1. Network and Internet Connection Management
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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 into 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, while the new Network Center allows you to reconfigure and monitor your network interfaces. Open Mandriva Linux Control Center and select the Network & Internet section to access these tools. A view of the main interface is shown in Figure 10.1, “Network Configuration and Monitoring Tools” .

Figure 10.1. Network Configuration and Monitoring Tools

Network Configuration and Monitoring Tools

1.1. Setting Up a New Network Interface

drakconnect supports different types of Internet and network connections[10]. The first step consists of choosing which type of connection you want to configure. Always make sure you have all the information provided by your ISP or network administrator at hand.

[Note] Note

After a connection has been configured, it may be further modified using the Network Center (see Section 1.2, “Network Center: Reconfiguring and Monitoring Network Interfaces”).

1.1.1. Wired Ethernet Connection

  1. Your NICs are detected automatically; if you have more than one, select the one you want to configure. You can also load a driver for your NIC manually.

  2. You now have to specify whether the network parameters are automatically set up (Automatic IP (BOOTP/DHCP)) or not (Manual configuration): fill the next fields with the parameters that your ISP or network administrator gave you.

    1. Figure 10.2. Setting Static LAN Connection Parameters

      Setting Static LAN Connection Parameters

      If you chose the static IP configuration type, you must specify the rest of the parameters, namely the hostname, DNS server IP address(es) and the IP address of the machine giving you access to the Internet, known as the gateway (see Figure 10.2, “Setting Static LAN Connection Parameters”).

    2. If you configure the network with DHCP, you can optionally provide DNS server information (remove the check from the Get DNS servers from DHCP option and fill the corresponding fields with the IP addresses or hostnames of the DNS servers) and the machine's hostname (remove the check from the Assign host name from DHCP address option and fill the corresponding field with the hostname: this is the name which will be assigned to the machine when no network configuration has been found).

  4. Allow users to manage the connection

    If you want users to be able to bring up or shutdown the connection without having to provide the administrator (root) password check this box.

    Start the connection at boot

    Uncheck this if you want the connection to be activated on demand only.

[Tip] The Net Applet

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 also allows you to control the connection's state, as well as other parameters.

1.1.2. Wireless Connection

This entry allows you to configure WiFi (PCMCIA or PCI) devices.

  1. If your WiFi card is not listed, insert the manufacturer's card drivers CD, then choose the Use a Windows driver (with ndiswrapper) entry and select the driver (it's a file whose name ends in .inf) from the CD.

  2. A list of detected networks is then shown. Select yours; otherwise, choose unlisted.

  3. Operating Mode

    The mode the card will operate on, with respect to the other WiFi devices in the network. The most common one is Managed to simply connect to an existing access point.

    Network Name (ESSID)

    The name of the network you want to connect to. Ask your network administrator.

    Encryption Mode

    This depends on the network settings, ask your network administrator.

    Encryption Key

    This also depends on the network settings, ask your network administrator for the key the network uses.

  4. This is similar to the traditional Ethernet network setup: see Section 1.1.1, “Wired Ethernet Connection”.

  5. Check the Allow access point roaming box if you want the connection to automatically switch from one access point to another, depending on its signal strength. This is particularly useful when moving a laptop around.

1.1.3. DSL Connection

  1. Choose which device your DSL modem is connected to, and click Next.

  2. You then see a list of countries/ISPs. If yours is listed, select it: most of the following parameters will be automatically set. If your ISP is not listed, select the Unlisted - edit manually option, click on Next and fill the parameters with the settings provided by your ISP.

  3. You have to specify the connection protocol, as advertised by your provider. The most common protocol being DHCP, followed by PPPoE and PPPoA.

    Figure 10.3. Setting the DSL Connection Protocol

    Setting the DSL Connection Protocol

    All protocol types need at least a user name and a password, fill the corresponding fields with them. The required packages are installed.

  4. You are then asked whether users can bring the connection up/down and whether or not to bring the connection up at boot: since DSL connections are of the “always up” type, you can safely check the Start connection at boot option. Finally you can test the connection: we strongly recommend you to do so, to make sure all parameters are accurate.

1.1.4. Cable Connection

This configuration is very similar to the one described in Section 1.1.1, “Wired Ethernet Connection”. Make sure you have all required parameters provided by your ISP at hand.

Authentication.  Some cable ISPs need you to authenticate. If this is your case, select the Use BPALogin option. If you are unsure or don't know, it is safe to select the None option.

1.1.5. Modem Connection (POTS)

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

  2. Then you 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. If not, select the Unlisted - edit manually option.

  3. Verify the parameters, add the missing ones provided by your ISP.

    Figure 10.4. 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 pops up when the connection is made and you 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).

  4. 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.

  5. You are then asked whether users can bring the connection up/down and whether or not to bring the connection up at boot: since analog modem telephone connections are not of the “always up” type, you should not check the Start connection at boot option. Finally you can test the connection: we strongly recommend you to do so, to make sure all parameters are accurate.

1.2. Network Center: Reconfiguring and Monitoring Network Interfaces

The Network Center allows you to check network interface status; modify network interface-specific parameters, after you have set them up through the new interface wizard (see Section 1.1, “Setting Up a New Network Interface”); and connect/disconnect the network interfaces.

For each network interface the following is shown: an icon[11] representing interface status ( for Up or Connected; for Down or Disconnected; and for Non configured - typical for WiFi interfaces which are not linked to an access point); the interface hardware name; and the interface software device, for example eth0 for the 1st Ethernet interface.

Click on the small triangle on the interface status icon to show buttons to take actions on the corresponding interface:

Traffic Monitoring

Click on Monitor to monitor traffic on the interface as shown in Section 1.3, “Monitoring Connections”.

Change Configuration

Click on Configure to change the interface configuration parameters as shown in Section 1.4, “Reconfiguring a Network Interface”.

Show Available Wireless Networks (if a wireless interface is selected)

Click on Refresh to rescan for available wireless networks, and select the network you want to connect to from the list. For more details about how to use the wireless connections management interface, please refer to Section 5, “Managing Wireless Connections (Roaming)”.

Connection Control

Simply click on Connect/Disconnect to bring the network link up or down on that interface.

1.3. Monitoring Connections

Figure 10.5. Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring

Real-Time Network Connection Monitoring

Network interface activity is shown for the selected interface. You can specify some options for the traffic graphic and statistics (see Figure 10.5, “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.

[Note] Note

The network monitoring interface can be brought up by users through the net applet to monitor traffic.

1.4. Reconfiguring a Network Interface

Figure 10.6. Changing Network Parameters

Changing Network Parameters

Current interface configuration is shown where you can change basic parameters such as whether to use an automatic or manual configuration, and if set to manual then which IP address, gateway and DNS servers to use. Click on Advanced to access more advanced configuration parameters, for example which DHCP client to use.


[10] We only describe the most common types. If yours is not described, you may still be able to use the methods described here as a guide.

[11] The example shows the icons for Ethernet interfaces, the icon displayed will vary for other interface types, but the coloring scheme is the same.

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