does dhclient play well with others?

Hi,

I've been using a d-link router for as long as I can remember. However,
I am trying to learn more about setting up my own Linux router. Anyhow,
I've connected my DSL modem to my NIC, and I am trying to free myself
fromt he d-link router. I'm trying to install Ubuntu on my machine.
However, as soon as it comes to the part of configuring my network, it
cannot retrieve an ip address using dhclient from my ISP. There is no
activity light on my NIC or modem. However, as soon as I unplug the
cable from my NIC and plug back into the router - all is good and the
router receives an ip.

Any suggestions?

Cyphos wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've been using a d-link router for as long as I can remember. However,
> I am trying to learn more about setting up my own Linux router. Anyhow,
> I've connected my DSL modem to my NIC, and I am trying to free myself
> fromt he d-link router. I'm trying to install Ubuntu on my machine.
> However, as soon as it comes to the part of configuring my network, it
> cannot retrieve an ip address using dhclient from my ISP. There is no
> activity light on my NIC or modem. However, as soon as I unplug the
> cable from my NIC and plug back into the router - all is good and the
> router receives an ip.

You need a crossover cable between the DSL modem and the NIC for a
direct connection.

Allen Kistler wrote:
> Cyphos wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I've been using a d-link router for as long as I can remember. However,
>>I am trying to learn more about setting up my own Linux router. Anyhow,
>>I've connected my DSL modem to my NIC, and I am trying to free myself
>>fromt he d-link router. I'm trying to install Ubuntu on my machine.
>>However, as soon as it comes to the part of configuring my network, it
>>cannot retrieve an ip address using dhclient from my ISP. There is no
>>activity light on my NIC or modem. However, as soon as I unplug the
>>cable from my NIC and plug back into the router - all is good and the
>>router receives an ip.
>
>
> You need a crossover cable between the DSL modem and the NIC for a
> direct connection.

I assume you already know your ISP provides straight Ethernet over DSL.
Most use PPPoE or ATMoE. A few use simple PPP. If your router was a
PPPoE/ATMoE/PPP client, you'll need PPPoE/ATMoE/PPP software on your
Linux box (and not dhclient).

Either way, you still need the right cable.

This might not be applicable here since you are using DSL, I am a cable
modem user and I ran into a similar problem awhile ago.

The problem in my case was that the cable modem caches the MAC address
of the NIC it is connected to and the only way to fix that problem was
to unplug the modem for 1 minute then my problem was solved.

Give that a try.