18.1. Configuring a Single Dial-Up Account with WvDial

Problem

You need to set up a dial-up Internet account on your Linux box, but you don't know what dialer or configuration utility to use. Or, you know about KPPP and Gnome-PPP, which are good utilities, but KPPP requires KDE libraries, Gnome-PPP requires Gnome libraries, and both require X Windows. You don't want to down-load all the baggage that comes with them; you just want a simple standalone dialer, or you want a command-line dialer.

Solution

The WvDial dial-up program runs from the command line, and runs on any Linux distribution. These are the steps to configure a single account:

Then, make sure that /etc/ppp/options contains a basic set of options. You can copy this exactly:

	asyncmap 0
	crtscts
	lock
	hide-password
	modem
	proxyarp
	lcp-echo-interval 30
	lcp-echo-failure 4
	noipx

As root, start up the WvDial configuration script, giving it the name of the configuration file, exactly as shown here:

	# wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf
	Scanning your serial ports for a modem.

	ttyS0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- OK
	ttyS0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 Z -- OK
	ttyS0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 -- OK
	[...]
	Found a modem on /dev/ttyS0.
	Modem configuration written to /etc/wvdial.conf.
	ttyS0<Info>: Speed 115200; init "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0"

This writes the modem defaults to /etc/wvdial.conf. Now, open /etc/wvdial.conf, and add your login information, using your own dial-up number, login, and password:

	[Dialer Defaults]
	Modem = /dev/ttyS0
	Baud = 115200
	Init1 = ATZ
	Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
	ISDN = 0
	Modem Type = Analog Modem
	Phone = 123-4567
	Username = alrac
	Password = passfoo

Save your changes, and try dialing in by running the wvdial command:

	# wvdial
	--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
	--> Initializing modem.
	--> Sending: ATZ
	ATZ
	OK
	--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
	ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
	OK
	--> Modem initialized.
	--> Sending: ATDT9322744
	--> Waiting for carrier.
	ATDT9322744
	CONNECT 115200
	--> Carrier detected. Starting PPP immediately.
	--> Starting pppd at Thu March 13 13:54:09 2007
	--> pid of pppd: 7754
	--> Using interface ppp0
	--> local IP address 68.169.174.170
	--> remote IP address 68.169.174.12
	--> primary DNS address 68.169.174.2
	--> secondary DNS address 68.169.174.3

Test your connection by surfing the Web or pinging some reliable hosts:

	$ ping -C2 yahoo.com
	PING yahoo.com (216.109.112.135) 56(84) bytes of data.
	64 bytes from w2.rc.vip.dcn.yahoo.com (216.109.112.135): icmp_seq=1 ttl=50 time=133
	ms
	64 bytes from w2.rc.vip.dcn.yahoo.com (216.109.112.135): icmp_seq=2 ttl=50 time=138
	ms

There you go, all ready to web surf at the speed of dial-up.

Discussion

S0=0 tells the modem to answer the phone immediately, so delete this if you don't want to enable dial-in access. Or, change the value to 1, 2, 3,or 4 to answer on the first, second, etc. ring.

It is better to use /dev/ttyS* than /dev/modem. On some Linux distributions, /dev/modem is supposed to be a softlink to the modem, but it isn't always correct. It is better to name it explicitly.

Modern modems are good at auto-negotiating line speeds. 115200 is a safe default. If you have problems sustaining a connection, try lower speeds:

9,600 bps
19,200 bps
38,400 bps
57,600 bps

See man wvdial.conf to see what the default configuration values are.

See Also