Planning for the PPP Link (Tasks)

Setting up a PPP link involves a set of discrete tasks, which includes planning tasks and other activities that are not related to PPP. This chapter explains how to plan for the most common PPP links, for authentication, and for PPPoE.

The task chapters that follow Chapter 26, Planning for the PPP Link (Tasks) use sample configurations to illustrate how to set up a particular link. These sample configurations are introduced in this chapter.

Topics that are covered include the following:

• Planning a Dial-up PPP Link

• Planning a Leased-Line Link

• Planning for Authentication on a Link

• Planning for DSL Support Over a PPPoE Tunnel

Overall PPP Planning (Task Map)

PPP requires planning tasks before you actually can set up the link. Moreover, if you want to use a PPPoE tunneling, you first have to set up the PPP link and then provide tunneling. The following task map lists the large planning tasks that are discussed in this chapter. You might need to use only the general task for the link type to be configured. Or you might require the task for the link, authentication, and perhaps PPPoE.

Table 26-1 Task Map for PPP Planning

Planning a Dial-up PPP Link

Dial-up links are the most commonly used PPP links. This section includes the following information:

• Planning information for a dial-up link

• Explanation of the sample link to be used in Chapter 27, Setting Up a Dial-up PPP Link (Tasks)

Before You Set Up the Dial-out Machine

Before you configure a dial-out machine, gather the information that is listed in the following table.

Note - The planning information in this section does not include information to be gathered about authentication or PPPoE. For details on authentication planning, refer to Planning for Authentication on a Link. For PPPoE planning, refer to Planning for DSL Support Over a PPPoE Tunnel.

Table 26-2 Information for a Dial-out Machine

Before You Set Up the Dial-in Server

Before you configure a dial-in server, gather the information that is listed in the following table.

Note - The planning information in this section does not include information to be gathered about authentication or PPPoE. For details on authentication planning, refer to Planning for Authentication on a Link. For PPPoE planning, refer to Planning for DSL Support Over a PPPoE Tunnel.

Table 26-3 Information for a Dial-in Server

Example--Configuration for Dial-up PPP

The tasks to be introduced in Chapter 27, Setting Up a Dial-up PPP Link (Tasks) execute a small company's requirement to let employees work at home a few days a week. Some employees require the Solaris operating environment on their home machines. These workers also need to log in remotely to their work machines on the corporate intranet.

The tasks set up a basic dial-up link with the following features:

• The dial-out machines are at the houses of employees who need to call the corporate intranet.

• The dial-in server is a machine on the corporate intranet that is configured to receive incoming calls from employees.

• UNIX-style login is used to authenticate the dial-out machine. Stronger Solaris PPP 4.0 authentication methods are not required by the company`s security policy.

The next figure shows the link that is set up in Chapter 27, Setting Up a Dial-up PPP Link (Tasks).

Figure 26-1 Sample Dial-up Link

In this figure, a remote host dials out through its modem over telephone lines to Big Company's intranet. Another host is configured to dial out to Big Company but currently is inactive. The calls from remote users are answered in the order received by the modem that is attached to the dial-in server at Big Company. A PPP connection is established between the peers. The dial-out machine can then remotely log in to a host machine on the intranet.

Where to Go For More Information About Dial-up PPP

Planning a Leased-Line Link

Setting up a leased-line link involves configuring the peer at one end of a switched or unswitched service leased from a provider.

This section includes the following information:

• Planning information for a leased-line link

• Explanation of the sample link that is shown in Figure 26-2

Before You Set Up the Leased-Line Link

When your company rents a leased-line link from a network provider, you typically configure only the system at your end of the link. The peer at the other end of the link is maintained by another administrator. This individual might be a system administrator at a remote location in your company or a system administrator at an ISP.