Setting Up the PPPoE Client

To provide PPP service to client machines over a DSL modem, you must first configure PPPoE on the interface that is connected to the modem or hub. Then you need to change the PPP configuration files to define the access server on the opposite end of the PPPoE.

Prerequisites for Setting Up the PPPoE Client

Before you set up the PPPoE client, you must have done the following:

• Installed Solaris 8 Update 6 release or later releases on the client machines to use the PPPoE tunnel

• Contacted the service provider for information about its PPPoE access server

• Had the telephone company or service provider assemble the devices that are used by the client machines (DSL modem, splitter, and so forth), or assembled them yourself

How to Configure an Interface for a PPPoE Client

1. Become superuser on the PPPoE client.

2. Add the name of the Ethernet interface with the DSL connection to the /etc/ppp/pppoe.if file.

   For example, you add the following entry to /etc/ppp/pppoe.if for a PPPoE client that uses hme0 as the network interface that is connected to the DSL modem.

   hme0

   For more information about /etc/ppp/pppoe.if, go to /etc/ppp/pppoe.if File.

3. Configure the interface for PPPoE use.

   # /etc/init.d/pppd start

4. (Optional) Verify that the interface is now plumbed for PPPoE.

   # /usr/sbin/sppptun query hme0:pppoe hme0:pppoed

   You can also use the /usr/sbin/sppptun command to manually plumb interfaces PPPoE. For instructions, refer to /usr/sbin/sppptun Command.

How to Define a PPPoE Access Server Peer

You define the access server in the /etc/ppp/peers/peer-name file. Many of the options that are used for the access server are also used to define the dial-in server in a dial-up scenario. For a detailed explanation of /etc/ppp/peers.peer-name, refer to /etc/ppp/peers/peer-name File.

1. Become superuser on the PPPoE client.

2. Define the service provider's PPPoE access server in the /etc/ppp/peers/peer-name file.

   For example, the following file, /etc/ppp/peers/dslserve, defines the access server dslserve at FarISP that are introduced in Example—Configuration for a PPPoE Tunnel.

   # cat /etc/ppp/peers/dslserve sppptun plugin pppoe.so connect "/usr/lib/inet/pppoec hme0" noccp noauth user Red password redsecret noipdefault defaultroute

   For a definition of the options in this file, go to /etc/ppp/peers/peer-name File for Defining an Access Server Peer.

3. Modify the other PPP configuration files on the PPPoE client.

   1. Configure /etc/ppp/options as described in the instructions for configuring a dial-out machine in Configuring the Dial-out Machine.

   2. Create an /etc/ppp/options.sppptun file to describe PPP options for the serial port to which the interface that is plumbed for PPPoE is attached.

      You can use any options available for the /etc/ppp/options.ttyname file that is described in /etc/ppp/options.ttyname Configuration File. You must name the file /etc/ppp/options.sppptun because sppptun is the specified device name in the pppd configuration.

4. Ensure that all users can start PPP on the client.

   # touch /etc/ppp/options

5. Test if PPP can run over the DSL line.

   # pppd debug updetach call dslserve

   dslserve is the name that is given to the access server at the ISP that is shown in Example—Configuration for a PPPoE Tunnel. The debug updetach option causes debugging information to display in a terminal window.

   If PPP is running correctly, the terminal output shows the link coming as it becomes active. If PPP still does not run, try the following command to see if the servers are running correctly:

   # /usr/lib/inet/pppoec -i hme0

Where to Go From Here