ClearFoundation

OK with the help of ClearCare we have found out what the problem is. The mac address in eth0 gets removed every time I do an update on the ppp0e interface in webconfig and won't connect again. If you do an icfonfig -a you will see your eth0 will be __tmpXXXX and the HWADRR wiill be missing from your eth0 config.

I did see on some other Centos forum that there were a number of posts about this but I not sure what the cause is. I suspect it is hardware because I have done other ClearOS install on other hardware and VirtualBox and the ppp0e works fine.

ClearOS will be releasing a patch that will make sure that changes to ppp0e in webconfig won't break the eth0 mac address.

I would like to thank the ClearCare guys for their assistance and for a couple of $ I could save on the headache tablets.

I've encountered that problem as well with CC and ClearOS.

You can read more about in the CC forums. It is a good post to read if you need to reinstall any NICs.

I've since stopped using my COS box as a gateway as PPPoE authentication as it is simply too unreliable. Granted, it may have been a combination of my two previous Linksys routers causing hell in strange minuscule ways. Should PPPoE fail, rebooting the entire server is impractical when compared to just rebooting a simple router. (power cycle, done) I've purchased a NetGear router, while not DD-WRT or made by Cisco, works very well and is simple to use in the event that the guy who set up the entire network is not here, falls off the face of the earth or generally has a psychotic episode from hell and decides to check out.

The standalone COS can work with any further modifications and do what it needs to do; dish up web pages and make money.

OK, this PPPoE is really starting to get to me. If this is a simple fix, somebody throw me a bone!

I've retired two Linksys routers that I was using as switches as I had disabled their DHCP functions.

I'd like to use my COS box as a gateway for a number of reasons. Its a great learning tool and I see it becoming a very popular home server solution, assuming that its easy to configure, reliable, well supported and well documented. I plan on installing a COS server for a local buisness in the coming months, assuming I've worked out all of the user error and that I can assure myself that its not going to fail for some random unknown reason or some stupid mistake between the keyboard and the chair. I am more than willing to purchase paid support for such a system, however I need to know that it will work prior to setting it up.

When I patch a straight cat5 cable from my DSL modem to my workstation and initiate a PPPoE dialer from Windows, my connection is authenticated instantly. Vroom! Fast.

When I connect my DSL modem to my 'new' Netgear router; PPPoE authenticates quickly and the connection doesn't drop. Vroom! Fast.

When I disable DHCP services and PPPoE authentication on my Netgear router and configure my COS box as a gateway:

Firewall on, Port Fowarding configured, Web proxy off, DHCP on with either OpenDNS DNS servers or my ISP DNS servers or automatic DNS servers; with one LAN interface set with a static IP address and one External interface set as DSL/PPPoE; using the same credentials as the PPPoE dialer and my Netgear router, AND the same default config for ifcfg-ppp0 that is posted earlier in this thread; authentication FAILS. To state the obvious, yes there is an active link when I attempt to authenticate. Furthermore, during a reboot, PPPoE takes a long time to fail before it says FAILED.

It is worth mentioning that when I switch every over in the correct order; and I attempt to start my network services from the command line; I do so by: services network restart and then eventually, a reboot; not to mention a power cycle here and there and shutting my modem off for a few minutes.

I spoke to one of the tech support guys at my ISP. He said his ability to monitor the connection is pretty limited, at least at his level.

Regardless, its obviously a combination of ClearOS, my NIC card, the way ClearOS does PPPoE authentication and the modem that is provided pre-configured in bridge mode, my ISP and my fat fingers. (I had tried a total of 3 cards; two Realtek cards and an on-board Intel NIC)

Currently, these are the two cards I have installed on my system.

- Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB PRO/100 VE
- Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+

The Realtek card is the card that I was using to attempt to authenticate and I have not tried the second Reltek card since I've upgraded to ClearOS and installed the Netgear router.

I have yet to test the on-board Intel NIC with ClearOS and the Netgear router to see if that will at least connect without failing.

Quite frankly, I shouldn't have to. I have unrealistic expectations, what can I say....

Modem is a ZyXel Prestige 645 ADSL modem.

What the hell am I missing?

Can you find out what the MTU is from your ISP?

and the reason for David's question I suspect is...

adsl.cutw.net/mtu.html
whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=ADSL_Theory_PPP
etc

My ISP said the MTU values can vary; 1462, 1492, and 1500. If they were to install a router they usually set the MTU value at 1492.

[EDIT]
Removed useless drivel.

Thanks Tony. I'll be reading all about PPPoE in the next couple of days as I want to get this to work. My networking skills are...irony not withstanding; a little lacking.

Setting the MTU to 1492 (and removing the defunct Linksys routers.... ) seemed to work quite well...and damn was that simple.

Glad it is working now.

thanks for the information @ deadkatz. ima try this out soon