[gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[lee]

Hi,

I need a pppoe client, no server part necessary, to replace the
black-box router because that thing sucks.

Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
could use:


net-dialup/ppp
net-dialup/rp-pppoe


I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.


-- 
Again we must be afraid of speaking of daemons for fear that daemons
might swallow us.  Finally, this fear has become reasonable.

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Mick]

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On Saturday 04 Apr 2015 13:32:28 lee wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I need a pppoe client, no server part necessary, to replace the
> black-box router because that thing sucks.
> 
> Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
> could use:
> 
> 
> net-dialup/ppp
> net-dialup/rp-pppoe
> 
> 
> I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
> be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
> re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
> when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.

I have used net-dialup/ppp to handle the authentication with the ISP's RADIUS 
server, but retained the ADSL modem (or router in fully bridged mode) which 
performed the ATM encapsulation, on a G.DMT (ITU G.992.1) connection.

I used /etc/conf.d/net to configure ppp like so, while :
===============================================
#PPPoE configuration
config_enp11s0=null
config_ppp0="ppp"
link_ppp0="enp11s0"
plugins_ppp0="pppoe"
username_ppp0='my_ISP_user_name'
password_ppp0='my_secret_passwd'
hide-password
pppd_ppp0="
noauth
defaultroute
usepeerdns
holdoff 3
child-timeout 60
lcp-echo-interval 15
lcp-echo-failure 3
#debug
noaccomp noccp nobsdcomp nodeflate nopcomp novj novjccomp"
#
rc_net_need_ppp0="net.enp11s0"
===============================================

enp11s0 is the NIC with which I connected to the ADSL modem.

Your ISP should offer some settings in case the above are not appropriate for 
your connection.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Heiko Baums]

Am 04.04.2015 um 14:32 schrieb lee:
> Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
> could use:
> 
> 
> net-dialup/ppp
> net-dialup/rp-pppoe

I used rp-pppoe. I found it easier to configure. ppp is installed as a
dependency anyway.

> I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
> be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
> re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
> when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.

If your ISP doesn't disconnect you the connection usually stays active
as long as you want resp. the computer is running.

I don't know anything about the other features (anymore) but with
rp-pppoe you get at least the same error messages/logs as with ppp.

You can also use net-misc/networkmanager. If you're using a desktop
environment then you can also install gnome-extra/nm-applet for GTK
based desktops or a similar package for KDE. This way you always see the
connection status in the systray. And it's easier to configure.

With networkmanager you can also easily choose and switch between
different connection types like Ethernet, WLAN, DSL, Mobile Broadband,
VPN etc.

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Heiko Baums]

Am 04.04.2015 um 21:27 schrieb Heiko Baums:
> You can also use net-misc/networkmanager. If you're using a desktop
> environment then you can also install gnome-extra/nm-applet for GTK
> based desktops or a similar package for KDE. This way you always see the
> connection status in the systray. And it's easier to configure.
> 
> With networkmanager you can also easily choose and switch between
> different connection types like Ethernet, WLAN, DSL, Mobile Broadband,
> VPN etc.

I should add that networkmanager automatically reconnects if the
internet connection got lost for some reason. If it's not possible it
permanently tries until it's possible again.

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[lee]

Heiko Baums <lists@baums-on-web.de> writes:

> Am 04.04.2015 um 14:32 schrieb lee:
>> Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
>> could use:
>> 
>> 
>> net-dialup/ppp
>> net-dialup/rp-pppoe
>
> I used rp-pppoe. I found it easier to configure. ppp is installed as a
> dependency anyway.

So there isn't really a choice and rp-pppoe is some kind of additional
thing?  What are its advantages?

>> I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
>> be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
>> re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
>> when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.
>
> If your ISP doesn't disconnect you the connection usually stays active
> as long as you want resp. the computer is running.

That's the idea, and in practise, the connection is interrupted rather
frequently.  I'm pretty sure the router sucks and contributes to the
problem.  If it's not only the router, that's just another thing they
need to fix.

Currently, I'm taking my money back from them until they fix the
problems, and they don't even notice:  Fee internet for me --- though
I'd rather have it working.

> I don't know anything about the other features (anymore) but with
> rp-pppoe you get at least the same error messages/logs as with ppp.

Hm, I think I'll start with ppp then.

> You can also use net-misc/networkmanager. If you're using a desktop
> environment then you can also install gnome-extra/nm-applet for GTK
> based desktops or a similar package for KDE. This way you always see the
> connection status in the systray. And it's easier to configure.
>
> With networkmanager you can also easily choose and switch between
> different connection types like Ethernet, WLAN, DSL, Mobile Broadband,
> VPN etc.

Networkmanager sucks, it overwrites /etc/resolv.conf and does all kinds
of weird things.  Maybe it's useful when you need to switch between
connections all the time; that's not what I'm doing.  I'm not using kde
or gnome, either.


-- 
Again we must be afraid of speaking of daemons for fear that daemons
might swallow us.  Finally, this fear has become reasonable.

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Mick]

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On Sunday 05 Apr 2015 16:29:58 lee wrote:
> Heiko Baums <lists@baums-on-web.de> writes:
> > Am 04.04.2015 um 14:32 schrieb lee:
> >> Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
> >> could use:
> >> 
> >> 
> >> net-dialup/ppp
> >> net-dialup/rp-pppoe
> > 
> > I used rp-pppoe. I found it easier to configure. ppp is installed as a
> > dependency anyway.
> 
> So there isn't really a choice and rp-pppoe is some kind of additional
> thing?  What are its advantages?

I have not installed rp-pppoe, only net-dialup/ppp, but it brought in rp-
pppoe.so:

$ ls  -1 /usr/lib64/pppd/2.4.7/
minconn.so
openl2tp.so
passprompt.so
passwordfd.so
pppol2tp.so
rp-pppoe.so
winbind.so


> >> I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
> >> be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
> >> re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
> >> when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.

You can increase the verbosity of the ppp logs by adding 'debug' in 
/etc/ppp/peers/my_isp.


> > If your ISP doesn't disconnect you the connection usually stays active
> > as long as you want resp. the computer is running.
> 
> That's the idea, and in practise, the connection is interrupted rather
> frequently.  I'm pretty sure the router sucks and contributes to the
> problem.  If it's not only the router, that's just another thing they
> need to fix.

This may have nothing to do with ppp and everything to do with noise on the 
line.  ADSL is susceptible to REIN, cross-talk and all sort of poor 
connectivity (high resistance joints) problems.


> Currently, I'm taking my money back from them until they fix the
> problems, and they don't even notice:  Fee internet for me --- though
> I'd rather have it working.
> 
> > I don't know anything about the other features (anymore) but with
> > rp-pppoe you get at least the same error messages/logs as with ppp.
> 
> Hm, I think I'll start with ppp then.

I'd suggest the same and if you are not happy with its behaviour and output 
you can look at what additional features or benefits the rp-pppoe command 
interface brings.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[J. Roeleveld]

On Sunday, April 05, 2015 05:29:58 PM lee wrote:
> Heiko Baums <lists@baums-on-web.de> writes:
> > Am 04.04.2015 um 14:32 schrieb lee:
> >> Which package would you recommend?  There seem to be at least two I
> >> could use:
> >> 
> >> 
> >> net-dialup/ppp
> >> net-dialup/rp-pppoe
> > 
> > I used rp-pppoe. I found it easier to configure. ppp is installed as a
> > dependency anyway.
> 
> So there isn't really a choice and rp-pppoe is some kind of additional
> thing?  What are its advantages?
> 
> >> I'd like to see some connection statistics, i. e. the connection should
> >> be active 24/7, and I want to know when it's interrupted and
> >> re-established, preferably with good error reporting.  It would suffice
> >> when I get an email telling me that the connection is down/up.
> > 
> > If your ISP doesn't disconnect you the connection usually stays active
> > as long as you want resp. the computer is running.
> 
> That's the idea, and in practise, the connection is interrupted rather
> frequently.  I'm pretty sure the router sucks and contributes to the
> problem.  If it's not only the router, that's just another thing they
> need to fix.

Do the connection issues correspond with the phone being used?
One of the most common mistakes with ADSL connections is either broken 
splitters or not enough.
You need to put an ADSL/Phone splitter to ensure all phones are connected to 
the phone side and the modem to the ADSL side.

--
Joost

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Heiko Baums]

Am 05.04.2015 um 17:29 schrieb lee:
> So there isn't really a choice and rp-pppoe is some kind of additional
> thing?

As far as I remember yes.

> What are its advantages?

Like I said before, easier to configure and to handle.

> Networkmanager sucks, it overwrites /etc/resolv.conf and does all kinds
> of weird things.

If you need or want to use fixed DNS servers you can set them in the
IPv4 and/or IPv6 settings of each connection, and Networkmanager puts
those into /etc/resolv.conf.

I haven't seen Networkmanager doing weird things yet, and I'm using it
quite a while for several connection types like simple ethernet, WLAN
and mobile broadband.

>  Maybe it's useful when you need to switch between
> connections all the time; that's not what I'm doing.  I'm not using kde
> or gnome, either.

It's also useful if you want to automatically reconnect when the
connection got lost as soon as a reconnect is possible again. Neither
ppp nor rp-pppoe can do that.

nm-applett also works with Xfce or LXDE if you're using those.
Networkmanager itself contains several tools for the text console like
nmcli and nmtui.

And if you need to run a script every time the internet connection is
established or closed just put it into /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d.
Parameter $1 gives the network device and $2 is either up or down.

Re: [gentoo-user] what to use for a pppoe client?

[Mick]

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On Thursday 09 Apr 2015 12:05:38 Heiko Baums wrote:
> Am 05.04.2015 um 17:29 schrieb lee:
> > So there isn't really a choice and rp-pppoe is some kind of additional
> > thing?
> 
> As far as I remember yes.
> 
> > What are its advantages?
> 
> Like I said before, easier to configure and to handle.
> 
> > Networkmanager sucks, it overwrites /etc/resolv.conf and does all kinds
> > of weird things.
> 
> If you need or want to use fixed DNS servers you can set them in the
> IPv4 and/or IPv6 settings of each connection, and Networkmanager puts
> those into /etc/resolv.conf.
> 
> I haven't seen Networkmanager doing weird things yet, and I'm using it
> quite a while for several connection types like simple ethernet, WLAN
> and mobile broadband.
> 
> >  Maybe it's useful when you need to switch between
> > 
> > connections all the time; that's not what I'm doing.  I'm not using kde
> > or gnome, either.
> 
> It's also useful if you want to automatically reconnect when the
> connection got lost as soon as a reconnect is possible again. Neither
> ppp nor rp-pppoe can do that.

Are you sure?

Have you tried 'passive' and 'maxfail 0' settings?

If these don't work, then a separate script (e.g. pinging google or some such 
server as a test) can be used to decide to restart ppp.


> nm-applett also works with Xfce or LXDE if you're using those.
> Networkmanager itself contains several tools for the text console like
> nmcli and nmtui.
> 
> And if you need to run a script every time the internet connection is
> established or closed just put it into /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d.
> Parameter $1 gives the network device and $2 is either up or down.

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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