Chapter�16.�Setting up an Internet Connection
KDE offers a complete Internet experience, with all the
programs you'll need to make the most of the Web, email, Usenet and
many other Internet technologies. But before you can enjoy KDE's
advanced features, you'll need to get online. Here's how:
If you're using “dialup” (that is, connecting to
the Internet with a modem connected to a telephone line), you'll want
to set up the KDE dialing program, KPPP. If that sounds
complicated, don't worry: KPPP has an advanced configuration wizard,
which will usually take the pain out of setting up your dialup
connection. Take a look at the next two sections for more
details.
If you're using a broadband connection, or connecting via a
local network, things are easier (from the point of view of
KDE). Once you've set up the connection with the tools provided by
your Linux� or UNIX� distribution, KDE will use the connection
automatically.
Getting online the easy way
A few things you should have ready before you start
If you have a fairly modern Linux� distribution, you might find the rest
of this document superfluous. KPPP comes with a clever little wizard that in
many cases can have you up and running with an internet connection in just a few
minutes.
Whether using the wizard or not, you should know the following information
before you begin:
-
Your ISP modem pool phone
number.
-
Your username and password for your
ISP.
-
Your ISP's DNS servers
(one is sufficient, but two is better).
Other optional information you should find out to fully access your
ISP's services are:
-
The incoming mail server address (often pop.yourisp.com or mail.yourisp.com).
Also find out if
your ISP uses the POP3 protocol or IMAP.
-
The outgoing (SMTP) mail server address (it
could be the same as the incoming mail server, or it is often called something
like smtp.yourisp.com).
-
The Usenet News (NNTP) server address (possibly
news.yourisp.com or nntp.yourisp.com).
-
Any proxy servers your ISP has set
up.
All this information is probably available on any paperwork you received
from your ISP when you signed up with them, or you can find
it out from your ISP's support telephone line.
Armed with the above, and a fairly recent default installation
of Linux�, you may well find that setting up an internet connection
is as simple as running the KPPP wizard.
