[Ham-Linux] DSL not working

[Wayne Dahl]

> In any case - here's something that can help RH get to working with a
> 'dynamic, DHCP' connection. This information was originally written for
> the old @home system, but also applies to the new attbi cable system. If
> your DSL provider is using anything similar, having to have an assigned
> system name, this may help - may not:
<snip>

Most DSL providers don't use hostnames.  I'm running RH 7.3 and have
never had to change the hostname given on this machine and the DSL works
quite fine.  Also, I have a 4 port LinkSys DSL router connected to the
modem with (currently) 3 computers networked on it...none of them have a
hostname set.  They're all set to get their IP's via DHCP...but they get
them from the router on a private network...not from Verizon (my DSL
provider).  Just turn on DHCP on your box and it should work.  Verizon
provides 5 IP's per account, so you could conceivably connect up to 5
computers with an ethernet hub (as opposed to a router, which costs
more).
 
> DHCP_HOSTNAME="cXXXXX-a"
> 
> That's how you make the client hostname "stick" in RedHat.
> 
> The ifcfg-XXXX file is in the same directory as the ifup script.  The
> exact name of the ifcfg-XXXX config file will depend on what type of
> network adapter you are using and how many of those you have installed. 
> For users who are using a single ethernet card in their systems (which
> covers most of the population likely to ask this question I think) the
> file you need to add this line to will most likely be named
> "ifcfg-eth0."  The rest of you with more complex hardware configurations
> should be able to figure out the appropriate file name for yourselves. 
> If not, members of the Nerd Certification Advisory Board will be by
> shortly to confiscate your hardware. 
> 
> ***********
> 
> For RH it's even easier. Just take your hostname given to you by @home
> and 
> park it in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 (or whatever
> interface 
> your cable modem is attached to) like example....
> 
> DHCP_HOSTNAME="cn999999-a"
> 
> The normal if-up scripts will read this and set the -h parameter.
> 
> Always better to modify config files than scripts so this stuff doesn't
> get 
> lost during upgrades....
> 
> You can set your real hostname to anything you want. 

The reason a cable modem needs a hostname is that being on a cable
modem, you're on a big ethernet segment with a lot of other
people...which is why when more people are on their computers on that
segment, your connections slows down.  That's not true with DSL.  Your
connection is not part of an individual ethernet segment, unless you
have one in your home, like I do.

Hope this helps,

Wayne