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tallPete

99 posts

Master Geek


#10881 17-Dec-2006 20:44
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A few days ago I decided I would give ubuntu Linux a shot - I need to run an Jakarta Tomcat server, and I would rather run it on some unix based product rather than Windows, ie similar to what I do at work. 

History - I've given Linux a shot two times in the past 10 years, but I've been disappointed both times at how Linux wasn't there at all, no matter how much the zealots bleat on. What has inspired me this time is ubuntu advertising itself as 'Linux for human beings' - I think I qualify.

Downloaded the iso and burned, and my windows box boots off the CD into Ubuntu which looks really good. But my internet doesn't go! And this is where my pleasant experience stops.

I can access the router config page, but can't get out onto the net. Windows just works here - install and plug in the router and you're there. Ubuntu doesn't. Go into the online help and it says to go into terminal and type

sudo pppoeconf

which I do, only it responds with a most unhuman 'Sorry, I scanned 1 interface but the access concentrator of your provider did not respond' along with check cables etc.

Searching the internet, I see dozens of people report this, but the forum responses are generally ignored by people in the know, or are abandoned part way through responses, or are jsut people talking to themselves. Completely useless. I can nearly always find an answer on the net... not in this case.

If anyone has ubuntu working when connected to Xtra through a dsl-g604t modem then do tell me. No major reonfigurations of the modem allowed, as it works just fine through the box when it is running windows, and my laptop connects wirelessly to it just fine also.

Really disappointing. I expect Linux to just work, just like Windows. Perhaps if I had hours to spend searching the internet, or reconfiguring files manually I could get it going, but I have better things to do with my time.

This is why people use Windows and not Linux. Windows just works.

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tonyhughes
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  #55710 17-Dec-2006 21:05
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Ubuntu linux here, most major versions for a while, and a DSL G604T on Xtra, no config changes at all on router. Ubuntu works perfectly out of the box.

I have always found linux internet connectivity to be easier to set up, and more reliable than Windows (which isnt too bad...)

Some people have trouble with Windows, some have trouble with Linux, doesnt make either one unsuitable across the board.

I have clients that say IBM is useless and they will never touch it, and others that say the same about HP, but in reality, they may just have had two bad experiences in 10 years.

There are big differences between the distros - try a few.









tonyhughes
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  #55711 17-Dec-2006 21:05
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Knoppix is great out of the box - you can boot the LiveCD then once at the desktop, choose the install to HDD option.







juha
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  #55752 18-Dec-2006 08:44
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As Brad says, Linux distros, being based on UNIX, are usually easy to set up for TCP/IP and Internet connections. Windows doesn't always "just work" in that situation, I can tell you that now.

You're using a router. in which you don't need to run PPPoE (point to point protocol over Ethernet) on Ubuntu.

Since you can connect to the router, it and Ubuntu are on the same network.

Is the router handing out other relevant settings like DNS servers? Can you ping for instance 210.48.73.74 from Ubuntu?

Linux distros offer excellent tools for checking and managing network connections - take some time to learn them, like ifconfig, traceroute, ping, route, and netstat.



[Moderator edit (MF): fixed pppoe definition, sorry]








tonyhughes
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#55767 18-Dec-2006 11:52
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juha: As Brad says,

Thanks for that Robert.







bradstewart
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#55777 18-Dec-2006 12:54
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Melissa you have insulted me!

juha
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  #55793 18-Dec-2006 14:51
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Doh. I always get it confused with the RFC 65792 P2PoE...




barf
643 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #55816 18-Dec-2006 17:23

one d-link bug i enountered (of many) is some models' DNS server wont work with Linux clients. try using an Internet DNS server on your Ubuntu PC.
Goto System -> Administration -> Networking
goto the DNS tab and remove all the DNS servers.
then add your ISP's nameservers

my Mum uses Ubuntu on her laptop so I can testify to it 'just working' in a near-identical setup.




Sniffing the glue holding the Internet together

 
 
 

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tallPete

99 posts

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  #55834 18-Dec-2006 23:38
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Thanks. I'll try out the ping, and if that works I'll see how I go with setting up the DNS servers (somewhere!). I'll post once I've go it sorted out :)

Cheers.

tallPete

99 posts

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  #55835 19-Dec-2006 00:04
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Brilliant, the DNS servers were the issue. Thankyou _very_ much for your help.

Its pretty likely that Windows on that box is going to be wiped now, and I'll access that box using VNC viewer on my Windows laptop and have a play.

Cheers gentlemen.

sudevan
18 posts

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#58099 16-Jan-2007 17:16
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tonyhughes: Ubuntu linux here, most major versions for a while, and a DSL G604T on Xtra, no config changes at all on router. Ubuntu works perfectly out of the box.

I have always found linux internet connectivity to be easier to set up, and more reliable than Windows (which isnt too bad...)

Some people have trouble with Windows, some have trouble with Linux, doesnt make either one unsuitable across the board.

I have clients that say IBM is useless and they will never touch it, and others that say the same about HP, but in reality, they may just have had two bad experiences in 10 years.

There are big differences between the distros - try a few.



I've had a pleasant experience with SuSE all long. It did require some learning especially on the command line but it was fruitful in the end

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