Verizon DSL how to started ?

Hi, sorry if this is not the appropiate forum for this question. I'm
interested to get more serious about using Linux but I'm on Verizon DSL.
My concern is if I am stuck with the propietary equipment and access
program/drivers.

The first hurdle I imagine is the Westell device, I'm not sure if this
hardware is an issue or not and I'd perfer not to spend money if need
not be but if the solution is not terribly expensive I'd definately
consider it. The second issue is that the service came with it's own
windows based winoverpppoe service application.

I was thinking to get a new distro to get current - the one on my system
currently is I think Mandrake 7.1 (I dual boot to Win98se). I could try
to get the DSL working on this system but I'm not great with Linux yet
(rarely use it :-( ) and I am unsure where to start.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 19:13:02 +0000, Net Resident wrote:

> Hi, sorry if this is not the appropiate forum for this question. I'm
> interested to get more serious about using Linux but I'm on Verizon DSL.
> My concern is if I am stuck with the propietary equipment and access
> program/drivers.
>
> The first hurdle I imagine is the Westell device, I'm not sure if this
> hardware is an issue or not and I'd perfer not to spend money if need
> not be but if the solution is not terribly expensive I'd definately
> consider it. The second issue is that the service came with it's own
> windows based winoverpppoe service application.
>
> I was thinking to get a new distro to get current - the one on my system
> currently is I think Mandrake 7.1 (I dual boot to Win98se). I could try
> to get the DSL working on this system but I'm not great with Linux yet
> (rarely use it :-( ) and I am unsure where to start.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated
>
> Thanks

I am sure you will find linux comes with all the software you need to run
your dsl service. Plug the modem into your computers network card, then
setup the pppoe client for your version of linux. I am sure a quick google
will give you all the information you need to do this.

The nice part is you won't have to worry about the stupid pppoe software
trashing your OS. The way it can and does on windows.

Oh hell, here is a link for pppoe client software.

http://www.roaringpenguin.com/products/rp-pppoe/

On the other hand if your as lazy as I, spend sixty bucks or so and buy
a cheap dsl router. Linksys/dnet/belkin then let your hardware do the
talking. :-)

"Ted Potter" <tpotter@techmarin.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.12.28.19.57.48.21481@techmarin.com.. .

>
> I am sure you will find linux comes with all the software you need to
run
> your dsl service. Plug the modem into your computers network card,
then
> setup the pppoe client for your version of linux. I am sure a quick
google
> will give you all the information you need to do this.
>
> The nice part is you won't have to worry about the stupid pppoe
software
> trashing your OS. The way it can and does on windows.
>
> Oh hell, here is a link for pppoe client software.
>
> http://www.roaringpenguin.com/products/rp-pppoe/
>
> On the other hand if your as lazy as I, spend sixty bucks or so and
buy
> a cheap dsl router. Linksys/dnet/belkin then let your hardware do the
> talking. :-)
>

Thanks for the reply and that link. I have to read the site to digest
the information still but perhaps if I get a current distro, it might
have the software needed and auto detect my DSL hardware and prompt me
through the setup? I was considering to get a contempory distro anyway.