and above, there has been a problem with wireless network cards not installing properly. To stomp out this little bug, you need to remove and reinstall the network card on your system.

1.	Go to the network configuration in Fedora, main menu > System Settings > Network.
2.	On the Hardware tab, click the wireless NIC and then click Delete. Close the window.
3.	Now add the card back by going to main menu > System Tools > Internet Configuration Wizard.
4.	You are in the wizard for adding network connections. Choose the wireless connection choice and click Forward.
5.	Step through the wizard, choosing your wireless card from the list. The default choices are okay to just accept; then click Forward.
6.	When you are done, reboot your computer.

These steps should solve most wireless card problems, but there are always exceptions. Make sure that you double-check your wireless NIC's compatibility with Linux.

Next, you need to set up the wireless connection in Linux. It's a good idea to do this configuration within range of your wireless access point or router so you will know whether you are successful. In both Fedora and Mandrake, you can set up your wireless connection by following the same steps used to set up a LAN connection. Just choose Wireless as your connection type and step through the wizard. Most problems people encounter when setting up wireless connections in Linux are the result of hardware incompatibility, so make sure you are certain that your wireless network card will work in Linux.