I need a means of probing a network.

[Bob-NB]

I do not know if it is of any use, but you can garner alot of information on your ISP from a site mentioned in the post to Mtnsnow in the general forum. smokin1 put in this link: http://network-tools.com/5/
From there you can insert the primary dns number for your IP and then submit. I was able to get a whole boatload of info on my ISP when I did this. Perhaps it may help you.

[Dominus]

Thanks! That gave me a ton more info. I'll see how it works out ASAP.

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

I will install the Tcp/ip. It will be supported by linux and windows. Then, ping your computers. At the end, install the Appletalk so you can see the macs. Hope it helps you.

[800XL]

Forgive me if you've already been here, but this should give you all the info you need:

Start menu
pick run
type 'winipcfg' (no quotes) in the box
hit ok
pick the Network device for your ADSL connection in the dropdown box.
Click more info.

My DSL connection gets all its info from my ISP via DHCP, which is what most do. Some tie it to the computer name, some to the hardware address of the network card you are using. Did you have to set your computer name to something specific in order to get windows configured for your DSL line, or did you have to give your ISP the hardware address (string of hex numbers like ab-33-dd-55-4d) when you first set things up?

The bits you need for Linux to work are:

Your IP
default gateway
DNS server

If DHCP works the way it should, Linux should autoconfigure everything just like Windows without knowing any of the above.

[Dominus]

I didn't have to give out a hardware address OR change my computer name to anything special. The ISP sent over one linesman who buggered the whole thing up, then they sent over a pair of linesman the next day that fixed the job up somewhat, then they sent over a pair of tech-geeks who found that the modem couldn't synchronize properly, so therefore they couldn't do anything. They left, saying that they'd come back when the line was fixed properly. By this time I got pissed off at the wait & fixed the damned thing myself. Turned out the reason it couldn't synchronize was due to the fact that it was on top of the computer, and the PS was creating electromagnetic interference that buggered up the modem. I made a longer CAT5 cable & put it on top of a desk a few meters away from any appliances & it synced up fine.

winipcfg was the first thing I did. It gave me my default gateway, and one of the 5 DNS servers my ISP has. I already knew my own static IP off by heart. My ISP also uses DHCP

I set those same 3 things you said up in Linux, nada. Couldn't even ping anything.

Tried the 4 other DNS server IPs. Still nada. Some info actually gets detected at bootup, but not enough to get anywhere. I've gone through every networking related HOWTO there is, and followed them all step by step. Stil nothing.

I'm really beginning to become paranoid, and I believe that my small town ISP is in league with M$ and is using their proprietary protocol: PPPoE. They haven't answered any of my e-mails about Linux, but they answer e-mails about other things within a few hours.

And the thing is, I can't terminate my ADSL service and go back to dialup without paying a $150 termination charge, paying for the rest of the modem, and paying out the rest of my 18 month service contract.

And I only have until Christmas to fully convert to Linux, and net access is the only thing holding me back. Once I get net access I can download all the software I need to be fully functional in Linux, and have access to more help and resources that I might need during my struggles.

Breaking away from Microsoft's and Intel' Domination is a LOT harder than it seems.


[This message has been edited by Dominus (edited 08-18-99).]

[socalgal]

Dominus, I don't want to fuel your paranoia.. but I really would not doubt that MS has used methods to lure your ISP into its clutches... I have heard things that would raise your hair on end and from a good source. Don't ask, I'm not at liberty to tell. But keep both eyes open. Your topic is beyond me in technicality... but you may be on target as to its cause.


[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 08-18-99).]

[Dominus]

Here's why I think that my ISP *may* be influenced my MS:

http://slashdot.org/articles/99/06/02/2255235.shtml

MS got to BellSouth, the main Canadian "Baby Bell" telco, of which my ISP/telco is closely related to.

But then of course, there might just be some little detail that I'm overlooking thats causing all the problem. Next time I get a chance to boot Linux, I'll find out.

[Dominus]

I need information on a procedure or application that can probe my ISPs network and give me some more information on how my ADSL is set up, so that I might get it to work in Linux (RH6). The ISP only officially supports Win9x, and MacOS 8, so they refuse to help me, and I can gain only minimal information from Windows networking, as most of the information it detects from the NIC at boot-up is not available to me.

Info i have:
My IP
Nameservers & DNS servers (IPs, not names)
Default Route IP

Info I need:
Anything

I've followed every HOW-TO and NHF that there is, and according to them (and the local Linux Guru), my connection should be working perfectly. But I cannot even ping a server on the ISPs network.

I'm hoping that my ISP has not followed the example of one of it's relatives, BellSouth, and implemented PPPoE, a Microsoft proprietary network protocol, that requires an M$ operating system to log-in.

This is really important to me, because I need more Linux experience. I'll be putting together a new (AMD) system for myself soon, and there will be NO M$ software on it. If it comes down to it, I'll scrap my ADSL & get dialup again.

But hopefully it won't come to that.

Any (and I mean ANY) suggestions are welcome.