1. Network and Internet Connection Management

[Tip]Tip

Before connecting to the Internet, you are encouraged to set up a firewall on your machine so as to avoid bad surprises such as intrusions on your system. You can set up a very simple, yet effective, firewall using DrakFirewall. Please refer to Section 3, “Securing your Internet Access via DrakFirewall” for more information.

The drakconnect set of tools allows you to easily configure your network access, whether it be to the Internet or to a local network. Open Mandriva Linux Control Center and select the Network & Internet section to access drakconnect tools. A view of the main interface is shown in Figure 15.1, “DrakConnect Tools”. The Internet connection sharing tool is described in Section 2, “Internet Connection Sharing”.

Figure 15.1. DrakConnect Tools

DrakConnect Tools

1.1. Set Up a New Network Interface

drakconnect supports different types of Internet and network connections. The first step consists of choosing which type of connection you wish to configure. Always make sure you have all the information provided by your ISP or network administrator at hand.

1.1.1. LAN Connection

Select the LAN connection type and continue to the next step. Your NICs are detected automatically; if you have more than one, you have to select the one you wish to configure. You can also load a driver for your NIC manually.

Then, you have to specify if the network parameters will be automatically set up (Automatic IP (BOOTP/DHCP)) or not (Manual configuration): fill the next steps with the parameters which your ISP or network administrator gave you.

[Tip]Tip

Check the Network Hotplugging box to have your network brought up and down automatically when you connect and disconnect the network cable. This is specially handy for laptop users.

If you configure the network with DHCP you can optionally provide the machine's hostname. Then you can supply the Zeroconf hostname: this is the name which will be assigned to the machine when no network configuration has been found.

After the configuration is done, you can bring the network connection up or down as described in Section 1.4, “Monitoring Connections”. Please bear in mind that LAN connection types are set up to always be started at boot time.

[Tip]Tip

An applet appears in the desktop's panel indicating that the connection is up or down . Right click on it to access a menu that will also let you control the connection's state as well as other parameters.

1.1.2. Wireless Connection

This entry allows to configure WiFi PCMCIA or PCI devices.

  1. Choose the card you wish to configure. If your card is not listed, choose the Use a Windows driver entry. The next step then asks you to select the driver from the manufacturer's card drivers CD.

  2. Network configuration is then similar to the LAN connection type (see Section 1.1.1, “LAN Connection”).

  3. Finally some wireless specific parameters are asked, make sure to set them correctly according to your wireless access point configuration.

1.1.3. ISDN Connection

Simply make sure you select the right parameters in all steps, concerning your area and provider.

The last step gives you the option to handle the connection status through the net applet, this can prove useful if you only need the Internet connection from time to time.

1.1.4. Modem Connection

A list of detected modems is shown. If no modem was detected then only the Manual choice option is shown, click on Next and choose the communications port the modem is connected to. The required packages will be installed.

You will then see a list of countries/ISPs. If yours is listed select it and continue to the next step: some parameters (connection name, phone number to dial, and authentication scheme) will be automatically set. Verify them, add the missing ones and accept them. If yours is not listed, select the Unlisted - edit manually option, click on Next and fill the parameters with the settings provided by your ISP (see Figure 15.2, “Entering Dial-up Connection Parameters”).

Figure 15.2. Entering Dial-up Connection Parameters

Entering Dial-up Connection Parameters

All parameters should be obvious, except for the authentication type. The value in the Authentication pull-down depends on what your ISP supports: Script-based (an old type of authentication method based on “expect” and “send” types of chat between your system and your ISP); Terminal based (a terminal window will pop up when the connection is made and you will have to login interactively); PAP, CHAP, or PAP/CHAP (authentication information exchange protocols, CHAP is preferred because it is more secure, PAP/CHAP will automatically choose the supported one).

Then come the IP, DNS and gateway settings. Nowadays, most ISPs provide them automatically when a connection is made, so selecting the Automatic option on them is usually a safe bet. You will then be asked whether you wish to allow users to start the connection. The safest choice is No. Otherwise any user will be able to take the link down, therefore disconnecting every other user.

During the next step you will be asked whether to start the connection at boot time or not: it is probably safer and cheaper to choose No. Finally you will be asked to test the connection: we recommend you to do so to make sure all parameters are accurate. You can now control your Internet connection using the net applet. You can also use the kppp remote access connection dialer (package kppp) through the main menu: Internet+Remote AccessKPPP

1.1.5. DVB Connection

This connection type is used for satellite connections.

  1. Choose the connection card you wish to configure, and then the adapter settings.

  2. Network configuration is then similar to the LAN connection type (see Section 1.1.1, “LAN Connection”).

1.2. Internet Settings

Figure 15.3. Configuring the Internet Access

Configuring the Internet Access

This tool allows you to specify Internet access parameters if they need to be modified after your initial configuration. Please bear in mind that these parameters are system-wide and apply to all interfaces.

1.3. Reconfigure Interfaces

Figure 15.4. Manage Network Connections

Manage Network Connections

This tool permits you to modify network interface-specific parameters, after you have set them up through the new interface wizard (see Section 1.1, “Set Up a New Network Interface”). Use the drop-down list at the top to select the interface you want to configure. The tabs allow you to change parameters and options according to the network interface type selected.

[Note]Note

This interface can be brought up by users through the net applet to monitor traffic.

1.4. Monitoring Connections

Figure 15.5. Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring

Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring

This tool shows the network interfaces activity. You can specify some options for the traffic graphic and statistics: update interval, scale, etc (see Figure 15.5, “Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring”). It can also be used to control the status of the network connection, bringing it up or down using the button at the lower left.

1.5. Removing a Connection

This tool simply allows you to remove a network interface. Select the interface to be removed in the Net Device pull-down list.

[Warning]Warning

You will not be asked for confirmation. Once an interface is selected for removal, pressing the Next button deletes it immediately.

1.6. Proxy Settings

This tool allows you to define the hostnames or IP addresses of proxies for the FTP and HTTP protocols your computer will use. Fill the fields with the required values and click OK.

A proxy is a server which retrieves information from the Internet on your behalf, keeping a local copy of the web pages which are most frequently requested. They are referred to as “caching proxies”, and optimize bandwidth usage. In some organizations, you cannot access the Internet directly. You must pass through a proxy which authenticates you before allowing you to connect to the Internet. This is usually combined with a firewall which only guarantees the proxy direct access to the Internet. They are referred to as “authentication proxies”. In corporate or business environments, proxies perform both caching and authentication functions for performance and security reasons.

1.7. Wireless Connection Management

This tool shows the wireless networks currently available allowing you to switch between them.