[ILUG] Naive ADSL/WiFi questions (long (sorry!))?

[Brian Foster]

 The following questions are almost certainly naïve,
 but I'm rather clewless about the details.  (My own
 expertise and experience are in very difference areas;
 about all I've ever done with “networking” is plug in
 the cable and check that the lights are blinking (well,
 not quite, but it might as well be all I've ever done
 except in some very specialist/unusual areas).)  Hence,
 any pointers/introductions would be appreciated, in
 addition to answers/suggestions.

 For various reasons I'm still using dial-up.  This is
 very silly since ADSL/broadband is readily available
 here in Montpellier.  So I've finally started seriously
 looking into getting a sensible service; one motivation
 is a new(?) ISP here in Montpellier,  www.teleconnect.fr
 who also happens to be geared towards (English-speaking)
 ex-pats like me.  (I've only _just_ started, hence the
 naïveté of some(/all?) of these questions!)

 I currently have no interest in running a server; ATM,
 my desire is just to replace the dial-up access (albeit
 I want to keep the dial-up functional as a backup).

 1. What is an “eligible line” (mine apparently is)?
   The implication seems to be that all I have to do
   is hook up the (supplied) modem to the existing
   POTS line, and it “just works”.

 2. The supplied modem is a (currently unknown) WiFi
   unit.  I will be asking for details of this unit
   (and its Linux compatibility); what should I be
   looking for, and/or asking?

    (I note that, according to the (downloaded) contract,
   Linux is not (listed as) supported.  That does not
   worry me (should it?), except if they insist Windross
   must be used for diagnostics / upgrade / installation
   or whatever, which is a non-starter:  I *** REFUSE ***
   to run M$ shiteware.  100% ABSOLUTE REFUSAL!)

 3. I presume I need some sort of a WiFi transceiver
   connected to the Linux box.  At this point, I am
   completely lost; I've no idea even exactly what
   it is I need, other than _something_ since my box
   has no networking connections of any kind at the
   present time.  (Yes, it's that old!)
    And how would I test the whatever(s?), _prior_ to
   receiving the WiFi modem?  I.e., how could I confirm
   that the Linux peer seems to be Ok?

 4. I am currently running SUSE 9.1 (for which updates
   no longer seem to be available  ;-\  ), which has
   been selectively patched.  Are there any (known)
   issues with WiFi / Q3 answers and this admittedly
   old release?  (To-date, I've never had a very good
   reason to upgrade; i.e., “ain't broke ...”).
    (I _think_ SUSE 9.1 supports WiFi; it has (just)
   occurred to me I haven't actually checked .... !?)

 5. One of many obvious Big Differences between dial-up
   and ADSL/broadband is the “always on” nature of the
   later.  That clearly means my box will be much more
   likely to be attacked and/or compromised.  Currently,
   I am using SUSE's Personal Firewall package(s?), and
   also do not (intentionally) open up any services to
   the outside world.
    I presume that's a reasonable start, but additional
   measures are probably wise.  (I have used tripwire(1)
   in the past, but never really got it tuned sufficiently
   to not flood me with noise.)  I am aware many possible
   suggestions can be made here; with the exception of a
   “separate firewall machine” (not possible ATM), what
   are, say, yer top five-ish suggestions?
    (I am aware WiFi itself has additional issues.)

 6. And (w.r.t. Q5), how to I confirm/test that whatever
   I do does what it should do, is useful/necessary, and
   is not itself an (inadvertent?) problem?

 7. And (w.r.t. Q5 and Q6), besides keeping an eye on
   the logs and for “strange behaviour”, what should I
   do try and detect attacks / compromises, especially
   those which have “succeeded” (in part or in full)?

 8. The service comes with a voice telephone service,
   which appears to be VoIP (I will ask); I don't think
   I give a damn about this since I use my mobile for
   voice calls, but is there anything in particular I
   should watch out for and/or ask?

 9. Does anyone have any experience / suggestions about
   the provider?  (Good or bad.)  They are apparently
   associated with someone called “Budget Telecom”;
   what about them?
    (The service itself is 20M/s(?), with an implied
   but unstated (up?/)download limit; I don't _think_
   I care about either point.  Or should I?)
    (I've no idea if the IP-address (IPv4 I assume)
   is static or dynamic (I will ask).  But again,
   I don't think I care (ATM, anyways).  Or, again,
   should I care?)

10. What am I not asking that perhaps I should be?

 I apologise for the length and naïveté (and probable
 typos!  ;-\  ).  Please keep in mind I'm only starting
 my research, so “RFTM”-type replies just restate what
 I'm concurrently doing.  Again, pointers/suggestions
 are very much appreciated!

cheers!
	-blf-
-- 
▶ ▶  I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A JOB!  ◀ ◀ | Brian Foster
Experienced (>25 yrs) software engineer:    |        Montpellier, FRANCE
 • Unix, Linux, embedded, design-for-test;  | Stop E$$o (ExxonMobile)!
 • Software/hardware co-design, debugging;  |     http:/www.stopesso.com
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