[ale] newbie: modem configuration

[nlucent at mindspring.com]

Nick Robinson <nicknackr at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Redhat 5.2 workstation installation: startx from root

I think redhat is up to 6.0 or 6.1, you may want to try a new distribution, I here the latest is pretty easy.

>I used linuxconf, modemtool, and netcfg to enter my isp's domain:
>earthlink.net, dns:207.217.126.81, local phone: 4450159, username: >xxxxx
>and password: xxxxx.

I think earthlink is owned by mindspring, if thats the case then they probably use pap. add "username * passwd" to /etc/ppp/pap.secrets, add your dns to /etc/resolv.conf
Mindspring allows scripted logins, but its unsupported and could be dropped at anytime from what I understand.

If your not hearing the modem dial are you sure that you have the right port?
ttyS0 = Com1
ttyS1 = Com2
ttyS2 = Com3
ttyS3 = Com4

try 'echo atdt > /dev/ttyS?' and see if you here the modem pick up, if not, then you probably are trying to dial w/ the wrong port. also try running tail -f /var/log/messages in one term, and try and dial from another, that way you can see whats happening.

>I added ppp0 and set it active.

dont know what your talking about here. pppd should automatically bring up ppp0 and set the default route.

>My modem dialed in one time, and I couldn't tell if it was connected >or
>not.  I ran usernet and the ppp0 was red, then yellow

whats usernet?

>I have not been able to get it to dial in again.

>In Win9x, you have an indicator in the sys tray that tells you when >you are
>connected.  What tells you in linux?

If its external then look at the lights, if its internal then tail /var/log/messages.

>I have had this installed for two months, and this is the third or >forth
>time I've worked with it to get the internet going.  Not very user
>friendly, not matter what the hype says.

Where did you hear that linux was user friendly?

Its a big learning curve, and its not for everybody, but everyone has a difficult time at first. youll get it. ppp is a pita for everyone.

Nick