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Configuring Melb PC Dial-up for LinuxBefore configuring a dialer in Linux you must identify the type of modem you will be using - either a hardware or a software modem. Hardware modems, largely external serial and most internal ISA modems are preferred in Linux, and should work with no additional configuration. Software modems or "winmodems", such as most internal PCI, "on-board" and external USB modems depend on software to function, and are much more problematical. The instructions given here may or may not work for these types as it is dependent on the chipset used by the modem. These instructions are based on using a Mandrake distribution of Linux, however other distributions should be similar. You will need kppp (KDE dialer app) installed to use the dialer part of this FAQ - other dialers can be used if desired, however kppp is simple to use. For editing use pico (pico [filename]) or your favourite text editor. Serial and ISA modemsFor USB & PCI modems see below. Login as root. Choose the serial port you will be using - for those familiar with Windows:
Enter the following command to create a link between the serial port and the modem:
Edit file /etc/ppp/options and change the line "auth" to "noauth". Installing kppp Dialler (if not installed)1. Open a terminal window, "su", enter your root password 2. "urpmi kppp" and agree to install any dependencies 3. Restart the GUI Configuring kppp Dialler1. Login as user and start the GUI ( startx ) if it isn't already running. Start kppp - either through the menu (Internet > Remote access > KPPP) or in a terminal window enter kppp. Then click Configure > New > Manual setup > Add. 2. Insert the following settings: Dial
 IP
 Gateway
 DNS
 Exit New Accounts - click OK. 3. Configure Device:
 4. Test your modem configuration: Modem: Use Query Modem to verify kppp can "see" your modem. It should return similar to this if it can see it:  
If you find the modem doesn't respond firstly check the obvious - turned on?, plugged in (properly)?. If still nothing then you've probably selected the wrong port to link to /dev/modem. Cycle through ttyS0-3 (or ACM0-3 if using USB) to see if one of them works & then link it to /dev/modem. 5. Miscellaneous configuration: Misc: (you may need to scroll across the tabs) If desired, deselect "Disconnect on X-server shutdown" to avoid losing your dial-up connection if the GUI crashes or you wish to restart it.  6. Assuming everything has gone well you should be ready to go. You will of course need to configure a browser & mail client - refer to the FAQ pages for browser configuration details. Enter your user name & password then click Connect.  If kppp asks for the root password each time you use it from a user account & you wish to avoid this, as root:
USB modemsThese instructions should work if your modem is ACM compliant. If you have problems a good place to start searching for additional information is www.linmodems.org. The scanModem tool found there may prove useful. Login as root & enter the following commands to create the first four ACM devices:
Enter the following command to create a link between the USB device port and the modem:
Load the ACM module so the modem can be seen by the system:
Edit file /etc/ppp/options and change the line "auth" to "noauth". Proceed with configuring the kppp dialer as above. If your modem works initially but then fails to after a system restart then as root enter: modprobe acmIf it now works you need to load the module at each system start. Edit file /etc/rc.d/rc.local & add the line modprobe acm PCI modemsThis includes both PCI card modems (as in cards plugged into a PCI slot) & "on board" modems. Please be aware that PCI modem support is the most problematical of all & will only work with particular modems. A good place to start searching for additional information is www.linmodems.org. The scanModem tool found there may prove useful. Incorrect settings can cause your system to lock-up so be cautious - you have been warned! Another point to be aware of is adding or removing devices may change settings assigned to the modem & render it (or your system) inaccessible until you re-run this process. 1. Login as root & enter:
2. Determine the IRQ & I/O address of the modem.
Look for "serial controller" & the manufacturers name. If this doesn't resolve the identity of the modem remove the modem (if possible) & re-run step 1. Compare outputs to identify the missing device - the modem. 3. Select an unused serial port (you may very well be using none if you don't have a serial mouse). For those familiar with Windows:
Record the output of the following command:
These are the details for the serial port you chose & may enable you to resurrect your system if things go drastically wrong. Or get a the serial port back if not so drastically wrong. Configure the chosen port with the settings determined from pci.txt for the modem:
Enter the following command to create a link between the serial port and the modem:
4. Proceed with configuring the kppp dialer as above. Once you've determined the settings work edit the file /etc/rc.d/rc.local & add the linesetserial /dev/ttySN irq A port 0xabcd . This will load the serial port settings each time your system restarts. Remember these settings can change if devices are changed so you may need to repeat step 1.
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