> What I'm trying to fully understand is what exactly does one mean by > stating "Linux Compatible ISP".
Well, if they require windows-only software (aol, msn, etc.) they won't be linux compatible. I'm not sure I wouild even classify aol as an ISP in the strict sense. They're more like a portal to the internet, or a BBS. In other words, you aren't really truly part of the Internet as an AOL user. > What ISN'T compatible about an ISP? Well, many ISPs may be compatible, and others may have some peculiar idiosyncracies that make operation with Linux difficult - for instance PPP over Ethernet (pppoe). A service that offers that is just a little bit braindead. It's making life a little more difficult, and it does manage to slow things down. > All you need is a phone number, a username and password. That's all. > That's all that's required. Essentially correct. That's all that's required for AOL, along with their proprietary interface software, of course. Still all that is done is a modem login. Assoming you're on a dialup connection - even if you were on DSL - what's needed (or strongly desired) is static IP, your own host- name, etc. Vanity hosts aren't strictly necessary, as long as your hostname is addressable, that's what counts. For instance one can connect to my machine at m206-157.dsl.tsoft.com.
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