Ark Linux Help

[Sachiel03]

Well i just got Ark Linux (www.arklinux.org) yesterday,and I must say,its very confusing.Its the live CD version if this means anything.

My main priorty as of now is getting connected to the internet.The help guide says to use KPPP and i went to it and i got the ISP (which is Bellsouth,im using dial-up unti the 26th,im getting my DSL re-installed,problems around the neighborhood),i know the SMTP but idk how to get the DNS or any other stuff.

I would reeeeeaaally appreciate a step-by-step guide on how to do this.

[Gray]

Contact your IP. If you connect via an Manual IPAddress, you can go to Network Properties, Right-Click on Local Area Conn(thats what it is for me) And go to Properties. It should tell you, or say Acquire IP Address Automatically.

[Kaoru9124]

Most DSL services use DHCP to automatically assign your computer an IP address and give it the Gateway/DNS information it needs to successfully connect, so you should be fine when that comes around. That being said, Dial-up is often easier said than done in Linux. The setup procedure is often rather arcane, and Linux doesn't play nice with most recent internal modems designed to be used only with Windows. Unless you either know it is already cooperating with your modem, or you feel like mucking about with kernel modules, it'd probably be easiest to stick with Windows for internet until you get your DSL.

[Lord Dagoth]

I guess the first thing you need to know is if your ISP gives you a static or dynamic IP address. Static is exactly as it sounds, it's unchanging and is always the same. Dynamic uses DHCP (like kaoru said) to automatically renew the address every so often. And the next thing you need to know is how you're connecting the internet (wireless, direct, or throught a residential gateway) . If you're connecting through a wireless card or something, you may be S.O.L.. I'm not familiar with Ark, but in other distros of Linux (I use Ubuntu) setting up the wireless card can be more than confusing. Connecting through a residential gateway, or directly to the modem can be quite easy (especially if you have a dynamic IP).

[Soluzar]

If you're using a router, then the whole notion of using KPPP is wrong. In fact, if you use any form of DSL, it's wrong. You need to let us know exactly what you use to connect, and then we can work out some kind of a strategy.

[Sachiel03]

Ok,ill try out all the advice,i really appreciate it.

But when i get my DSL back up will it detect it automatically and i wont have to do anything?

[Lord Dagoth]

Oh, I just realized you're using dial-up right now. And yeah, setting up DSL can be alot easier depending on how you connect.

[Ashitaka]

Configuring dialup using any form of Linux just isnt worth the trouble you go through to configure it. That being said if i were you i would wait untill you get DSL. For DSL all you have to do is go to the INTERNET option and click either connect using DHCP and an option should come up asking you if you want to enable DHCP to connect but i cant remember the specifics right now so ill just PM you with the specifics later.

[Soluzar]

But when i get my DSL back up will it detect it automatically and i wont have to do anything?
I'm not sure in the case of Ark Linux, but several current distributions do exactly that, if your DSL is connected to a standard ethernet port. They won't detect USB DSL modems, since the drivers for those are only available for windows, as a rule. If you have a USB modem for your DSL, I advise you strongly to buy an ethernet router. It's the best way to get internet access under linux.

Configuring dialup using any form of Linux just isnt worth the trouble you go through to configure it.
Sad but true. It's a pain in the nether regions, and I don't recommend it to anyone, even experts.

[Sachiel03]

I'm not sure in the case of Ark Linux, but several current distributions do exactly that, if your DSL is connected to a standard ethernet port. They won't detect USB DSL modems, since the drivers for those are only available for windows, as a rule. If you have a USB modem for your DSL, I advise you strongly to buy an ethernet router. It's the best way to get internet access under linux.


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My computer HAS NO ETHERNET PORTS

...yeah its an old computer,but were getting a new one soon.

so theres NO way to get my DSL working using USB?

[master terrence]

you can't put in an ethernet slot? (my computer came with one, so I don't really know if they are expensive)

[Sachiel03]

Sorry for being so inspecific

the modem in my computer is a 56K PCI Voice modem

I use Bellsouth dial internet services (until the 26th)

Ark Linux,Windows Xp home edition

does the computer model mean anything?Because its a Gateway,idk what model

Hope this helps,if not tell me what you all need to know.

[Soluzar]

so theres NO way to get my DSL working using USB?
Depends on the modem. 90% of them don't have a linux driver. I'm very sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Even the ones that do have a driver don't really work well. Ethernet is what most people use under linux, so it gets all the love from the developers.

You could install an ethernet card. Cost you 20 bucks maybe.

[Sachiel03]

Ok sounds good.Ill kiss up to my parents and try to convince them to get it =P

If that fails ill just mow a couple yards,apparently publix doesnt like me,i havent heard a response from them yet.

[Lord Dagoth]

You're sure there is no ethernet ports anywhere on the computer?

[Sachiel03]

Nope none what-so-ever.

Ill do some searching on the internet for ethernet cards.

[Kaoru9124]

Ethernet cards can be had for $15-35, so it shouldn't be any trouble getting one. It'd probably be a good idea to find a few models, then look them up to make sure your linux distro supports them, preferably with the default kernel. Look up the model name and "linux" or "ark linux" on google and see what you find. Most ethernet cards seem to be pretty well supported, however. I haven't run across a single PCI card that isn't supported by FreeBSD yet, and while BSD is a little different than Linux, hardware support is pretty much the same..