How to connect to internet without router?

[Dotan Cohen]

On 04/07/06, Gary W. Swearingen <garys at opusnet.com> wrote:
> If you have a "modem" that requires MSFT sign-on software, then
> you probably should start writing your Dear John letter explaining
> why you're moving to DSL.

Like said, I can switch ISP's, but I cannot switch infrastructure. I
only wish that I could. The modem and the cable coming into the house
are provided by the infrastructure (Hot is the companies name) and
I've no choice to switch. Not only are they MS-freaks, but most
Israeli websites are so IE-oriented that they use ActiveX on
hyperlinks! I can't imagine with what tools they write those sites.
They only advantage to that, in my opinion, is that I'm forced to use
non-Israeli websites, which has made me rather proficient in English
:)

Note: I _could_ switch to ADSL, but that would require setting up a
telephone line via the national telephone company (Bezeq). I have had
worse experience with Bezeq than I have had with the cable provider-
so much that I moved to VOIP over cable. I don't even have a
television, yet I pay for cable with the intention of using it for
VOIP and internet because the telephone company is so bad.

> When I had cable (before I noticed their indemnity clause), the
> installer set the modem up with his Win laptop, checked operation, and
> then connected up my internal cables, and left.  After I figured out
> that he put the TV filter on the PC cable, and fixed that, I just
> used DHCP with it, with no more trouble.
>
> With a standard DSL setup, the modem contains a router, etc.  You talk
> to it with a web browser, and it's very configurable, setting the
> name/password, etc.  I set mine to show my system a fixed IP address
> 10.x.x.x and get on the Internet with just: ifconfig eth# 10.x.x.4;
> route add default gw 10.x.x.2

That's how I'm set up now. But the router seems faulty (dropping
packets) and I'd like to connect directly to the modem. I did ask a
tech if there is a web-based control panel (like the router's web
based control panel) for the modem that I could use to connect, he
answered no and made a reply as if I had asked if the refrigerator has
a web-based control panel.

> I suggest finding the docs for your modem and see what it offers.  I
> know my cable modem had many features that I could and did ignore.

I'll look for more info, but I'm not optimistic. Everybody that I know
of with a winbox connects via the dialer.

UPDATE- while finishing this letter I spent some time on google. I
came across this solution to the problem:
Cable Dialer: http://support.actcom.co.il/support/tips/cableen/cable.php

They have dialers for a few popular linux distros to connect via L2TP
and PPTP. I'm mentioning it for the archives, and for anybody else who
takes an interest. If there are other parts of the world that must
connect to their ISP via an intrusive infrastructure company, then we
might want to create a simple GUI based upon these packages. I've seen
a lot of complaints about connecting to the 'net in linux in the
archives, but I don't know enough to know if this is relevant or not.

Dotan Cohen
http://essentialinux.com