pppoe configuration in Ubuntu Linux

Yesterday after getting irritated with the '$ sudo pon dsl-provider' command for my pppoe connection, I decided to shorten the length or atleast make it simpler, something like '$ sudo pon bsnl' or simply '$ sudo pon'.

According to the MAN pages on pon it requires a parameter to specify the provider which has to be dialed, on absence of provider it executes the file '/etc/ppp/pppoe_on_boot', if it is existing and executable.

Again on lack of arguments to the '$ sudo pon' and absense of the '/etc/ppp/pppoe_on_boot' file (which is created when you specify that the connection be automatically dialed up at startup), in such a case the '/etc/ppp/peers/provider' file is executed' which is often the cause of error to most people.

If you have a look at the file '/etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider' you'll realise that copying the contents to a new file will enable you to use a command such as '$ sudo pon isp'

Steps for '$ sudo pon isp' - Run the following commands in a terminal:

• $ sudo cp /etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider /etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider.bak (optional)
  
• $ sudo cp /etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider /etc/ppp/peers/isp

Now a command like '$ sudo pon isp' will dial your pppoe connection.

Steps for '$ sudo pon' - Run the following commands in a terminal:

• $ sudo cp /etc/ppp/ppp_on_boot /etc/ppp/ppp_on_boot.bak
• $ sudo cp /etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider /etc/ppp/ppp_on_boot

Now a command like '$ sudo pon' is sufficient for conecting to the internet.