PPPOE setup on Fedora Linux

It took me a lot of time and searching on Google to setup a PPPOE based internet connection on Fedora Core (FC henceforth). This was because there was no step by step tutorial instructing users how to do so. Once I was able to figure things out for myself, I decided to write a tutorial so that others do not spend as much time I had to spend figuring out stuff.

This tutorial is applicable for most versions of RedHat Linux. I do not have much exposure to other flavours of Linux so i am focusing on RedHat flavour. Secondly, this is for the users who have started to explore linux. It does not require you to manually edit any of the configuration files. This entire tutorial is GUI based. So it is very much user friendly.

I assume that you have not configured the network (i.e. ethernet connection eth0) while installing linux. So the first step is to configre and get the ethernet working.

Browse to the "System Tools" menu (in the start menu) and click "Network Device Control". It will open the window as shown below.

If you have properly configured the network during installation then you can directly jump to step 'Creating an xDSL connection'. But in case you have not, then we first need to configure the network. In the "System Tools" select "Internet Configuration Wizard". This will bring up the following window. Select "Ethernet Connection" from the available options.

Select the appropriate Ethernet card that you need to configure. Please note that this guide explains setup considering a single NIC in the system. In case the system has multiple cards then the respective steps need to be repeated accordingly in case to configure each of them.

Provide the IP address and the subnet mask. This will be provided by the local cable guy who installed the connection. Secondly it is highly likely that you will have a dual boot system. So one way to obtain this is to logon to windows and issue the command "ipconfig" at the windows command prompt (make sure you are not connected to the Internet). Note down your IP and the Subnet mask from the output of "ipconfig".

Once this is done you will see a summary of the settings. Click "Apply" to complete setup of the Ethernet connection (eth0). Once done the "Network Device Control" window pops up. It will list the newly created connection eth0, but it will be in "Inactive" state. To activate eth0, select it and click on the "Activate" button. The status will be reflected as shown in the image below.

With this you have successfully setup the ethernet connection. Now we proceed to setup the PPPOE connection over this ethernet connection

Now we are setting up the xDSL connection i.e. we are setting up the PPPOE connection so as to use the Point to Point Protocol Over Ethernet (eth0). Please note that eth0 needs to be in "Active" state for further step to work. So now to to the "Internet Configuration Wizard " in the "System Tools" menu. This time select "xDSL Connection" as shown below.

Now we need to configure this xDSL connection. We first need to specify which Ethernet connection is to be utilized to setup the PPPOE connection. We use connection eth0 which we configured in steps 1 to 5 above. Also provide a name for this connection and the username and password (provided by the ISP). Clicking "Next" displays the summary. Click "Apply"

This will bring up the "Network Configuration Window" again. However note that the VSNL connection will be in "Inactive" state.

We still need to configure it further. Select the VSNL connection and click "Edit". This will bring up the following window. Here in the "General" tab you can make additional configuration settings. In case you need to connect to the Internet (i.e. activate connection VSNL) during boot time them tick the check box "Activate device when computer starts". See screenshot below.

Leave the other tabs as it is and select the "Advanced" tab. Here we need to specify the service name and the access concentrator. To obtain a list of access concentrators, use the command "/sbin/pppoe -A". It will list the various access concentrators. Since I have a Tata Indicom (VSNL) broadband service it shows VSNL_BRAS_1 as one of the access concentrators. You can leave the service blank. You can contact your ISP and request for the service name and the access concentrator for their service. Enter them and click on OK button.

Once done you will be at the "Network Configuration Window". Select the VSNL connection and click on "Activate" button. After some delay (approx 10 seconds) the connection status will change to "Active".

You can now surf the net. Enjoy.....