"PPP over Ethernet" missing from 2.6.28 kernel options

jimpaka · 11-15-2010, 02:16 AM

I'm trying to get my ADSL modem set up on my Gentoo (Linux 2.6.28-r5) box, using PPP over Ethernet. This is obviously a run of the mill thing to do these days, but I'm having trouble nonetheless.

Having read through tutorials by many authors on how to do this, I'm aware that the 'ppp' package needs to be installed, and that it relies on the enabling of some kernel options to function. Those options are:

Code:

Device Drivers --->
   Network Device Support --->
      PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
         [ ] PPP filtering
         [ ] PPP support for async serial ports
         [ ] PPP support for sync tty ports
         [ ] PPP Deflate compression
         [ ] PPP BSD-Compress compression
         [ ] PPP over Ethernet

I'm using menuconfig to select my kernel options and my problem is that all of the above options are available, except 'PPP over Ethernet'. It simply does not appear in the list! Further, the 'CONFIG_PPPOE=' line in the kernel .config file also does not exist, commented out or otherwise.

How can this be? What am I missing here?

Peacedog · 11-16-2010, 08:35 PM

Hi jimpaka, Welcome to LQ. Could you please post the output from the following:

Code:

$ cat /boot/config | grep PPP

Good luck. ;-)

taraknathsinha · 11-16-2010, 09:47 PM

I m problem with my pc whenever i install RHEL5 some error occured Device OR Hardware not found in Partition So how to troubleshoot this issue.

stress_junkie · 11-16-2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimpaka

I'm trying to get my ADSL modem set up on my Gentoo (Linux 2.6.28-r5) box, using PPP over Ethernet. This is obviously a run of the mill thing to do these days, but I'm having trouble nonetheless.

Are you sure that you need to do this? ADSL modems today usually do this internally and present you with a normal TCP/IP protocol Ethernet port. The modem should have your user account and password for your ISP and automatically set up the connection when it is turned on. Would you have to do this if you were using Windows? I doubt it. If yes then your ISP is using very old equipment.

jimpaka · 11-16-2010, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peacedog

Hi jimpaka, Welcome to LQ. Could you please post the output from the following:

Code:

$ cat /boot/config | grep PPP

Good luck. ;-)

Thank you

Such a file does not exist, but I'm going to assume that you're referring to a file I have at the location "/usr/src/linux/.config", in which case here is the output:

Code:

# cat ./.config | grep PPP
CONFIG_PPP=y
CONFIG_PPP_FILTER=y
CONFIG_PPP_ASYNC=y
CONFIG_PPP_SYNC_TTY=y
CONFIG_PPP_DEFLATE=y
CONFIG_PPP_BSDCOMP=y

Quote:

Originally Posted by stress_junkie

Are you sure that you need to do this? ADSL modems today usually do this internally and present you with a normal TCP/IP protocol Ethernet port. The modem should have your user account and password for your ISP and automatically set up the connection when it is turned on. Would you have to do this if you were using Windows? I doubt it. If yes then your ISP is using very old equipment.

You're right, the modem is sophisticated enough to function without me having to do this. It has its own firewall, DHCP server, etc. and thus my linux box can be completely dumb, receiving a private IP from the modem and connecting to the internet. However, I want to put the modem into bridging mode so that IT becomes the dumb device, and my linux box receives the public IP and handles gateway duties. In order to do this, I need PPPoE to talk to the modem.

Peacedog · 11-17-2010, 06:47 PM

What does the following return?

Code:

# modprobe pppoe
# lsmod | grep ppp

Good luck. ;-)

HasC · 11-17-2010, 07:07 PM

Is there a "pppoe" kernel module? AFAIK, PPPoE on linux could be handled with user-space apps, like rp-pppoe

EDIT: just out of curiosity I ran a grep on my slack and debian kernel .config files, and *there is* a CONFIG_PPPOE option. D'oh

Peacedog · 11-17-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HasC

Is there a "pppoe" kernel module? AFAIK, PPPoE on linux could be handled with user-space apps, like rp-pppoe

EDIT: just out of curiosity I ran a grep on my slack and debian kernel .config files, and *there is* a CONFIG_PPPOE option. D'oh

I also have the option, but my kernel is 2.6.29.6 not 2.6.28.

Good luck. ;-)

jimpaka · 11-18-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peacedog

What does the following return?

Code:

# modprobe pppoe
# lsmod | grep ppp

Good luck. ;-)

Results don't look promising:

Code:

# modprobe pppoe
FATAL: Module pppoe not found.
# lsmod | grep ppp
#

Quote:

Originally Posted by HasC

Is there a "pppoe" kernel module? AFAIK, PPPoE on linux could be handled with user-space apps, like rp-pppoe

EDIT: just out of curiosity I ran a grep on my slack and debian kernel .config files, and *there is* a CONFIG_PPPOE option. D'oh

From what I've read, rp-pppoe was what people used before its features were included into the standard ppp library. Don't quote me on this though. What kernel version are you running HasC?

jimpaka · 11-18-2010, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peacedog

What does the following return?

Code:

# modprobe pppoe
# lsmod | grep ppp

Good luck. ;-)

Results don't look promising:

Code:

# modprobe pppoe
FATAL: Module pppoe not found.
# lsmod | grep ppp
#

Quote:

Originally Posted by HasC

Is there a "pppoe" kernel module? AFAIK, PPPoE on linux could be handled with user-space apps, like rp-pppoe

EDIT: just out of curiosity I ran a grep on my slack and debian kernel .config files, and *there is* a CONFIG_PPPOE option. D'oh

From what I've read, rp-pppoe was what people used before its features were included into the standard ppp library. Don't quote me on this though. What kernel version are you running HasC?

Peacedog · 11-21-2010, 05:32 PM

It appears a kernel upgrade or possibly module build are in order.

Good luck. ;-)

Simon Bridge · 11-21-2010, 06:36 PM

fwiw - how did you obtain/build the 2.6.28-rc5 kernel? eg. did you emerge it like regular gentoo kernels or is it a vanilla? (it may help others)

It looks like one of the many unnamed tutorials and howtos you followed has removed or failed to add the PPPoE option (probably other options are also missing). GO emerge a new, different version, gentoo kernel and see how far you get. Let us know how you got on.

jimpaka · 11-23-2010, 08:54 AM

@Simon: I emerged gentoo-sources as usual mate.

Looks like I'll have to revert to what was my last resort - upgrading and thus reconfiguring the kernel. No worries, just wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas before this one. I'll get on that task after Thankstaking and report my progress.

Thanks everyone.