DialupModemHowto
Connecting to the Internet with a dialup (analog) modem
{This page supplies essential information if you are using the older Warty (4.10) release, where the Administration => Networking gui setup tools don't work well for dialup and pppconfig works well. However, under Hoary (5.04) my experience is that the gui tools now work, so you should try them first. (System => Administration => Networking). Use the Gnome Modem Monitor and Network Monitor panel applets if you want to stop, start and monitor modem connections without opening the Networking gui every time. Some people have had a problem with the modem dialing during bootup. This may be related to setting the modem as default route to the internet on the Options tab of Interface properties. Neil Woolford.}
My first (unsuccessful) attempt at getting online was through Computer > System Configuration > Networking. After doing some research, I found this alternate way of getting online. It has worked out well, because it's even easier to connect and disconnect than it would have been through the Networking dialog.
Collecting Information
You will need:
- Your ISP's phone number
- Your username and password on the ISP
- The name of the modem device (/dev/...)
If your modem connects to the serial port and you know the COM port, the device name is /dev/ttySx, where x is one less than the COM port number. For example, if your modem is on COM2, the device is /dev/ttyS1, or if your modem is on COM1, the device is /dev/ttyS0.
If you have an internal modem then /dev/modem is worth a try.
Setting up ppp
1) Open a terminal (Applications > System Tools > Terminal).
2) Type:
sudo pppconfig
3) You will be on the main menu. Choose 'Create Create a connection'.
4) Leave the name as 'provider', hit 'Ok'.
5) Select 'Dynamic Use dynamic DNS', hit 'Ok'.
6) Select 'PAP Peer Authentication Protocol', hit 'Ok'.
7) Enter your user name for the ISP, hit 'Ok'.
8) Enter your password for the ISP, hit 'Ok'.
9) Leave the speed at 115200 as recommended, hit 'Ok'.
10) Choose Tone or Pulse dialing, hit 'Ok'.
11) Enter the phone number to your ISP (do not use any dashes), hit 'Ok'.
12) You can try to have your modem detected automatically, but it did not work for me, even on my easily detectable external modem.
13) If the modem wasn't detected, it will ask you for the port your modem is on. Enter the device name for your modem, hit 'Ok'.
14) A summary screen will appear and give you the opportunity to make changes if needed. We're almost done with this program. The next steps allow your normal user account to connect and disconnect without needing sudo (so you don't have to type a password to connect). Choose 'Advanced Advanced Options'.
15) Choose 'Add-User Add a ppp user'.
16) Remove any stray characters from the input box by pressing Backspace (as needed), then type in your Ubuntu user account username, hit 'Ok'.
17) Choose 'Previous Return to previous menu' on the Advanced Settings screen.
18) Choose 'Finished Write files and return to main menu.'.
19) Choose 'Quit Exit this utility'.
20) Exit the terminal window, type:
exit
Restart your computer (for the group setting to take effect). Alternately, you can test out your connection right away by typing:
sudo pon
To disconnect, type:
sudo poff
After the reboot, simply typing 'pon' or 'poff' should be adequate.
Changing speaker volume
To quiet or silence the connection noises (dialing, negotiation, etc), follow these steps:
1) Open a terminal (Applications > System Tools > Terminal).
2) Type:
sudo gedit /etc/chatscripts/provider
3) Locate the line marked 'OK-AT-OK'.
4) Change 'ATDT' to 'ATxxDT', where 'xx' is one of the following:
- M0 Silence the speaker
- L1 Low volume
- L2 Medium volume
- L3 High volume
For example: ATM0DT
Leave the rest of the line unchanged.
5) Save the file and exit.
Troubleshooting
In case of connection problems, be sure to have the correct driver loaded for the modem chipset. With winmodems, the "lspci" command doesn't always report enough information. A script (see http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/) allows you to precisely identify the chipset.
Using Modem Lights panel-application
While it's good to be able to get online, it'd be nice to have a single way to either connect or disconnect.
The easiest way is by using Modem Lights. Right click on the top panel, select 'Add to panel', and choose 'Modem Lights'. If your modem device is other than ttyS0, you'll have to configure the app. Right-click Modem Lights, choose Preferences -> Advanced, and change the lock file to point to your modem device.
For example, if you have an internal modem on /dev/modem, the Device would be ppp0 and the Lock File /var/lock/LCK..modem
Besides allowing you to connect and disconnect with a single click, Modem Lights also gives you information on how long you've been connected, and a graphical view of your modem's activity.
From SimonMichael Sun Dec 5 03:28:45 +0000 2004 From: Simon Michael Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 03:28:45 +0000 Subject: live cd ? Message-ID: <20041205032845+0000@www.ubuntulinux.org>
Thanks for this helpful howto. I am using the ubuntu live cd a lot as a windows replacement for non-techie friends. These people generally have dial-up, and aren't ready to have windows replaced on their hard drive. Is there any way to configure ppp for a live cd and have it persist ?
From EduardoSilva Sun Dec 5 18:15:11 +0000 2004 From: Eduardo Silva Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 18:15:11 +0000 Subject: live cd permanent ppp config -> not easily done Message-ID: <20041205181511+0000@https://www.ubuntulinux.org>
With ubuntu live cd there is an option to use a permanent Home, but /home/<username> stores the configurations of user programs, while the configuration for ppp is placed in /etc . Try to ask in the forums, http://www.ubuntuforums.org .
From DavidFaustini Mon Feb 14 21:15:08 +0000 2005 From: David Faustini Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 21:15:08 +0000 Subject: Thanks Message-ID: <20050214211508+0000@https://www.ubuntulinux.org>
Nice guide man, thanks a lot.
From prabhu Sat Feb 26 08:06:26 +0000 2005 From: prabhu Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 08:06:26 +0000 Subject: internal modem Message-ID: <20050226080626+0000@https://www.ubuntulinux.org>
Hey! Thanks for the details. I have nt tried this yet :). I have an internal modem and tried to get ubuntu Autodetect the same by given all possible values /dev/<whatever>. What cud be the issue here? Cheers! PrabhuS
From PaulO'Malley Sun Feb 27 11:20:40 +0000 2005 From: Paul O'Malley Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 11:20:40 +0000 Subject: Hoary Array 5 serial modem problem solved Message-ID: <20050227112040+0000@https://www.ubuntulinux.org>
There was no /dev/modem present breaking wvdial. In the case where the serial modem (a zoom) was not auto detected the following fix was used: sudo ln -s /dev/ttyS0 /dev/modem People with simular problems may have to change the number 0 for a 1 or a 2 or a 3. 0 or 1 should cover over 99% of cases. You can also manually edit /etc/wvdial.conf if the other information above does not work for you. wvdial can be run from the command line.
From S.Taylor Mon Mar 21 06:24:49 +0000 2005 From: S. Taylor Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 06:24:49 +0000 Subject: seral ports not detected? "modem not working" Message-ID: <20050321062449+0000@www.ubuntulinux.org>
Yes a great distro, thanks. The but is the apparent failure of serial port detection -- even when I link to dev/modem or use /dev/ttyS[1234] in wvdial, it starts to send to modem, then halts. Other distros (Knoppix, ) found ttyS1 and connected no problem
From RaduCristianFotescu Fri Mar 25 09:39:39 +0000 2005 From: Radu Cristian Fotescu Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 09:39:39 +0000 Subject: Serial modem should be ON at boot time Message-ID: <20050325093939+0000@https://www.ubuntulinux.org>
I also experienced the problem of a non-detected and not working external hardware serial modem (which made pppconfig, wvdial[conf] and gnome-ppp unuseable) even after issuing a 'sudo ln -s /dev/ttyS0 /dev/modem'. Of course, it previously worked in Slackware and Mepis! Eventually I got it working by making sure the modem was ON and connected to the RS-232 at the time when the kernel was booting! I guess it's smth with the boot scripts...
From joseluiz Wed Apr 6 13:50:00 +0100 2005 From: jose luiz Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 13:50:00 +0100 Subject: Detects, dial, but do not connect Message-ID: <20050406135000+0100@www.ubuntulinux.org>
I have a problem with my USR2976 hardmodem. I got a script that make ubuntu detect it, dial via pppconfig/pon , make the modem noises but do not connect. pppnegociation failed. Any help?