Configuring MelbPC Dial-up for Linux

Before 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 results are dependent on the chipset used by the modem.

These instructions are based on using a Red Hat 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 (filename) or your favourite text editor.


Serial and ISA modems

For USB & PCI modems see below.

Login as root. Choose the serial port you will be using - for those familiar with Windows:

COM1:
COM2:
COM3:
COM4:		 =
=
=
=		  /dev/ttyS0
 /dev/ttyS1
 /dev/ttyS2
 /dev/ttyS3

Enter the following command to create a link between the serial port and the modem:

ln -sf /dev/ttySN /dev/modem (where /dev/ttySN is the port you selected)

Edit file   /etc/ppp/options   and change the line "auth" to "noauth".


Configuring kppp Dialer

1. Login as user and start the GUI ( startx ) if it isn't already running. Start kppp - either through the menu (KDE Internet dialer) or in a terminal window enter kppp. Then click Setup > New > Dialog setup > Add.

2. Insert the following settings:

Dial

Connection Name:
Phone Number:
Authentication:
 MelbPC (or a name of your choosing)
 96974000 (or 86265000, 99349400, 86265001 - intranet)
 PAP

IP

Select "Dynamic IP"

Gateway

Select "Default Gateway"
Select "Assign the Default Route to this Gateway"

DNS

Select "Manual"
In DNS IP Address enter 203.12.152.1 then click Add
Repeat for 203.12.152.2 & 203.12.152.3. (Note the order is unimportant)

Exit New Accounts - click OK.


3. Configure Device:

Modem Device:
Flow Control:
Connection Speed:

 /dev/modem
 CRTSCTS
 57600 for 56k modems (using 115200 can cause connection failure)
 38400 for 33.6k & 28.8k modems

4. Test your modem configuration: Modem:

Use Query Modem to verify kppp can "see" your modem. It should return a screen display similar to the following if the modem can be seen:

If you find the modem doesn't respond firstly check the obvious - power turned on?, all cables 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:

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 enter:

ln -sf /usr/sbin/kppp /usr/bin/kppp
chmod +s /usr/sbin/kppp
chmod +s /usr/sbin/pppd


USB modems

These 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:

mknod /dev/usb/ttyACM0 c 166 0
mknod /dev/usb/ttyACM1 c 166 1
mknod /dev/usb/ttyACM2 c 166 2
mknod /dev/usb/ttyACM3 c 166 3

Enter the following command to create a link between the USB device port and the modem:

ln -sf /dev/usb/ACM0 /dev/modem

Load the ACM module so the modem can be seen by the system:

modprobe acm

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 acm
If 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 modems

This 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:

cat /proc/pci > pci.txt

2. Determine the IRQ & I/O address of the modem.

cat pci.txt | more
lpr pci.txt
 		 to view
 to print

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:

COM1:
COM2:
COM3:
COM4:		 =
=
=
=		  /dev/ttyS0
 /dev/ttyS1
 /dev/ttyS2
 /dev/ttyS3

Record the output of the following command:

setserial /dev/ttySN (where /dev/ttySN is the port you selected)

These are the details for the serial port you chose & may enable you to resurrect your system if things go drastically wrong. Or get the serial port back if not so drastically wrong.

Configure the chosen port with the settings determined from pci.txt for the modem:

setserial /dev/ttySN irq A port 0xabcd autoconfig (where /dev/ttySN is the port you selected, A is the IRQ for the modem & abcd is the I/O address for the modem)

Enter the following command to create a link between the serial port and the modem:

ln -sf /dev/ttySN /dev/modem (where /dev/ttySN is the port you selected)

4. Proceed with configuring the kppp dialer as above.

Once you've determined that the settings work, edit the file  /etc/rc.d/rc.local  & add the line  
setserial /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.