The Belgian HOWTO

The Belgian HOWTO
by Dag Wieers, [email protected]
v1.0.24, 29 February 2000

This document describes how to tweak Linux for Belgian users and lists
Linux user groups, businesses and other resources in Belgium.

______________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Why this document?
1.2 New versions of this document
1.3 Translated versions
1.4 Contributions
1.5 Feedback
1.6 Legal stuff
1.7 Todo

2. Configuration

2.1 Keyboard setup
2.1.1 Console
2.1.2 XFree86
2.2 Display and applications
2.2.1 Using the ISO-8859-1 font in console
2.2.2 Support for the Euro symbol
2.3 Time zone
2.4 Locale support
2.4.1 Dutch
2.4.2 French
2.4.3 German
2.4.4 Walloon
2.5 Native language support and codepages

3. Setting up Internet (Belgian ISP information)

3.1 Dialing in with your modem (PPP)
3.1.1 Configuring the modem
3.1.2 Installing pppd
3.1.3 pap-secrets / chap-secrets
3.1.4 Network
3.1.5 File permissions
3.1.6 Dial + Hangup
3.1.7 ISP-dependant information
3.2 Dialing in with your ISDN-modem
3.2.1 Updating the kernel
3.2.2 ISDN4Linux toolkit
3.2.3 Configuring the interface
3.2.4 pap-secrets / chap-secrets
3.2.5 Network
3.2.6 File permissions
3.2.7 Dial + Hangup
3.3 Cablemodem (DHCP)
3.4 ADSL

4. Belgian Linux user groups

4.1 ALLIN Linux User Group
4.2 Antwerp Linux User Group (ALUG)
4.3 Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa)
4.4 Charleroi Linux User Group (CAROLINUX)
4.5 HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep (HLLGG)
4.6 HCC Linux Gebruikers Groep Leuven
4.7 Independent Group of Unix-Alikes and Network Activists (IGUANA)
4.8 Infogroep (IGWE)
4.9 Leuvense Linux Users (L2U)
4.10 Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG)
4.11 Linux.be vzw/asbl
4.12 Linux Belgian Team
4.13 Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen (LGOVL)
4.14 Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG)
4.15 Linux User Group De Namur
4.16 Linux User Group Mons
4.17 Linux User Movement Underground Mad Belgian Aliens (LUMUMBA)
4.18 linuxbe.org
4.19 Local Linux Support Group Gent (LLSGG)
4.20 Open Technology Assembly Linux Special Interest Group
4.21 Student Information Networking (SIN)
4.22 TINA
4.23 Unix Lovers Yield Student Services & Internet Support (ULYSSIS)
4.24 Zeus WPI - Werkgroep Informatica RUG

5. Belgian Linux businesses

5.1 aDOC Services
5.2 Arafox
5.3 Better Access N.V.
5.4 D. Connect
5.5 Double Barrel Consultancy and Productions
5.6 grmbl productions
5.7 LIFE bvba
5.8 MIND NV
5.9 Phidani Software SPRL
5.10 Spier BVBA
5.11 VirgoPlus sprl

6. Belgian Linux resources

6.1 Websites
6.1.1 Linux in Belgium
6.1.2 Dutch Linux-sites
6.1.3 French Linux-sites
6.1.4 Mirrors in Belgium
6.2 HOWTO
6.2.1 Web
6.2.2 FTP
6.3 HOWTO translations
6.3.1 Dutch
6.3.2 French
6.3.3 German
6.4 FTP
6.4.1 Kernel-sources
6.4.2 Distributions
6.4.3 Software
6.5 Usenet
6.6 Mailinglists
6.6.1 Linux in Belgium
6.6.2 Linux user groups
6.7 IRC

______________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction

1.1. Why this document?

Since there was no information anywhere on the net for Belgian Linux
users, we started to collect stuff that we thought could be important.
This HOWTO aims to be the definitive list of all Belgian-related Linux
information. If you think not, you have no excuse to complain and
certainly not to not contribute. ;)

1.2. New versions of this document

If you need to know more about the Linux Documentation Project or
about Linux HOWTO's, feel free to contact the supervisor Tim Bynum
[email protected].

Tim Bynum will post the listing to several national and international
newsgroups on a monthly basis. In addition, the Belgian HOWTO can be
found on the World Wide Web at <http://dag.mind.be/howto/> New
versions of the Belgian HOWTO are always placed at this site first, so
please be sure to check if the copy you are reading is still up to
date!

1.3. Translated versions

This document is currently translated in 3 languages (English, Dutch
and French), we're trying to keep all three of them in sync, but the
English version is the source-document!

The English and Dutch version are maintained by Dag Wieers [email protected]
and is found at: <http://dag.mind.be/howto/>.

The French version is maintained by Dany Vanderroost [email protected]
and is found at:
<http://club.euronet.be/dany.vanderroost/howto.html>.

1.4. Contributions

A few people mailed us their suggestions and improvements, thanks go
to:

o Wim Vandeputte [email protected]

o Pablo Saratxaga [email protected]

o Christophe Lambin [email protected]

o Geert Uytterhoeven [email protected]

Many thanks go to Ivo Clarysse [email protected] who started something
similar earlier () and his project helped us a lot to get this
document online.

1.5. Feedback

If some information seems to be wrong, deceptive or missing, we'd
appreciate if you mailed us the improvements. Since we're just human
this document isn't bug-free, but your contribution can and will make
a difference.

To add yourself to the Linux user groups or businesses, collect all
necessary information and mail it to us.

1.6. Legal stuff

Trademarks are owned by their owners.

Although the information given in this document is believed to be
correct, the author will accept no liability for the content of this
document. Use the tips and examples given herein at your own risk.

Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000 by Dag Wieers. This document may be
distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
LDP license.

1.7. Todo

There are some things I'm planning to add to this document, if you're
interested be sure you're reading the most current version of this
document. (This todo-list is only a reminder to myself, it is not in
the translated documents!)

o Make a distinction between Linux-distributors and Linux-companies

o Add details about how to get Ispell-software for your own language

o Describe possible ways to get a cheap recent Linux-distribution in
your neighbourhood

o Add a section about Linux training in Belgium

o Link it from inside the Linux.be website at http://linux.iguana.be/
(database-driven)

2. Configuration

2.1. Keyboard setup

Linux provides 2 ways to set up your keyboard. At the console you can
use loadkeys and under XFree86 you can use xmodmap.

2.1.1. Console

To use the keytable for a Belgian keyboard you can use

loadkeys be2-latin1

or

loadkeys be-latin1

The only difference between the two is that be2-latin1 add support for
twosuperior and threesuperior (keycode 41) and grave (keycode 43).

Usually loadkeys is started at boottime from the scripts located
somewhere in /etc/rc.d Different distributions handle it differentely.
But most distributions have a simple program (like kbdconfig in RedHat
or yast in SuSE) to change the scripts.

2.1.2. XFree86

To set your keyboard properly under XFree86 you've got more choices.
By running Xconfigurator (or a similar program) a config-file for
XFree86 is created (with some standard content). This file is called
XF86Config and is usually located in /etc or /etc/X11

Make sure (and change otherwise) that something similar to this is
given under the Keyboard Section.

Section "Keyboard"
Protocol "Standard"
XkbRules "xfree86"
XkbModel "pc101"
XkbLayout "be"
EndSection

If you own a 'microsoft' keyboard (or the less-known penguin keyboards
;p) you can enable those extra 3 keys by changing the "pc101" into
"pc104". (I use the extra keys as meta-keys in my windowmanager so
some shortcuts doesn't conflict with the internal ones of my wm).

To get the AltGr key to work under XFree86 simply add in the Keyboard
Section:

RightAlt ModeShift

To get some key-combinations working under X11, you might want to
change in file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/be:

key <AD11> { [ dead_circumflex, diaeresis ],
[ bracketleft ] };
key <AC11> { [ ugrave, percent ],
[ quoteright ] };
key <BKSL> { [ mu, sterling ],
[ quoteleft ] };
key <AB10> { [ equal, plus ],
[ asciitilde ] };

by

key <AD11> { [ dead_circumflex, dead_diaeresis ],
[ bracketleft ] };
key <AC11> { [ ugrave, percent ],
[ dead_acute ] };
key <BKSL> { [ mu, sterling ],
[ dead_grave ] };
key <AB10> { [ equal, plus ],
[ dead_tilde ] };

Some people prefer to use a 'compose'-key to enter their special
characters, like:

<compose>'e => e
<compose>/o => oe
<compose>c, => c
<compose>co => (C)
<compose>ss => ss

Solution:

xmodmap -e "keycode xx = Multi_key"

or

xmodmap -e "keysym yy = Multi_key"

and 'xx' is the keycode and 'yy' the kesym of the key you choose to be
the 'compose'-key. (use xev to get these values)

Alternatively you can add

keycode xx = Multi_key

to your /.xmodmaprc. This way it happens automagically.

2.2. Display and applications

Some applications have to be compiled as 8-bit clean to work well with
the European characterset. Others like to be told in advance.

2.2.1. Using the ISO-8859-1 font in console

You can load the ISO-8859-1 font by typing the following in console:

setfont lat1u-16.psf
mapscrn trivial
echo -ne '\033(K'

To be able to use e, e, e or c in console, you might want to add these
to your /.inputrc:

set meta-flag on
set convert-meta off
set output-meta on

(this must be done for every user, if you want this to be default for
all users you can either add this file to /etc/skel/ or you could add
these lines to /etc/inputrc and add the following line to /etc/bashrc,

export INPUTRC=/etc/inputrc

)

Note: this is only useful to programs that use readline (like bash)
Also set the following environment variables:

LC_CTYPE=iso-8859-1
SYSFONT=lat1u-16.psf
SYSTERM=linux

2.2.2. Support for the Euro symbol

Since Europe had to invent a new character, the Euro, there's a new
standard. It's called ISO-8859-15 (aka Latin-9 or Latin-0). To add
support you need both a new font and new keymaps. This is part of
every major distribution nowadays, if you have an older distributions
you probably need a newer console-tools package.

The changes in the keymap-file consist of the following lines:

keycode 18 = +e +E currency
keycode 46 = +c +C cent

And the following environment-variable should be set:

SYSFONT=lat0-16.psf

to make sure you're using the right font.

2.3. Time zone

Since Belgium is located in the Central European Time zone (aka MET)
which (in the winter) is equivalent to the Greenwhich Mean Time plus 1
(GMT+1), you can simply link /usr/lib/zoneinfo/localtime/MET to
/etc/localtime symbolicly like:

ln -sf /usr/lib/zoneinfo/MET /etc/localtime

or

ln -sf /usr/lib/zoneinfo/Europe/Brussels /etc/localtime

This automagically sets Daylight Savings (which is GMT+2 in the sum-
mer).

Note: that different distributions have different paths, zoneinfo can
be located in /usr/share or such...

Note2: RedHat uses a tool called timeconfig, SuSE uses yast

To change the CMOS clock and then synchronize the system time with the
CMOS clock, do something like this:

hwclock --set --date="Feb 25 03:38"
clock -u -s

If your clock is set to local time (which is discouraged but if you
have other OS's installed a must), you can do:

hwclock --set --date="Feb 25 04:38"
clock -s

[Noticed the 1 hour difference ? ;p]

2.4. Locale support

Not much programs support locale yet, if you want to know more about
locale or how to write your own programs to support it, check: [put
the damn url here ;p]

Be aware that locale makes it harder to resolve problems as less
people can help you !! You might understand a problem when it's in
technical English, but what if it's translated in some obscure French
?!? Some obviously won't understand both. ;p

2.4.1. Dutch

To enable support for the Dutch locale in Belgium on a system with
locale support you just have to set the following environment
variables:

LANG=nl
LANGUAGE=nl_BE

Try nl_BE.ISO_8859-1 if nl_BE does not work.

2.4.2. French

If you want French locale support in Belgium, set the following
environment variabels:

LANG=fr
LANGUAGE=fr_BE

Try fr_BE.ISO_8859-1 if fr_BE does not work.

2.4.3. German

If you want instead German locale support in Belgium, set the
following environment variabels:

LANG=de
LANGUAGE=de_BE

Try de_BE.ISO_8859-1 if de_BE does not work.

2.4.4. Walloon

For Walloon locale support you can find files and information at:
<http://www.linuxi18n.org/locales/walon/>. To use it set:

LANG=wa
LANGUAGE=wa_BE:fr_BE

Try wa_BE.ISO_8859-1 if wa_BE does not work.

2.5. Native language support and codepages

These options add support for the Belgian characterset and codepages.
If you'd like to have these, compile a kernel with these options put
on. They only apply to some filesystems (FAT-based, ISO9660, ...).

< > Codepage 850 (Europe)
< > NLS ISO 8859-1 (Latin 1; Western European Languages)
< > NLS ISO 8859-15 (Latin 9; Western European Languages with Euro)

Located in Filesystems > Native Language Support

If your kernel is a modular kernel that came with your distribution
(=you never compiled a kernel before), then you might want to type:

insmod nls_cp850
insmod nls_iso8859_1
insmod nls_iso8859_15

3. Setting up Internet (Belgian ISP information)

3.1. Dialing in with your modem (PPP)

To configure PPP correctly, you should check the PPP-HOWTO
<http://www.interweft.com.au/other/ppp-howto/ppp-howto.html>. I try
to explain it briefly, but if you have any questions or problems, read
the HOWTO very carefully.

3.1.1. Configuring the modem

To configure your modem, you can alter the initstring of your modem.
To learn more about your modem, check Ask Mr. Modem
<http://www.spy.net/~dustin/modem/>.

Beware: if you have a winmodem you will probably not get it to work.
More information about winmodems is at: <http://linmodems.org/>. Work
is underway, but winmodems are not as good as real modems.

3.1.2. Installing pppd

Now, you need to have the ppp-package installed (check this by typing
pppd --version), make sure you have a recent one. Then you have to
make sure you've got these files:

/usr/local/bin/ppp

#!/bin/sh
case $1 in
on|start)
TELEPHONE='555-1212' # The telephone number for the connection
ACCOUNT='your_login' # The account name for logon (as in 'George Burns')
PASSWORD='your_pass' # The password for this account (and 'Gracie Allen')
INITSTRING='AT&F&C1&D2Z'# Modem initstring
IPLOCAL=0.0.0.0 # Local IP address if known. Dynamic = 0.0.0.0
IPREMOTE=0.0.0.0 # Remote IP address if desired. Normally 0.0.0.0
DEVICE=/dev/ttyS1 # Serial Device com1=ttyS0, com2=ttyS1,...
SPEED=57600 # 19200, 38400 or 57600 (don't try something different)
export TELEPHONE ACCOUNT PASSWORD INITSTRING
exec /usr/sbin/pppd $DEVICE $SPEED $IPLOCAL:$IPREMOTE \
user $ACCOUNT connect /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer
;;
off|stop)
if [ -r /var/run/ppp0.pid ]; then
kill -INT `cat /var/run/ppp0.pid`
if [ ! "$?" = "0" ]; then
rm -f /var/run/ppp0.pid
echo "ERROR: Removed stale pid file"
exit 1
fi
exit 0
fi
echo "ERROR: PPP link is not active on ppp0"
exit 1
;;
info|status)
/usr/sbin/pppstats
;;
*)
echo "Usage: ppp on|off|info|start|stop|status";
;;
esac

/etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer

#!/bin/sh
exec /usr/sbin/chat -v \
REPORT CONNECTION \
REPORT CARRIER \
TIMEOUT 10 \
ABORT '\nBUSY\r' \
ABORT '\nNO ANSWER\r' \
ABORT '\nNO CARRIER\r' \
ABORT '\nNO DIALTONE\r' \
ABORT '\nRINGING\r\n\r\nRINGING\r' \
ABORT 'Invalid Login' \
ABORT 'Login incorrect' \
'' "\r$INITSTRING\r" \
'OK-+++\c-OK' 'ATH0' \
TIMEOUT 45 \
OK "ATDT$TELEPHONE" \
CONNECT '\d\c' \
ogin:--ogin: "$ACCOUNT" \
ord: "$PASSWORD"

You can remove the -v once everything looks normal.

The pppd command uses /etc/ppp/options to list its options, change
these options to whatever fits. These defaults normally work in most
cases.

asyncmap 20a0000
crtscts
debug
default-mru
defaultroute
detach
escape 11,13,ff
hide-password
ipcp-accept-local
ipcp-accept-remote
lcp-echo-failure 4
lcp-echo-interval 400
lock
modem
mtu 1500
netmask 255.255.255.0
noipdefault
passive

#idle 300
#kdebug 0
#-vj

Once dialing in works like a charm, you can leave debug out.

Beware: it is important to emphasize that every special character,
thus every character that is not [a-ZA-Z0-9] and '_', should be
escaped by preceding it with a '\'-character. Thus "e!b$l+" would
become "e\!b\$l\+". Try it if you are having troubles !

3.1.3. pap-secrets / chap-secrets

If your ISP requires CHAP or PAP, you need one of these files with
their proper username and password:

/etc/ppp/pap-secrets or /etc/ppp/chap-secrets

#client server secret IP
your_login * your_pass *

3.1.4. Network

To configure your nameservers, change /etc/resolv.conf. If dialing in
is succesfull, but you can't get it to connect to URL's: this is
probably the cause.

domain domain_of_your_isp
nameserver your_primary_nameserver
nameserver your_secondary_nameserver

3.1.5. File permissions

Before you can run a (shell)script, it must be set executable. Be sure
that you set the permissions so that other users cannot see the
passwords stored in the files. If you want other users to be able to
dial in, you might want to consider using sudo. You might want to do
the following:

chmod u+rw og-rwx -R /etc/ppp
chmod u+x /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer /usr/local/bin/ppp

3.1.6. Dial + Hangup

Then if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH, you can easily dial in with:

ppp on

and hangup with:

ppp off

and to get some statistics, you do:

ppp status

3.1.7. ISP-dependant information

Digibel:

Authentication:
PAP

Nameservers:
194.119.240.62

Web:
<http://www.digibel.org/>

Support:
<http://support.digibel.be/linuxsup.htm>

DMA:

Authentication:
text-based

Nameservers:
195.13.24.1

Web:
<http://www.dma.be/>

Support:
<http://bewoner.dma.be/robvdw/ned/dma-nl.txt>

FreeBel:

Authentication:
PAP
Nameservers:
194.149.160.9, 194.149.160.1

Web:
<http://www.freebel.net/>

Support:
no official support yet

KPN Belgium (Eunet):

Authentication:
text-based

Extra options:
proxyarp

Nameservers:
193.74.208.135

Web:
<http://www.kpnbelgium.be/internet/index.asp?ID=3&REF=EUnet>

Support:
<http://www.kpnbelgium.be/support/Support.asp?ID=3&SupportID=11>

Online:

Authentication:
text-based

Extra options:
noccp

Nameservers:
62.112.0.7, 194.88.127.7

Web:
<http://www.online.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

Ping:

Authentication:
text-based

Web:
<http://www.ping.be/>

Support:
<http://www.ping.be/Support/redhat.shtml>

Planet Internet:

Authentication:
CHAP

Nameservers:
194.119.232.3, 194.119.232.2

Web:
<http://www.planetinternet.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

Skynet (Belgacom):

Authentication:
PAP

Extra options:
defaultroute

Nameservers:
195.238.2.21, 195.238.2.22

Web:
<http://www.skynet.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

UUNet:

Authentication:
PAP

Nameservers:
194.7.1.4, 194.7.15.70

Web:
<http://www.uunet.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

VT4:

Authentication:
PAP

Web:
<http://www.vt4.net/>

Support:
no official support yet

Wanadoo (Euronet):

Authentication:
text-based

Nameservers:
195.74.193.12, 194.134.0.12

Web:
<http://www.euronet.be/> <http://www.wanadoo.be/>

Support:
<http://www.euronet.be/support/uk/linux/>

World Online:

Authentication:
CHAP

Nameservers:
212.233.1.34, 212.233.2.34
Web:
<http://www.worldonline.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

XS4ALL:

Authentication:
PAP

Nameservers:
194.109.6.66, 194.109.9.99

Web:
<http://www.xs4all.be/>

Support:
<http://pws1.xs4all.be/~helpdesk/new/linux/linuxconnect.html>

Yucom:

Authentication:
CHAP

Web:
<http://www.yucom.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

3.2. Dialing in with your ISDN-modem

Contributed by Christophe Lambin [email protected]

This section does not aim to be a definitive guide on ISDN for Linux.
For a more detailed discussion on the topic, see Paul Slootman's
ISDN4Linux HOWTO and ISDN4Linux-FAQ.

3.2.1. Updating the kernel

If you're using a 2.2 kernel, it's recommended to get an updated
version of the ISDN code. You can retrieve the CVS at
<ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/isdn4linux/>. For more information, check:
<http://www.brisse.dk/site/linux/docs/isdn.htm>

Warning: if you've recently purchased an Eicon Diva 2.0 PCI (eg, via
Belgacom), there's a good chance you've actually got a Diva 2.01.In
this case, you must get a version dated 1 July 1999 or later !

Once the ISDN is in place, you can start up the driver. Eg:

modprobe hisax type=11 protocol=2

Refer to the Readme's for the right parameters and values for your
card.

3.2.2. ISDN4Linux toolkit

Next, you'll need the ISDN4Linux toolkit. You can retrieve the latest
version of the toolkit at: <ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/isdn4linux/>

3.2.3. Configuring the interface

With the tools installed and configured, write a script to configure
the interface, to be used for the ISDN connection. As always in Linux,
there's no one correct way of doing this. I've put these in a script

/etc/rc.d/rc.isdn:

#!/bin/sh
MSNREMOTE='555-1212' # Phone number of ISP
MSNLOCAL='555-1313' # my number, without 0, with areacode
ACCOUNT='george' # The account for logon (as 'George Burns')
IPLOCAL=10.0.0.2 # my fixed IP (use 10.0.0.2 if no fixed)
IPREMOTE=0.0.0.0 # IP number of ISP
INTERFACE=ippp0
/sbin/modprobe hisax type=11 protocol=2
/sbin/isdnctrl verbose 3 system on
/sbin/isdnctrl addif $IF
/sbin/isdnctrl secure $IF on
/sbin/isdnctrl addphone $IF out $MSNREMOTE
/sbin/isdnctrl eaz $IF $MSNLOCAL
/sbin/isdnctrl huptimeout $IF 300
/sbin/isdnctrl l2_prot $IF hdlc
/sbin/isdnctrl l3_prot $IF trans
/sbin/isdnctrl encap $IF syncppp
# /sbin/isdnctrl dialmode $IF auto
/sbin/ifconfig $IF $IPLOCAL pointopoint $IPREMOTE -arp -broadcast
/sbin/ipppd /dev/ippp0 user $ACCOUNT $IPLOCAL:$IPREMOTE

To start this at boot time, make it executable and append the
following to /etc/rc.d/rc.local:

if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn ]; then
. /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn
fi

The ipppd command gets its parameters passed through a file,
/etc/ppp/ioptions:

-ac
-bsdcomp
debug
defaultroute
ipcp-accept-local
ipcp-accept-remote
mru 1524
mtu 1500
noipdefault
-pc
useifip
-vj
-vjccomp

#idle 360
#persistent

Warning: do NOT specify +pap or +chap in this file. This specifies the
authentication that ipppd should use for an INCOMING client. If you
were to use this to connect to your ISP, ipppd would wait for the ISP
to authenticate itself using the specified protocol.

Beware: it is important to emphasize that every special character,
thus every character that is not [a-ZA-Z0-9] and '_' should be escaped
by preceding it with a '\'-character. Thus 'e!b$l+' would become
'e\!b\$l\+'. Try it if you are having troubles !

Finally, create /etc/ppp/ip-down.local to handle the shutdown of the
interface:

#!/bin/sh
/sbin/ifconfig $1 down
sleep 1
/sbin/ifconfig $1 10.0.0.2 pointopoint

Note: this is to handle some problems with routes on shutdowns.
Anyone know of a clean(er) solution ?

3.2.4. pap-secrets / chap-secrets

If your ISP uses PAP or CHAP, create a file /etc/ppp/pap-secrets or
/etc/ppp/chap-secrets. Its format is:

#client server secret IP
your_login * your_pass *

3.2.5. Network

Not really related to ISDN, but a lot of people forget this step (too
eager to try out all the stuff they typed in above ? :-)).

Anyway, you need to configure the DNS, by creating a file
/etc/resolv.conf:

domain your_domain_of_your_isp
nameserver your_primary_nameserver
nameserver your_secondary_nameserver

3.2.6. File permissions

Before you can run a (shell)script, it must be set executable. Be sure
that you set the permissions so that other users cannot see the
passwords stored in the files. If you want other users to be able to
dial in, you might want to consider using sudo. You might want to do
the following:

chmod u+rw og-rwx -r /etc/ppp
chmod u+x /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn /etc/ppp/ip.down-local /usr/local/bin/isdn

3.2.7. Dial + Hangup

Finally, you can write a little wrapper to start and stop the ISDN
connection. I've put this as /usr/local/bin/isdn:

#!/bin/bash
case $1 in
on|start)
/sbin/isdnctrl dial ippp0
;;
off|stop)
/sbin/isdnctrl hangup ippp0
;;
info|status)
/sbin/isdnctrl list ippp0
;;
*)
echo "Usage: isdn on|off|info|start|stop|status"
;;
esac

Then if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH, you can easily dial in with:

isdn on

and hangup with:

isdn off

3.3. Cablemodem (DHCP)

DHCP was designed to make life easier, and most of the times it does
;) More information to set up your DHCP client can be found at:
<http://www.oswg.org/oswg-nightly/DHCP.html> and a list of Frequently
Asked Questions at:
<http://web.syr.edu/~jmwobus/comfaqs/dhcp.faq.html> which describes
everything you need to know. Along with the information in the Cable-
Modem HOWTO ( <http://www.oswg.org/oswg-nightly/Cable-Modem.html>).

Lots of people want to connect a whole network to their cablemodem,
that's not a problem. You'll need IP-Masquerading (
<http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/IP-Masquerade-HOWTO.html>) and make
sure the interface (that speaks to the cablemodem) has the right MAC-
address !! Another solution (in case of problems) is to reset your
cablemodem.

Chello (TVD):

Web:
<http://www.chello.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

More information:
<http://foobar.starlab.net/~soggie/tvd_linux/>

Pandora (Telenet):

Automatic proxy:
http://pac.pandora.be:8080

HTTP proxy:
export http_proxy="http://proxy.pandora.be:8080/"

Web:
<http://www.pandora.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

More information:
<http://users.pandora.be/de.boeve/pandora.html>

3.4. ADSL

Easynet:

Web:
<http://www.easynet.be/>

Support:
<http://support.easynet.be/>

Turboline (Belgacom):

Some things:
using DANA

Web:
<http://www.turboline.be/>

Support:
no official support yet

More information:
<http://foobar.starlab.net/~soggie/turboline/>

4. Belgian Linux user groups

More information can be found in the User Group HOWTO located at:
<http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/User-Group-HOWTO.html> A complete list
of Linux User Groups is at: <http://www.ssc.com/linux/glue/> and at:
<http://limestone.uoregon.edu/woven/lugww/>

4.1. ALLIN Linux User Group

Mechelbaan 260
B-3130 Begijnendijk

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://come.to/allin/>

Contact:
Paul Terweduwe [email protected]

Last modified:
13 April 1999.

4.2. Antwerp Linux User Group (ALUG)

Van Luppenstraat 70
B-2018 Antwerp

Phone:
+32 3 218 63 54

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://sunsite.belnet.be/alug/>

Contact:
Patrick Op de Beeck [email protected]

Last modified:
26 December 1999.

4.3. Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa)

Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa)
Infogroep, Building F, room 218
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussel

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://linux.rave.org/>

Last modified:
25 February 2000.

4.4. Charleroi Linux User Group (CAROLINUX)

Charleroi Linux User Group (CAROLINUX)

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://carolo.net/carolinux/>

Last modified:
23 September 1999.

4.5. HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep (HLLGG)

HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.uunet.be/hcc/Limburg/Linuxgg>

Contact:
Andy Peeters & Bruno Tony

Last modified:
31 May 1999.

4.6. HCC Linux Gebruikers Groep Leuven

Diegemstraat 61
B-1930 Zaventem

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.uunet.be/hcc/>

Contact:
Yvo Dries [email protected]

Last modified:
2 August 1999.

4.7. Independent Group of Unix-Alikes and Network Activists (IGUANA)

Milcampslaan 101
B-1040 Schaarbeek

Phone:
+32 2 657 77 36

Fax:
+32 2 657 77 38

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.iguana.be/>
Last modified:
5 March 1999.

4.8. Infogroep (IGWE)

Pleinlaan 2, 5F218 (building F)
B-1050 Brussels

Phone:
+32 2 629 33 56

Fax:
+32 2 629 33 89

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://igwe.vub.ac.be/>

Last modified:
6 July 1999.

4.9. Leuvense Linux Users (L2U)

Leuvense Linux Users (L2U)

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://l2u.iguana.be/>

Last modified:
28 November 1999.

4.10. Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG)

Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG)

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://lilug.linuxatwork.at/>

Contact:
Frank Eersels [email protected]

Last modified:
6 May 1999.
4.11. Linux.be vzw/asbl

Linux.be vzw/asbl
Non-proft organization to promote Linux in Belgium

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://linux.iguana.be/>

Last modified:
23 September 1999.

4.12. Linux Belgian Team

Rue d'Aineffe 4
B-4317 Borlez Faimes

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://linux.rtfm.be/>

Contact:
Alexandre J.D. Dulaunoy [email protected]

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

4.13. Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen (LGOVL)

Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://lgovl.freeservers.com/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

4.14. Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG)

Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG)

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://bxlug.linuxbe.org/>

Contact:
Raphael Bauduin [email protected]

Last modified:
17 July 1999.

4.15. Linux User Group De Namur

Linux User Group De Namur

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://namur.linuxbe.org/>

Last modified:
17 July 1999.

4.16. Linux User Group Mons

Linux User Group Mons

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.linuxwallonie.org/>

Last modified:
26 May 1999.

4.17. Linux User Movement Underground Mad Belgian Aliens (LUMUMBA)

Universiteitslaan 1, Filii Lamberti
3590 Diepenbeek

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://lumumba.luc.ac.be/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

4.18. linuxbe.org

linuxbe.org

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://linuxbe.org/>

Contact:
Cedric Gavage [email protected]

Last modified:
7 February 2000.

4.19. Local Linux Support Group Gent (LLSGG)

Wim Vandeputte
PB 144
B-9000 Gent 12

Phone:
+32 9 240 29 17

Fax:
+32 9 240 34 39

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://llsgg.rug.ac.be/>

Contact:
Wim Vandeputte [email protected]

Last modified:
4 March 1999.

4.20. Open Technology Assembly Linux Special Interest Group

Kruipstraat 14
B-1850 Grimbergen

Phone:
+32 11 27 58 98

Fax:
+32 11 27 03 89

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.ota.be/sigs/linux/>

Contact:
Jan Vanhercke [email protected]

Last modified:
4 March 1999.

4.21. Student Information Networking (SIN)

Kleinhoefstraat 4
B-2440 Geel

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.sin.khk.be/>

Last modified:
12 June 1999.

4.22. TINA

Contact:
Tina gebruikers [email protected]

Web:
<http://tina.digibel.org/>

Last modified:
25 February 2000.

4.23. Unix Lovers Yield Student Services & Internet Support (ULYSSIS)

Blijde Inkomsstraat 21, lokaal 01.17
B-3000 Leuven

Phone:
+32 16 32 48 61

Email:
[email protected]
Web:
<http://www.ulyssis.student.kuleuven.ac.be/org/ulyssis/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

4.24. Zeus WPI - Werkgroep Informatica RUG

Krijgslaan 281 S9
B-9000 Gent

Phone:
+32 09 264 47 51

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.zeus.rug.ac.be/>

Comment:
Restricted to RUG students

Last modified:
22 June 1999.

5. Belgian Linux businesses

The Linux Documentation Project contains worldwide lists of Linux
businesses, Linux Consultants HOWTO and V.A.R. HOWTO, and can be found
at: <http://www.linuxports.com/>.

5.1. aDOC Services

Avenue du Pesage, 31-33
B-1050 Brussels

Phone:
+32 2 646 00 76

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.adoc-services.com/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

5.2. Arafox

Avenue Joseph Wybranlaan 40
B-1070 Brussels

Phone:
+32 2 529 59 91

Fax:
+32 2 529 59 92

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.arafox.com/>

Last modified:
11 February 2000.

5.3. Better Access N.V.

Geldenaakse Vest 6
3000 Leuven

Phone:
+32 16 29 80 45

Fax:
+32 16 29 80 46

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.ba.be/>

Type of support:
After an onsite installation, we mainly support our customers
with SSH remote administration. Most problems are reported by E-
mail or by the inhouse-developped webbased supportsystem. This
doesn't mean that once in a while a supportcall comes in.

Special expertise:
Security, systemadministration and setups, security
(firewalling, tigerteaming, VPN, etc.) Networkdesign, wireless
networking, Troubleshooting, product development, etc. Please
visit http://www.ba.be for more info.

Last modified:
7 March 1999.

5.4. D. Connect

Av. Van Goidtsnoven 33
B-1180 Uccle

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.dconnect.be/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

5.5. Double Barrel Consultancy and Productions

Sportstraat 28
B-9000 Gent

Phone:
+32 9 222 77 64

Fax:
+32 9 222 49 76

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.double-barrel.be/>

Contact:
Michael C. Vergallen [email protected]

Type of support:
phone, email remote network admin, inhouse, onsite.

Special expertise:
installation, system admin. internet and intranet connectivity,
sendmail, firewalls, proxys, nameservers, troubleshooting
software & hardware.

Last modified:
5 March 1999.

5.6. grmbl productions

Korte Vuldersstraat
B-8000 Brugge

Phone:
+32 50 344366

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.grmbl.com/>

Last modified:
2 March 1999.

5.7. LIFE bvba

Mgr. Vanwaeyenberglaan 6/10
B-3000 Leuven

Phone:
+32 477 57 50 71

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.life.be/>

Contact:
Jasper Nuyens [email protected]

Type of support:
LIFE is the first company in Europe to provide 24/7 professional
support for Linux in Europe. LIFE also provides server and
desktop installation services, educational services and fixed
price development. Exclusive on the Linux operating system.

Special expertise:
Kernel driver development, database interconnectivity (VPN,
wireless networking), security auditing (firewall, VPN, ethical
hacking), e-commerce. See our website for more.

Last modified:
20 April 1999.

5.8. MIND NV

Vaartstraat 12
B-3000 Leuven

Phone:
+32 478 274 069 or +32 476 468 405

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://mind.be/>

Contact:
Peter Vandenabeele [email protected] or Dag Wieers [email protected]

Type of support:
Installation & configuration, auditing & consultancy, support &
maintenance, training & education, research & development.

Special expertise:
Large Linux deployements, company security and network audits,
remote server maintenance, application and kernel development,
cluster computing, data recovery, ... See our website.

Last modified:
11 February 2000.

5.9. Phidani Software SPRL

Rue de l'autonomie 1
B-1070 Brussels

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.phidani.be/>

Last modified:
25 February 1999.

5.10. Spier BVBA

Knaptandstraat 96-98
B-9100 Sint-Niklaas

Email:
info@spier,be

Web:
<http://www.spier.be/>

Last modified:
02 March 1999.

5.11. VirgoPlus sprl

Rue Dartois 1
B-4000 Liege

Phone:
+32 4 253 00 59

Fax:
+32 4 253 00 49

Email:
[email protected]

Web:
<http://www.virgoplus.com/>

Contact:
Bruno Mairlot [email protected]

Type of support:
By phone, email, or remote networked administration, inhouse,
onsite

Special expertise:
Installation, configuration, administration of Linux, internet
connection, intranet developpment, firewalls, samba, netatalk,
firewalls, proxys, DNS, web server (Apache), mod_perl, MySQL,
Gui interface developpment (GTK+). We have acquired a special
expertise with the Red Hat distributions.

Last modified:
28 June 1999.

6. Belgian Linux resources

6.1. Websites

6.1.1. Linux in Belgium

o Linux in Belgium <http://linbel.iguana.be/>

o Belgian HOWTO <http://dag.mind.be/howto/Belgian-HOWTO.html>

6.1.2. Dutch Linux-sites

o <http://nl.linux.org/doc/>

o Nederlandstalige Linux Documentatie Project
<http://doc.nllgg.nl/products/>

o Linux Support Website <http://www.linux-nl.cx/>

o EToS: Educatieve Toepassingen van Open Software
<http://www.mech.kuleuven.ac.be/%7Ebruyninc/etos/>

o Beginnen met Linux
<http://user.online.be/~koendb/linux_beginners.html>

o Installatie Handleiding RedHat 5.2
<http://user.online.be/~koendb/redhat.html>

6.1.3. French Linux-sites

o linuxbe.org <http://linuxbe.org/>

o linux-france.org <http://www.linux-france.org/>

6.1.4. Mirrors in Belgium

o Freshmeat at Chello (TVD) <http://be.eu.mirrors.freshmeat.net/>

o Linuxberg at Wallonie Internet <http://winbe.linuxberg.com/>

o Linuxberg at Online <http://online.linuxberg.com/>

o Linuxberg at Pandora (Telenet) <http://pandora.linuxberg.com/>

o Linux Gazette at Belnet
<http://sunsite.belnet.be/alug/ftp_mirrors/linux_gazette/>

o Linux Gazette at Linuxbe <http://linuxgazette.linuxbe.org>

o LinuxFocus <http://linuxfocus.linuxbe.org>

o Linux France <http://linux-france.linuxbe.org>

6.2. HOWTO

The most important collection of Linux information on the net. Please
if you encounter erroneous information in one of them, do contact the
author. Only that way it will be corrected and we all stand together
;)

6.2.1. Web

o HOWTO's at KULeuven <http://www.kulnet.kuleuven.ac.be/LDP/HOWTO/>

o HOWTO's at SIN <http://www.sin.khk.be/mirror/LDP/>

6.2.2. FTP

o HOWTO's at Belnet
<ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/INDEX.html>

6.3. HOWTO translations

As Dutch is less wide-spread, it is the least supported. But work is
being done to resolve this ;) (and maybe *you* can help ?!?) French
and German translations obviously are already taken care of.

6.3.1. Dutch

A succesfull initiative is making progress, but there's still a lot to
do. If you want to help, start translating and send it there. Check:
<http://nl.linux.org/doc/HOWTO/>.

6.3.2. French

French translations of HOWTO's can be found at:
<ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/translations/french/>

6.3.3. German

German translations of HOWTO's can be found at:
<ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/translations/german/>

6.4. FTP

Most of the times, it doesn't matter where you got it from, as long as
it works. But to save you some time and save us some bandwidth, it's
much better to get it near you ;) Naturally I forgot some, please send
your additions or corrections.

6.4.1. Kernel-sources

o Official Mirror kernel-sources at Chello (TVD)
<ftp://ftp.be.kernel.org/>

o Mirror kernel-sources at linux.be.eu.org
<ftp://ftp.linux.be.eu.org/mirrors/ftp.kernel.org/>
o Mirror kernel-sources at Digibel
<ftp://ftp.digibel.be/pub/mirrors/ftp.kernel.org/>

6.4.2. Distributions

o Red Hat

o Official Mirror at Belnet
<ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/>
ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/redhat-
version/arch

o Mirror at Chello (TVD) <ftp://ftp.chello.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/>
ftp://ftp.chello.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/redhat/redhat-
version/arch

o Mirror at linux.be.eu.org
<ftp://ftp.linux.be.eu.org/mirrors/ftp.redhat.com/>

o Mirror at Pandora (Telenet)
<ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/ftp.redhat.com/>
ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/ftp.redhat.com/redhat/redhat-
version/arch

o Mirror at Digibel
<ftp://ftp.digibel.be/pub/mirrors/ftp.redhat.com/>

o Debian

o Official Mirror at KULeuven
<ftp://ftp.kulnet.kuleuven.ac.be/pub/mirror/ftp.debian.org/>

o Official Mirror at spnet <ftp://debian.spnet.net/>

o Mirror at EUnet <ftp://ftp.eunet.be/pub/linux/debian/>

o Mirror at Skynet
<ftp://ftp.skynet.be/mirror/linux/distributions/debian/>

o Mirror at Pandora (Telenet)
<ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/ftp.debian.org/>

o Mirror at Interpac
<ftp://ftp.interpac.be/mirror/linux/distributions/debian/>

o Slackware

o Official Mirror at Interpac
<ftp://ftp.interpac.be/mirror/linux/distributions/slackware/>

o Mirror at Skynet
<ftp://ftp.skynet.be/mirror/linux/distributions/slackware/>

o Mirror at Globe <ftp://ftp.glo.be/pub/mirror/Slackware-3.6/>

o SuSE

o Mirror at Belnet <ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror3/ftp.suse.com/>

o Mirror at Pandora (Telenet)
<ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/ftp.suse.com/>

o Mandrake

o Mirror at Belnet <ftp://ftp.belnet.be/packages/mandrake/>

o Mirror at Chello (TVD)
<ftp://ftp.tvd.be/pub/mirror/ftp0.sunet.se/pub/Linux/distributions/mandrake/>

6.4.3. Software

o Mirrors at Belnet <ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/>

o Mirrors at Chello (TVD) <ftp://ftp.chello.be/mirror/>

o Mirrors at linux.be.eu.org <ftp://ftp.linux.be.eu.org/mirrors/>

o Mirrors at Pandora (Telenet) <ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/>

o Mirrors at Digibel <ftp://ftp.digibel.be/pub/mirrors/>

6.5. Usenet

o <news:be.comp.os.linux> at Linux.iguana.be
<http://linux.iguana.be/archive/>

o <news:be.comp.os.linux> at WebWatch
<http://www.webwatch.be/forums/be.comp.os.linux/MainTable.html>

6.6. Mailinglists

6.6.1. Linux in Belgium

o [email protected]

o [email protected]

6.6.2. Linux user groups

o BLUG Mailinglist

o L2U Mailinglist

o LILUG Mailinglist

o LGOVL Mailinglist

6.7. IRC

The fastest medium to get support is IRC, but beware. Because IRC is
rather anonymous it's also easy to fool people.

On IRCnet there's a channel called #linux.be that is closely related
to bcol and the Belgian Linux-scene. The channel is still small, but
it surely will grow in time. To get help in English, there's only one
place #linux.