pppoeconf

pppoeconf

pppoeconf is a utility designed to simplify the configuration of Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) connections on Debian-based Linux distributions. It automates the process of discovering PPPoE access concentrators, prompting the user for their username and password, and configuring the network interface for PPPoE.

The tool utilizes dialog-based prompts to guide the user through the configuration steps. It automatically sets up network interfaces, DNS settings, and default routes. pppoeconf also provides options for configuring persistent connections and allowing non-root users to initiate or terminate the connection. The primary goal is to make establishing a PPPoE connection as straightforward as possible, abstracting away the more complex manual configuration required otherwise.

pppoeconf is primarily designed for Debian-based systems and may not function correctly or be available on other Linux distributions. Requires root privileges to run properly. Assumes a basic understanding of network configuration.

pppoeconf primarily modifies or interacts with the following configuration files:
- /etc/network/interfaces
- /etc/ppp/pap-secrets
- /etc/ppp/chap-secrets
These files store the network interface settings and authentication credentials for PPPoE.

If you encounter issues, check the system logs, especially /var/log/syslog or /var/log/daemon.log, for error messages related to PPPoE or pppd. Ensure that your username and password are correct, and that your DSL modem is properly configured.

The command pppoeconf was developed as a user-friendly tool to facilitate PPPoE connection setup, particularly for less technically experienced users of Debian-based systems. It gained popularity as broadband internet via DSL became prevalent. Its purpose was to automate an otherwise complex process for end users. The tool is still available but is slowly being supplanted by NetworkManager and other more comprehensive network management tools.

pppoe(8), ifconfig(8), route(8)