how fast can you download with the cheap 40$ service?  i'm like...as far away from the CO as they 
let you.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: steve doerr <sdoerr@swbell.net>
Reply-To: kclug@kclug.org

>phase@booyaka.com wrote:
>
>> does anybody have experience with southwestern bell DSL?
>
>I've got it on Linux and Win95 and am happy w/ it.
>
>> a friend of mine ordered it recently after i told him he
>> could run linux on his old, unused 486 and use it as a
>> firewall/masquerading box to share the connection among
>> a couple of win98 machines.  i recently put a couple of
>> ISA ne2000 clones in the box, installed slackware 7 on
>> it, and set it up to use dhcpcd to configure the outside
>> interface.  now, before swbell will install the service,
>> they're requiring proof that my friend owns a registered
>> copy of win98.
>
>I had a March 3 install date and they said nothing about Win98.  When I
>placed the order, I specifically said I had Linux.  They said fine, but
>you may be on your own about configuring it.
>
>> this has me worried that their service
>> uses PPPOE or in some other way *requires* win98.  can
>> anyone confirm or deny my concern?  if they do use DHCP,
>> do they supply a PCI ethernet card and check the hardware
>> address of the card before allowing a lease?  i ask this
>> last question because the old machine has no PCI slots...
>
>They gave me a PCI ethernet card (Kingston KNE30T) and a
>dsl/atm/ethernet router (Efficient Networks SpeedStream 5660).  They
>told me that they had ISA cards if that was what you needed.  I've got
>dynamic IP service, and all I had to do was put the ethernet card into
>the kernel and install dhcpcd.  It was easier to configure than dialup -
>dhcpcd does everything for you (at least on Debian).
>
>The Win98 requirement is disturbing - the tech that came to my house
>didn't say anything about this and had it setup on Win95 in about 15
>minutes.  Maybe they're just checking that you have a legal copy of your
>OS?
>
>Anyway, all you need from them for Linux is to set up your wires and
>give you the splitters.  You don't even need the router if you're going
>to use a Linux box for this, but I would certainly take it.  You also
>are signing up for a year of service with their free install promo.
>They didn't mention this that I remember, but I think I saw it in some
>fine print later.  If you drop it at less than a year, I believe they
>bill you the ~$200 install fee.
>
>HTH,
>Steve
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