[arch-general] wvdial and ppp configuration

[Fons Adriaensen]

On Sun, Sep 11, 2011 at 04:56:29AM +0800, Ray Rashif wrote:
> On 11 September 2011 00:27, Fons Adriaensen <fons at linuxaudio.org> wrote:
> > Since my (unknown) neighbour finally got smart enough to
> > lock me out of his wireless access point (still unencrypted,
> > probably filters on MAC address now), I got a Vodafone USB
> > internet key, and even managed to make it work. But I've
> > the impression that my current configuration isn't really
> > optimal.
> 
> Isn't that illegal? :P

Don't know. There are many unprotected access points that
are explicitly meant to be used by anyone who cares. So
if I find one I'll use it. It's a trivial exercise to set
up WEP or WPA, so if someone doesn't do that I assume the
access point is open to tbe public.
 
> > 1. The 'Don't know what to do!  Starting pppd and hoping
> >   for the best.' line from wvdial looks suspect.
> 
> That's normal, I think. However, I don't know the details.

It means the other side didn't produce and prompt or menu.

> > 2. The fact that I have _two_  new network interfaces.
> >   The existence of the 'usb0' one seems to suggest I
> >   don't need pppd at all, but how then to bring it up ?
> 
> wvdial does all of the device handling for you - no need to explicitly
> use pppd to do anything here. You either use wvdial (front-end to ppp
> scripts) or pppd alone. pppd is also the one "bringing up" or
> registering the ppp device - not you. In short, the following is the
> connection process:

I don't explicitly use pppd, wvdial does. And it looks as if it
shouldn't - just do the dialling and then let something else (e.g.
dhcpcd) set up the already existing interface (usb0). But wvdial
has no options to make it do that AFAIK.

> BTW, are you sure you need usb_modeswitch for this modem? Some modems
> used to need that like sometime in 2005/2006, but they no longer do.

Yes, originally it shows up as a cdrom device with the Windows 
software on it. After the modeswitch it becomes a modem.

-- 
FA