Chapter 18. Internet Connectivity

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Common Configuration Information

• Laying the Foundation: The localhost Interface

• Configuring Dial-up Internet Access

• Configuring Digital Subscription Line Access

• Troubleshooting Connection Problems

• Configuring a Dial-in PPP Server

• Reference

Fedora Core supports Internet connections and the use of Internet resources in many different ways. You will find a wealth of Internet-related software included with this book's version of Fedora Core, and you can download hundreds of additional free utilities from a variety of sources. To use them, you will need to have a working Internet connection.

In this chapter, you will learn how to set up an Internet connection in Fedora Core Linux using a modem and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) as well as other connection methods, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modem services. Just a few years ago, getting a dial-up connection working was difficult hence, an entire chapter of this book was devoted to it. Nowadays, as long as you have a hardware modem, dial-up configuration is simple. The Red Hat engineers and the Linux community have made great progress in making connectivity easier.

Although many experienced Linux users continue to use manual scripts to establish their Internet connectivity, new users and experienced system administrators alike will find Fedora Core's graphical network configuration interface, the Internet Connection Wizard, much easier to use. You learn how to use the Internet Connection Wizard in this chapter, as well as how to configure Fedora Core Linux to provide dial-in PPP support. The chapter also describes how to use Roaring Penguin's DSL utilities for managing connectivity through a cable modem connection.

Linux and America Online

The America Online service (AOL) is often cited as a reason that many more people don't use Linux. Why? Because AOL uses a proprietary protocol to connect and a proprietary user interface to access AOL content; no Linux interface is available (although one has been rumored for a while). Simply put, if you wanted to use Linux, you were forced to choose some Internet connection other than AOL.

Not surprisingly, an enterprising group of people are working on a Linux dialer that will access a legitimate AOL account. It does not provide the unique AOL user interface or access AOL email and suggests that you use AOL's web-based email interface, but the Linux dialer does provide connectivity to the Internet via an AOL account.

The Penggy (formerly Pengaol) page at http://www.peng.apinc.org/eng/ provides links to binary RPM packages as well as source tarballs and HOWTOs. This software is not sanctioned by AOL, but it might allow an AOL user to experiment with Linux.

However, the situation is different if you connect via DSL. AOL now supports the use of routers, allowing you to connect Linux boxes and access the Internet through the router. Granted, you will not be able to access any of AOL's unique content, but are you really going to miss it?