DSL sanity check

[babysimon]

Can someone confirm I've got this right?

With DSL, there are two levels at which you can be connected. The low level is called "line synchronisation" and is dependent on everything being plugged in correctly, microfilters being in place, and DSL being activated on your phone line. The level above that is PPP and involves things like usernames, passwords etc.

So if my DSL modem is indicating that it's not synchronising, this can't be a software configuration problem on my part? The only thing I could be doing wrong is the plugging-in part? 'Cos I'm pretty sure I got that right.

Comments

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Judging by the order of the messages in my logs here, the sync could fail if you have modem driver issues as well. After the drivers load up, the next thing I have is the line being established, then like you say pppd starts up and does its thing.

[lovingboth]

Yep, that bit is between your modem and the phone exchange.

[lovingboth]

Hmm, I have two boxes here - the boring Alcatel modem and the HomeChoice box that talks to the modem and my TV/PC: the PC doesn't talk to the modem directly at all.

So, by turning off the HC box and power cycling the modem, it's possible to see that the modem does the sync-ing itself, with no outside intervention needed.

What I think your logs are showing is:

PC loads drivers
'Hello modem, how are you?'
'I'm fine, the line's up and I've sync-ed'
'OK, let's try a PPP connection... send these bytes.'

.. but in reality, the line was already up and sync-ed before the PC could ask.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Yep, sounds likely. I though the Alcatel required the firmware to be loaded from the PC, but obviously not.

[babysimon]

Mine does, but I think once the firmware's loaded the rest of the sequence doesn't involve the PC.