[vox-tech] Problem using GUI apps for dialup/PPP in RH7.3

[Rod Roark]

Good suggestions.  I would add that:

(a) minicom is good for testing the modem; by default it
    expects "/dev/modem" to point to the right device.

(b) kppp is best dialup GUI I've seen.  It's part of KDE
    but should run OK under Gnome.

-- Rod
   http://www.sunsetsystems.com/

On Sunday 02 June 2002 12:51 pm, Jeff Newmiller wrote:
> On Fri, 31 May 2002, Ron Erhardt wrote:
> >    All,
> >
> >     I'm not brand-new to Linux (or Unix), but I am new
> > to getting 'external devices' to work in a GUI environment
> > under Linux.
>
> I have never used GUI tools for PPP... I have always just set up the
> configuration files.  Not to say they aren't cool, but I cannot hold yo=
ur
> hand through the dialog boxes.
>
> > HW:
> >     Sony Vaio P4
> >     external USR 56K V.90 modem
> >     (system also has an internal winmodem)
> >
> >     system is dual-boot with win-me
> >
> > Problem Notes:
> > - system is very stable, and I'm able to use most everything
> >    other than my Epson C80 USB (which I believe I have a
> >    fix for) and the modem (with GUI apps)
> > - the 'system' knows the modem is there, and when it's not
> >    turned on at boot time
> > - I have (although it escapes me now how I did it) success-
> >   fully talked to the modem (miniterm, I think)
> > - I most often use the Gnome GUI, although I've also used
> >    KDE (prefer Gnome)
>
> No one has spoken up about GUI tools, but then again there are many, an=
d
> you have not indicated which ones you have tried, or what the result wa=
s
> when you tried.  Usually it is possible to use these tools in either KD=
E
> or Gnome.
>
> >     I've checked for all the files/contents that I know about,
> > but lack a good 'global' picture of all of the files/paths/cont-
> > ents that *need* to be there for this to all work.
> >
> >     Any help will be appreciated.
>
> I would recommend reading the PPP-HOWTO, on your hard disk (use "locate=
"
> to find and "less" or "zless" to view) or at http://tldp.org.  Note tha=
t
> you can probably bypass their instructions to recompile your kernel and
> download sources, but you should pay attention to their diagnostics to
> confirm that all the right files are present.  If they aren't, we may h=
ave
> something more concrete to talk about.
>
> In a nutshell, you need to configure the files in /etc/ppp and possibly
> /etc/chatscripts depending on your distribution (which you never named)=
=2E I
> have certainly heard that GUI tools to help you do this exist, but I ha=
ve
> never used them myself.  Some of the ones I have seen are very
> distribution-specific, others might not be.
>
> In my experience, PPP setup has not been as brainless as it is in Windo=
ws
> because MS makes a lot of assumptions about the configuration of the ot=
her
> end of the connections that the Linux implementations usually don't.  I=
f
> some of the GUI programs out there are making these assumptions now, on=
e
> might expect their use to be similarly "easy" until something isn't as
> expected, at which point the GUI leaves us who see your message unable =
to
> tell where the problem is.
>
> Some things to check:
>
> a) serial to modem works? (apparently)
> b) ppp module loaded ("lsmod" has ppp? "modprobe ppp" to insert...)
> c) /etc/ppp/options okay? (right serial port)
> d) chatscript  happy with your modem?
> e) sometimes there is a symbolic link "/dev/modem" that points to the
> appropriate serial port device ("/dev/ttyS0"?) that is missing or point=
ing
> at the wrong device...
> f) any messages in /var/log/messages or other /var/log/ file?
>
> If none of these things appear to be wrong to you, telling us which thi=
ngs
> you checked and how (verbatim output is often helpful)  may jog our
> collective minds a bit.