[ale] BellSouth.net ISP Configuration Help Needed

[Dow Hurst]

I have had good success with Linux and IRIX using Mindspring.  So far,
the trick I have used is either to have the chat script expect a "~"
and send a "\c" after logging on correctly to start PPP or to use
wvdial which forces PPP and works every time.  I prefer kppp since it
has a graphical interface to impress people with and will dock into
the taskbar(this is Suse6.1).  However, wvdial is so reliable that I
am finding I use it more and more.  Just setup wvdial.conf in /etc to
contain your email address at mindspring as the login and your
password they provided.  Use the latest number they give you to dial
in since the 4046541300 is getting phased out.  Remember to enable PAP
in wvdial.conf.  Email me if you have problems and I'll try to help
out.  I think since Mindspring is getting so large that the systems
you connect to don't necessarily have the same exact requirements for
starting PPP.  All numbers I have tried work with wvdial while only
the old numbers will work with kppp.  Good luck,
Dow


Gabriel Donnell wrote:
> 
> Hello ALE Community,
> 
> My name is Gabriel (Gabe) Donnell.  I just moved to the Atlanta Metro Area
> from the Silicon Valley Area.  Last week I received my VALinux StartX SP
> that I bought.
> 
> Unfortunately, I signed up with BellSouth.net for my ISP before I knew
> that they did not support Linux.  I had several complications trying to
> get help to configure my system with an external modem to log into their
> network.
> 
> I have been using the "kppp" utility to setup the account.  When I execute
> the "Connect" button, it dials the number, connects, and starts the
> "pppd" demon.  However, pppd dies with an error message which indicates
> that the network does not repond to the configuration request.
> 
> I talked to the support people at VALinux and some reps at Linux General
> Store all last week and at the Atlanta Linux Showcase.  They all
> indicated that it is a problem on the BellSouth.net end.  All of them
> said that I may be able find some help by sending e-mail to the ALE
> e-mail address.  They figured some people on the ALE e-mail list may use
> BellSouth.net as an ISP, and may have figured out what needs to be done.
> 
> If any of know what I need to do to configure my system, then please let me
> know.
> 
> I am ready give up on BellSouth.net because their service is BAD and their
> tech support reps do not know anything.  When they find out that I use
> Linux, they shunt me out.  In one case, I called them with a VALinux
> support rep, and the BellSouth.net rep just hung up without saying
> anything when the VALinux rep asked him for information he did not know.
> 
> That is some very poor service.  I cannot believe I actually interviewed
> with them for a job before I left Intel to move out here from Silicon
> Valley.
> 
> Some people from VALinux and Linux General Store suggested that I use
> MindSpring as an ISP because they use Linux and support Linux for ISP
> service.  If anyone has any comments about MindSpring or any other good
> alternative ISP that I can use, then please let me know.
> 
> Thanks A Lot,
> Gabriel (Gabe) Donnell
> 
> ____________________________________________________________________
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-- 
_______________________________________________________________
Dow Hurst                   Office: 770-499-3428
Systems Support Specialist  Fax:    770-423-6744
1000 Chastain Rd.
Chemistry Department SC428  Email:  dhurst at ksumail.kennesaw.edu
Kennesaw State University           Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com
Kennesaw, GA 30144
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