[oclug] Magma Premium DSL questions..

[Dan York]

Ben,

> Also, if I'm getting a static IP address why do I need PPPoE at all?  Can't I 
> just set up my IP address, the gateway (which they didn't provide) and the 
> DNS servers like I did for Rogers?

Assuming you are doing a self-install, when you go to get your "starter kit"
from Magma, you will get a sheet of paper with the necessary info like
gateway, DNS, etc.  At least I did when I got set up with Magma's premium
service a couple of months ago.

Yes, as others have said, you DO need PPPoE.  I can't help you with exact
details as I used our (e-smith) software to make a gateway machine on my home
network and it took care of all the PPPoE configuration for me.  

The Magma connection worked great, though, and I had *excellent* service for 
the 2.5 weeks until the connection went down and Bell mystically decided that 
my house is 6km from the nearest CO and therefore couldn't have DSL service 
(which Magma therefore couldn't provide).  Annoying since one of the factors
in my purchasing the house was that I had called both Bell and Magma who had
assured me that I was within the 4.5 km from the CO. (I can't really fault
Magma since they used the data from Bell.)  It turns out that my area was
*theoretically* within the range, but *exact* distance of my house had to be
determined by a line test, which, annoyingly, they only do *after* you sign up
for service (or at least after you have a phone line).  So I had to ditch the
connection and just haven't yet sucked it up to go and sign up with Rogers.

Oh, one tip... Magma gives you phone filters to put on *each* phone (or other
device) that is plugged into your phone jacks. You do need to have them on ALL
jacks.  I couldn't get the DSL connection to sync until I realized that I
hadn't put a filter on the phone on the top floor.  I did so and the DSL
"modem" synced without a problem.  I think Magma gives you 3 filters by
default, but they will give you more if you need more.  There's no issue with
empty jacks... but every jack that has something plugged into it needs a
filter.

Good luck with it,
Dan
-- 
Dan York, Director of Training        dyork at e-smith.com
Ph: +1-613-751-4401  Mobile: +1-613-263-4312 Fax: +1-613-564-7739 
e-smith, inc. 150 Metcalfe St., Suite 1500, Ottawa,ON K2P 1P1 Canada
http://www.e-smith.com/            open source, open mind