[ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit project - if not Linux then will go Windows

Sun Apr 6 20:14:12 EDT 2003

how ? I type "minicom" and get nothing back.  Here are some facts that may
help:

Telepath 28.8 fax modem (from a Gateway pc)
US Robotics chipset
io == 0x210
irq == 5

The modem is recognized on the hardware inventory under  'isapnp'

when trying to connect I get the following Kinternet log entries:
Initializing modem
Sending ATZ
Sending ATQ0
Re-sending ATZ
Modem not responding
Connect script failed

Does this have something to do with wvdial ?
I have started smpppd

Any clues anyone ??

TIA
Greg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-admin at ale.org [mailto:ale-admin at ale.org]On Behalf Of Geoffrey
> Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 6:42 PM
> To: ale at ale.org
> Cc: Watson McKeel; Keld; FreeBytes Director
> Subject: Re: [ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit project - if not Linux
> then will go Windows
>
>
> Greg wrote:
> > Yes, that's how I am doing it.  I went to Suse since it is so easily
> > configurable.  It recognizes the modem, seems to connect, but won't
> > dial out.  I need to do some googling on the type of modem and what
> > it takes to connect.  I am sure that I am not feeding it some
> > variable that it needs.  I have heard of modems that need some
> > customized strings or variables to work.
>
> Try accessing it from the command line with minicom.
>
> >
> > Greg
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message----- From: ale-admin at ale.org
> >> [mailto:ale-admin at ale.org]On Behalf Of Geoffrey Sent: Sunday, April
> >> 06, 2003 12:30 PM To: ale at ale.org Cc: Watson McKeel; Keld;
> >> FreeBytes Director Subject: Re: [ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit
> >> project - if not Linux then will go Windows
> >>
> >>
> >> Greg wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> BTW  If anyone has modem configuring foo then please share the
> >>
> >> knowledge.
> >>
> >>> We are this --->| |<----- close to getting a Linux project off
> >>
> >> the ground.
> >>
> >> Wish I could be there!  Anyway, I've had very good success with
> >> SuSE 8.1 and configuring modems.  Use YAST2:
> >>
> >> yast2->Network Basic->Modem configuration
> >>
> >> From there, hopefully it will auto detect the modem.  If not, then
> >> you'll have to configure it manually.
> >>
> >> If it is detected, select to configure/change it.  From that point,
> >> it's pretty straight forward.  I've done this for static ip as well
> >> as dhcp, it works well.
> >>
> >>
> >>> Greg Canter
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> -----Original Message----- From: ale-admin at ale.org
> >>>> [mailto:ale-admin at ale.org]On Behalf Of Geoffrey Sent: Saturday,
> >>>> April 05, 2003 11:48 PM To: ale at ale.org Cc: Watson McKeel;
> >>>> Keld; FreeBytes Director Subject: Re: [ale] Help needed for a
> >>>> Non-Profit project - if not Linux then will go Windows
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I'd like to help, but will be out of town.
> >>>>
> >>>> One note, I'd be interested in knowing how anyone plans to lock
> >>>> you out of the command line with win98.  If you've got a
> >>>> browser, you fire up command.com and you've got a dos window.
> >>>>
> >>>> I've done something very similar to what you're looking for
> >>>> though.  Had a slide show fire up from boot for my wife during
> >>>> conference week.  It's pretty straight forward, you call startx
> >>>> from rc as the last thing to run. In the .xinitrc file it
> >>>> simply called the browser passing to it the location of the
> >>>> slideshow.  Worked like a champ.
> >>>>
> >>>> If you're still looking for assistance late next week I'll be
> >>>> back in town, let me know.
> >>>>
> >>>> Sorry, I would have loved to get involved on this one.
> >>>>
> >>>> Greg wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> I am helping out at a non-profit called Free Bytes
> >>>>> (http://www.freebytes.org) that is providing support to the
> >>
> >> Atlanta Food
> >>
> >>>>> Bank for an initial order of 30 computers - out of a possible
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> future order
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> of several hundred.  We are looking for an OS that can be
> >>>>> installed on machines that will immediately dial up via modem
> >>>>> to an ISP, have a web browser come up so folks can use a web
> >>>>> based form for ordering food shipments, and the box must be
> >>>>> configured so that it will not
> >>>>
> >>>> allow the user
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> to get to a command line or otherwise play with the machine.
> >>>>> A working model must be done by this week and not only is
> >>>>> there a time
> >>
> >> crunch, but
> >>
> >>>>> since the first distro we went with (a Slackware derived
> >>
> >> version) failed
> >>
> >>>>> miserably (only 1 successful install out of 4 machines and
> >>
> >> even then the
> >>
> >>>>> modem is almost unconfigurable). We need a solid victory or
> >>>>
> >>>> Windows 98 will
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> be installed on all machines (it is an all or nothing project
> >>>>> -
> >>>>
> >>>> only 1 OS
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> will be selected).  MS Windows is our back-up if a Open
> >>>>> Source solution cannot be found.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Here are the HW requirements: RAM:	64 MG (sorry, we have
> >>>>> little ram and the machines
> >>>>
> >>>> have varying slots)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> HD:	1 GB is the lowest size, we can put other hard
> >>>>
> >>>> drives in the PCs (all
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> less than 1 GB, though) CPU:	Pentium 133 MHz Modem:	We need
> >>>>> an easily customizable interface so we can
> >>>>
> >>>> easily customize
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> it.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Here are the SW requirements Boot to a browser after the X
> >>>>> windows comes up. GUI (for a browser and for a button to push
> >>>>> that will do a
> >>>>
> >>>> shutdown/halt)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Need to have good looking fonts on browser. A button to push
> >>>>> that will do a shutdown/halt Can meet the HW requirements.
> >>>>> Easily installable.  I understand that given enough time
> >>>>
> >>>> any one can figure
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> out how to make a modem work, but we don't have the time or
> >>>>> the
> >>>>
> >>>> folks who
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> have a high level knowledge of a *nix to configure the modems
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> to work.  Our
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> installers have primarily Windows experience and work
> >>>>> primarily
> >>>>
> >>>> on Saturdays
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> for several hours.  A member of the Free Bytes staff will go
> >>>>> out to the field to deliver, configure, and do a field test
> >>>>> of the PC's as well as teach the end users and supervise the
> >>>>> initial install and test.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Time Line: If I cannot find a easily configurable distro by
> >>>>> Sunday
> >>>>
> >>>> night and no one
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> steps up with a viable alternative/solution, then I will have
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> to call the
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> project manager at Free Bytes and tell them to go ahead with
> >>>>
> >>>> Windows 98.  We
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> would like to do a demo this week to the customer with a
> >>>>> Linux
> >>>>
> >>>> box and show
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> how easy it is (think kiosk). If I can get a workable
> >>>>> solution
> >>
> >> by Sunday
> >>
> >>>>> night I will call and tell the Free Bytes project manager we
> >>>>
> >>>> can use Linux -
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> with a demo box to follow by mid week.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Current Problems: * HD size: most modern Linux distro's are
> >>>>> horribly bloated
> >>>>
> >>>> and we don't
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> have the time to take out every single thing as well as the
> >>>>
> >>>> fact that the
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> minimum for most distro's is about 1.7 GB anyway.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> * Needs to be easily installable.  We may have to do
> >>>>
> >>>> several hundred of
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> these boxen.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> * Time.  We bet on a solution that has not worked out and
> >>>>
> >>>> does not have an
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> easy way to automatically crank up the modem and easily
> >>>>
> >>>> configure the modem
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> so we lost valuable time already.  A solution needs to be
> >>>>> done
> >>>>
> >>>> ASAP - (in 2
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> days) and a working model by this Wed (so I can have a
> >>>>> working
> >>>>
> >>>> box in the
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> project manager's hands by mid week).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> What I need help with: Suggestions on a good distro. I intend
> >>>>> to try several of my
> >>>>
> >>>> old ones this
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> weekend.  The modern ones (RH and Suse bombed) An already
> >>>>> scripted distro that can be installed that will
> >>>>
> >>>> provide a kiosk
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> or even just simple window manager, browser and a method to
> >>>>
> >>>> easily configure
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> the modem. Suggestions on good modem cards and/or external
> >>>>> modems that
> >>>>
> >>>> work well with
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Linux.  I know about the Linux hardware compatibility list
> >>>>> but
> >>>>
> >>>> I want real
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> world advice. Any suggestions on how to EASILY configure
> >>>>> modems. ( I only
> >>>>
> >>>> have experience
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> with TCP/IP and Linux). Any help to come by next Saturday to
> >>>>> put some boxes out the
> >>>>
> >>>> door - unless I
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> have to recommend a Windows solution. Either Linux or a BSD
> >>>>> solution is ok.  I know it can be
> >>>>
> >>>> done, I just don't
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> have the time now (already spending 12 hrs at work daily) to
> >>>>> do
> >>>>
> >>>> it and test
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> it myself and Free Bytes needs it soon too.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> What I don't need help with: Any politically motivated
> >>>>> flames.  I don't have the time
> >>>>
> >>>> nor the mind.  The
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> customer wants a simple computer solution and has already
> >>>>> seen
> >>>>
> >>>> a Windows box
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> and considers it the standard to beat. We need to have a
> >>>>
> >>>> solution that is
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> realistic and will work.  The customer doesn't care about the
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> how - just the
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> what.  I will not hesitate to recommend a MS solution to help
> >>>>> them feed people. I am sorry, but the hardware and other
> >>>>> requirements are not
> >>>>
> >>>> negotiable.  I
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> really wish we had modern boxes with already installed
> >>>>> <distro
> >>>>
> >>>> here> that
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> automagically just needed the phone # to work, but that is
> >>>>> not
> >>>>
> >>>> the reality.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> What is in the requirements is all we have to work with
> >>
> >> (unless some one
> >>
> >>>>> donates several hundred bigger/better/faster/newer computer's
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> in the next 4
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> days).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> So, can any one help ?  in any way ? even advice on modems
> >>>>
> >>>> is needed.  It
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> would be nice if several dozen or even a few were to come by
> >>>>
> >>>> next Saturday
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> to help with installs too, but right now I need to get a demo
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> working within
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> the requirements. If it passes muster, then we will worry
> >>>>> about
> >>>>
> >>>> the initial
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> order of 30.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If you want to help, then please email me at
> >>>>
> >>>> runman at speedfactory.net  If
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> anyone wants to seriously help take on this project AND CAN
> >>>>
> >>>> REALLY REALLY
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> DONATE THE TIME then just ask and we can talk on the phone to
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> night - but at
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> any rate I need to give the project manager the word not
> >>>>> later
> >>>>
> >>>> than Sunday
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> night.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> TIA,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Greg Canter
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________ Ale mailing
> >>>>> list Ale at ale.org http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -- Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
> >>>>
> >>>> The latest, most widespread virus?  Microsoft end user
> >>>> agreement. Think about it...
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________ Ale mailing
> >>>> list Ale at ale.org http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________ Ale mailing list
> >>> Ale at ale.org http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> -- Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
> >>
> >> The latest, most widespread virus?  Microsoft end user agreement.
> >> Think about it...
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________ Ale mailing list
> >> Ale at ale.org http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________ Ale mailing list
> > Ale at ale.org http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >
> >
>
> --
> Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
>
> The latest, most widespread virus?  Microsoft end user agreement.
> Think about it...
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>

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