Internet Dialer
Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: Internet Dialer
started by: LinuxSeeker
Posted by LinuxSeeker on Mar. 26 2004,23:47
Note: I haven't yet used DamnSmall Linux 0.6.2, so please if anything mentioned below is incorrect or has been fixed don't be angry with me 
I am using DamnSmall Linux 0.5.x and what is really letting me down is the lack of a user-friendly interface to configure the Internet connection settings (username, password, modem configuration, etc.). I want to believe that newer versions will support this feature, so a even begginers will be able to easily configure the Internet connection settings.
So? Can this be done?
Posted by Rapidweather on Mar. 27 2004,00:48
If you are using DSL 0.5.3.1, which has wvdial, it it easy to configure your internetconnection.
I know there is not a windows-like internet connection wizard, but once you get
used to wvdial, you will like it, I am sure. (I know I do)
---
1. First, these files need to be on your system, and restored from your backup.tar.gz each time you boot up DSL.:
/etc/wvdial.conf
/ramdisk/usr/bin/wvdialconf
/ramdisk/usr/bin/wvdial
/ramdisk/usr/bin/wvdial.conf
That was a snippet from my filetool.lst
2. Look at the /usr/bin/wvdial.conf in the scite editor. There should be a default one on your system. Now, that needs to be modified to reflect your username,
password, and ISP telephone number. Once you have done that, go to step
three:
3. Run /usr/bin/wvdialconf like this:
cd to /usr/bin
wvdialconf wvdial.conf
4. That run will detect your modem, and modify the wvdial.conf in
/usr/bin to reflect your modems location.
5. Copy the completed wvdial.conf to /etc/wvdial.conf
6. You may now connect to the internet using wvdial.
7. To easily do that, modify your menu to add dial and hangup like so:
---
Debian MENU
[begin] (Damn Small 0.6.2)
[exec] (Root Shell) {rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Bash" -e sudo /bin/bash}
[exec] (FireFox) {/opt/firefox/firefox}
[submenu] (Dialer) {}
[exec] (dial) {rxvt -rv -T "dial" -e sudo /ramdisk/usr/bin/wvdial}
[exec] (hangup) { rxvt -rv -T "Hangup" -e sudo killall wvdial}
[end]
[submenu] (Apps) {}
---
Of course there is more to your menu, but I have shown you how I do it.
Use the scite editor to edit /home/damnsmall/.fluxbox/menu as su
to get these changes in place.
---
Another way is to open a terminal (rxvt) and wvdial (enter).
You need to be root to do that, so when you open the terminal,
sudo wvdial
and that should do it. wvdial will run down to the ISP phone number and
there will be a short wait until your connection goes through, then lots of
output will appear in the terminal to show that. Your actual connection
speed and ip address will be amoung the items shown. I am luck to have
a 52000 speed on dialup with my ISP, but my telephone lines are in tip-top
shape to accomplish that.
---------------
Now for the bad part: DSL 0.5.3.1 was the last version to have wvdial.
I have not used the setup in 0.6.2, because it cannot detect the modem
I am using on this computer, so I have to manually put the wvdial files in
to 0.6.2 when I restore from the backup.tar.gz each time.
In fact, I am using DSL 0.6.2 now, and wvdial, and the combination works
great. How do you get the wvdial from 0.5.3.1 and put it in 0.6.2? Copy the
files onto a floppy, reboot into 0.6.2 and copy them into their places, and
be sure and edit your filetool.lst to include them when you backup. If you do
not backup, (no Foxfire or Mozilla Firebird), and you just use Dillo, you can
either copy them each time, or just edit the default filetool.lst to include the
above wvdial lines. It can get complicated here, so look at my howto:
< http://www.angelfire.com/ms/telegram/general_howto >
When there, look over the luit linux section, as that dsl remaster distro
uses wvdial, and what I have there is what you need, most likely.
---
Perhaps others with experience with the new dialer can get in here and
give a mini-howto on setting up your internet connection and modem.
---
I find that wvdial will detect all of my modems, hardware modems, etc.
So I prefer to use it.
---
Posted by roberts on Mar. 27 2004,01:29
wvdial was dropped because it is not very friendly for new users. It required manaully editing several files. In fact the menu options dropped the user into the "vi" editor.Starting with 0.6.x it uses a more friendly setup. It uses that standard Debian pppconfig, pon, poff. pppconfig present a menu to make your selections. No more manual editing. Also, starting with 0.6.x there is also a "Getting Started" section that describes how to set it up.
From the menu System->Net Setup->Dial-up PPP. Then chose config, dial, hangup. Very easy with the new user in mind.
Note DSL does not currently support winmodems
Posted by meo on April 03 2004,18:46
I have some trouble also when it comes to internet dialing. I have a Xircom cardbus pcmcia card with both a modem and a network card. But it seems that it is not recognized by DSL. I have tried to fix that but my skills are not enough for that. I like DSL very much though but if i could connect from my own laptop to the internet it would be fine. I am currently using the latest DSL 0.6.2. Help wanted!Thanks beforehand!
meo
Posted by roberts on April 04 2004,06:24
I have a Linksys pcmcia combo card ethernet and 56 modem.The modem is not automatically set. But the pppconfig allows you to manually select the port. I select ttyS1 as the laptop already has a com port. COM 1 = ttyS0, COM 2 = ttyS1. It works fine. What is typically the COM port that your modem appears as?
Posted by jojotx0 on April 11 2004,14:49
I posted help in another topic in networking about a problem with connecting, all of my settings are correct, my username password, com port number is 3, so I set it too ttyS2, but whenever I goto System -->Net Setup -->Dial-up PPP -->dial it asks for my service provider, and I type in the one I want to dial with, and for me that would be big, the one I created, I hit tab --> enter, and the window just disapears, and nothing happens, cd doesn't get accessed, no nothing 
Posted by tripppy on Oct. 18 2004,08:10
i too have the same problem - the window just disappearsi have tried it on all of my com ports as i dont know which one its on.
how do i find out?
ive also installed it after doing a HD install.
ive just gone to the modem's box it says iits linux compatible.
not sure how to install drivers!