Connecting Linux to the Internet
By Stephen Bucaro
Today, a computer without Internet access would be severely limited. Mozilla running
on Linux provides more reliable and secure Internet access than Internet Explorer
running on Microsoft Windows.
To connect Linux to the Internet, you'll need to set up a Point-to-Point Protocol
(PPP) connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Have the following
information about your ISP account available before you begin.
Dial-in Phone Number
User Name
Password
Domain Name Server (DNS) address
To create an Internet connection, login with the root account. Click on the footprint
on the task bar to open the main menu, then select Programs | Internet |
Dialup Configuration Tool. The Add New Internet Connection utility window
opens. Click on the Next button.
1. The Add New Internet Connection utility will search for configured modems. It will
then display a list of modems found. Click on the Next button.
2. The Phone number and name page will appear. Enter a name for the Internet
connection and your ISPs dial-in phone number. Click on the Next button.
3. The User name and password page will appear. Enter the user nane and password
provided by your ISP. Click on the Next button.
4. The Other Options page will appear. In the Account List click on Normal ISP.
Then click on the Next button.
5. The Create the account page will appear. Click on the Finish button, then
click on the Close button.
To configure the PPP connection, log in with the root account. Click on the footprint
on the task bar to open the main menu, then select Programs | System | Linuxconf.
A welcome window appears informing you that you have just installed Linuxconf. Click
on the Quit button to close the window.
1. In the Linuxconf window left panel, expand the Networking - Client tasks branch
and click on Name server specification. In the right panel, enter the DNS address
provided by your ISP. If you were provided with a secondary DNS, enter that too. Then
click on the Accept button.
2. Click on the "x" in the upper right corner of the Linuxconf window to close the window.
The Status of the system tab will appear. Click on the Activate the changes button.
You can now login as any user and use the Red Hat PPP Dialer to connect to the Internet.
1. Click on the footprint button on the task bar to open the main menu. Then select
Programs | Internet | RH PPP Dialer. The Choose dialog box appears, listing
all the configured network interfaces.
2. Click on the PPP connection that you set up, then click on the OK button. The
Change connection status dialog box appears. Click on the Yes button. Your
modem will dial your ISP.
3. When your system has logged into your ISP, the connection window will appear. You
can then use your Web browser.
4. When you are finished using your Web browser, you can close the Internet connection
by clicking on the button with the dot in the connection window.
That's all there is to connecting Linux to the Internet. Now you can have more reliable
and secure Internet access with Linux.
More Windows Administration Information: • How Linux Works • The Fedora 3 Linux File Structure • Working With Files in Linux • Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide • How to Dual Boot Windows XP and Ubuntu 8 • Basic Linux File and Directory Commands • What is a Linux Distribution • How to Protect Files and Directories in Linux • Linux Server Hardening • Migrating to Linux: Installing Software
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