AT&T DSL with Linux?

I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
I've already hit google groups & dslreports.

Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:

-Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?

-news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp

-is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?

-uptime? speed?

-Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?

--
Brian Hall
Linux Consultant
http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall

Brian:

If you have a Cisco 675e it should be able to handle PPPoE.

No Problems...

Dave



"Brian Hall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
|
| I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
| connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
| notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
| I've already hit google groups & dslreports.
|
| Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
|
| -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
| connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
|
| -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
| available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
|
| -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
|
| -uptime? speed?
|
| -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
| as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
| with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
| IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
|
| --
| Brian Hall
| Linux Consultant
| http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
|
|
|

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 16:34:00 +0000, David H. Lipman wrote:

> Brian:
>
> If you have a Cisco 675e it should be able to handle PPPoE.
>
> No Problems...
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> "Brian Hall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> |
> | I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
> | connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
> | notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available. I've
> | already hit google groups & dslreports.
> |
> | Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
> |
> | -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
> | connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
> |
> | -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
> | available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
> |
> | -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
> |
> | -uptime? speed?
> |
> | -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line as
> | my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go with
> | AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T? IOW, does
> | the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
> |
> | --
> | Brian Hall
> | Linux Consultant
> | http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
> |
> |
> |
> |
If you already have DSL why switch? Is AT&T offering significantly more
bandwidth or are you having reliability problems? Your Qwest service
sounds pretty cheap, it's unlikely that AT&T can offer you service at a
cheaper price.

Brian Hall wrote:
> I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
> connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
> notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
> I've already hit google groups & dslreports.
>
> Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>
> -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
> connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
>
> -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
> available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
>
> -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>
> -uptime? speed?
>
> -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
> as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
> with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
> IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
>
> --
> Brian Hall
> Linux Consultant
> http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
>
>
>

Don't know the answers to your questions, but I notice that Qwest
apparently has a deal for service through MSN for $30/month, no
contract, free setup and modem. Are you dissatisfied with Qwest? I have
Qwest now, and pay them about $20 + $20 for local ISP.

On 2003-11-11, General Schvantzkoph wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 16:34:00 +0000, David H. Lipman wrote:
>
>> Brian:
>>
>> If you have a Cisco 675e it should be able to handle PPPoE.
>>
>> No Problems...
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> "Brian Hall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> |
>> | I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
>> | connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
>> | notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available. I've
>> | already hit google groups & dslreports.
>> |
>> | Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>> |
>> | -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
>> | connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
>> |
>> | -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
>> | available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
>> |
>> | -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>> |
>> | -uptime? speed?
>> |
>> | -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line as
>> | my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go with
>> | AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T? IOW, does
>> | the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
>> |
>> | --
>> | Brian Hall
>> | Linux Consultant
>> | http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> |
> If you already have DSL why switch? Is AT&T offering significantly more
> bandwidth or are you having reliability problems? Your Qwest service
> sounds pretty cheap, it's unlikely that AT&T can offer you service at a
> cheaper price.

I am trying to find out if I still have to pay the QWest DSL line charge
if I go with AT&T DSL- their website doesn't say anything about it. If
that cost is included in the price AT&T quotes, then for 60 cents more per
year I can double my download throughput, at the cost of having my upstream.

On 2003-11-11, ray wrote:
> Brian Hall wrote:
>> I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
>> connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
>> notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
>> I've already hit google groups & dslreports.
>>
>> Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>>
>> -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
>> connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
>>
>> -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
>> available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
>>
>> -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>>
>> -uptime? speed?
>>
>> -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
>> as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
>> with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
>> IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
>>
>> --
>> Brian Hall
>> Linux Consultant
>> http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
>>
>>
>>
>
> Don't know the answers to your questions, but I notice that Qwest
> apparently has a deal for service through MSN for $30/month, no
> contract, free setup and modem. Are you dissatisfied with Qwest? I have
> Qwest now, and pay them about $20 + $20 for local ISP.
>

I only have the DSL connection thru QWest, my ISP is PCIsys.net.

I have no interest in MSN, I run Linux.

Also, I think the lower-cost option you mention uses the Linux-incompatible
internel DSL router and is not "always-on".

I'd like to use AT&T DAL with Linux. I've got Redhat 7.2 loaded,
but I have not been able to get it working with AT&T DSL. From what
I have seen, AT&T/Covad does not provide support for Linux, although
it should work. I think that I may need a router to get it going.

As far as costs are concerned, Qwest provides my phone line at the
regular rate. I can't get the full 1.5 mb speed, so I am using .7 mb
DSL down-loading. I am paying AT&T $39.95 for this service, using
AT&T Worldnet. They don't have a very good reputation with respect
to spam, but I have not seen any from them for a very long time,
in contrast to Comcast (Former AT&T cable), where two or three a day
is not uncommon.

Brian Hall wrote:
> On 2003-11-11, ray wrote:
>
>>Brian Hall wrote:
>>
>>>I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
>>>connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
>>>notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
>>>I've already hit google groups & dslreports.
>>>
>>>Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>>>
>>>-Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
>>>connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
>>>
>>>-news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
>>>available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
>>>
>>>-is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>>>
>>>-uptime? speed?
>>>
>>>-Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
>>>as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
>>>with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
>>>IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
>>>
>>>--
>>>Brian Hall
>>>Linux Consultant
>>>http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Don't know the answers to your questions, but I notice that Qwest
>>apparently has a deal for service through MSN for $30/month, no
>>contract, free setup and modem. Are you dissatisfied with Qwest? I have
>>Qwest now, and pay them about $20 + $20 for local ISP.
>>
>
>
> I only have the DSL connection thru QWest, my ISP is PCIsys.net.
>
> I have no interest in MSN, I run Linux.
>
> Also, I think the lower-cost option you mention uses the Linux-incompatible
> internel DSL router and is not "always-on".

Actually, it is using the Actiontec 1524 external modem/switch - has
connections for 3 or 4 computers. I am running one of the old internal
Intel modems on my win98 box which serves as my gateway.

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 16:22:42 -0000, Brian Hall <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
>connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
>notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available.
>I've already hit google groups & dslreports.

I'm on AT&T DSL now. Not bad at all. Their support and customer
service are a mile above the providers I've used previously. One
thing to keep in mind though, they don't provide extra services. You
want a mail server and a DNS, you set it up. I went with dyndns.org
for the DNS, and run postfix (and a ton of other stuff - 3 domains,
web server, spam filters, yada yada. All running on my firewall
system.)

>Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>
>-Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
>connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?

First point - who told you they use PPPoE? I've got a static IP
address. No extra charge, and I don't have to play games with dynamic
IP addressing for my servers.

>-news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
>available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp

The AT&T servers are NOT available - I use newsfeeds.com.

>-is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>
>-uptime? speed?

Speed of a DSL circuit is partly a function of how far from the CO
you're located. When you contact them they'll tell you the fastest
connection you can get. You can choose that, or anything slower. The
price is also a factor.

Uptime is great. AT&T is partnered with Covad on this, and Covad is
great. I've been wired via Covad at 3 locations, 5 providers. The
only time I ever had a problem longer than 20 minutes was 9/11 - there
was a major switch in the basement of the WTC.
>
>-Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
>as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
>with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
>IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?

You'll want to double check with AT&T on this, but AFAIK, the QWest
charge goes away, the ISP charge goes away. You pay AT&T, period.
That's all I pay, anyway. If I recall correctly, it's $75.00 per
month (here, YMMV).

Mike-
Mornings: Evolution in action. Only the grumpy will survive.
-----------------------------------------------------

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On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 20:06:25 +0000, Brian Hall wrote:

> On 2003-11-11, General Schvantzkoph wrote:
>> On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 16:34:00 +0000, David H. Lipman wrote:
>>
>>> Brian:
>>>
>>> If you have a Cisco 675e it should be able to handle PPPoE.
>>>
>>> No Problems...
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Brian Hall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> |
>>> | I am currently using a legacy Cicso 675e for my DSL connection,
>>> | connected to a floppyfw Linux firewall. I received a promotional
>>> | notice from AT&T DSL, saying that their service was available. I've
>>> | already hit google groups & dslreports.
>>> |
>>> | Looking for opinions on their service, and info about:
>>> |
>>> | -Since they use PPPoE, does their DSL router handle the PPPoE
>>> | connection, or does my Linux firewall need to have a PPPoE client?
>>> |
>>> | -news servers: I have heard that AT&T news servers may not be
>>> | available via DSL (!), and use nntps vice nntp
>>> |
>>> | -is there a link where you can query the newsgroups they carry?
>>> |
>>> | -uptime? speed?
>>> |
>>> | -Cost: I currently pay $31.95 to QWest for my DSL "line" (same line
>>> | as my normal phone service), AND $17.95/month to my ISP. If I go
>>> | with AT&T DSL (though Covad, apparently), do I only pay to AT&T?
>>> | IOW, does the QWest charge go away since I'd be using Covad?
>>> |
>>> | --
>>> | Brian Hall
>>> | Linux Consultant
>>> | http://www.pcisys.net/~brihall
>>> |
>>> |
>>> |
>>> |
>> If you already have DSL why switch? Is AT&T offering significantly more
>> bandwidth or are you having reliability problems? Your Qwest service
>> sounds pretty cheap, it's unlikely that AT&T can offer you service at a
>> cheaper price.
>
> I am trying to find out if I still have to pay the QWest DSL line charge
> if I go with AT&T DSL- their website doesn't say anything about it. If
> that cost is included in the price AT&T quotes, then for 60 cents more
> per year I can double my download throughput, at the cost of having my
> upstream.

Why don't you ask AT&T. Somebody has to pay for that line. With
line sharing DSL you generally have to lease a voice line from the phone
company and then the cost of the DSL is added on, there is a small
surcharge to the phone company that's included in the DSL price. With a
dedicated line the whole cost of leasing the line is included in your DSL
price, the piece that ultimately goes to the phone company is larger to
account for the fact that they aren't getting any additional revenue from
that line.