Re: [gentoo-user] AT&T DSL + Westell modem/router = Gentoo woes

[Grant]

>> >> I recently switched from cable to DSL on a Gentoo router and I'm
>> >> having trouble keeping a stable connection.  Periodically I need to
>> >> run '/etc/init.d/net.eth0 restart' before it will connect to the
>> >> Westell modem (which is also a router although AT&T won't admit it).
>> >> The weird thing is that rebooting the system doesn't reacquire the
>> >> connection.  I have to actually issue '/etc/init.d/net.eth0 restart'.
>> >> Does anyone know why rebooting doesn't reacquire the connection and
>> >> restarting the interface does?
>> >>
>> >> - Grant
>> >
>> > I just use the modem to login and then enable ip  pass thru to my router
>> > which is a linksys running DD-WRT;
>> > http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7073
>> >
>> > This set-up has worked well for a few years without me having to do
>> > anything.
>>
>> Could I get you to tell me a couple of your settings?  You're doing
>> something right if you haven't had to touch your's after setting it
>> up.
>>
>> I'm trying to figure out the right connection type (or something like
>> that) for which the options are something like Smart KeepAlive, Always
>> Reconnect, and Connect On Demand.
>>
>> The other one is the IP lease timeout.  It defaults to 10 minutes and
>> I just set it to 99 days, but I don't want it to expire even after 99
>> days.  I have a static IP but I think this is the timeout between the
>> modem/router and the Gentoo router.
>
> I am not familiar with the modem in question, but if you are using your own
> router the modem should be set up in fully bridged mode and the PPPoE
> authentication will be managed by your Gentoo router.
>
> Your Gentoo router will also use dhcpcd (or similar) to obtain an IP address
> from your ISP after it authenticates on their RADIUS server.
>
> In a nut-shell:  You want to set up your modem to not do NAT, or dhcp, or
> authentication at all, but transparently encapsulate your PPP into ATM packets
> and send them off to your local DSLAM.  All the communication with your ISP
> will be managed by the router and your router will have the static IP address
> given to you by your ISP.  The modem will only have a LAN address which you
> will need to set up manually on it, using its control panel.
>
> PS.  I think that the modem connection type you refer to above should be Smart
> KeepAlive - although as I said I'm not familiar with the particular hardware.
>
> HTH.
> --
> Regards,
> Mick

Thanks Mick.  The Westell does have an option to take PPPoE off of the
device and I'd like to set that up soon.

- Grant