Linux Setup for Express56

Express56 dialup service is compatible with any PPP dialers regardless of operating system or method.

This is one of our users' description of how the connection can be made. Depending on your version of Linux, the procedure might be slightly different.

Choose a type of Connection

• netcfg in Xwindows
• KDE Desktop
• PPP scripts from the command lines

A. netcfg setup in Xwindows:

Start Xwindows with the startx command (login as root) start the network configuration manager with the command netcfg. In the names tab type express56.com in the domain field Add 204.117.214.10 and 199.2.252.10 in the nameserver section. Click on the interfaces tab and click on add button Netcfg will ask for type of connection please choose PPP after choosing PPP and clicking ok type in the following information in the appropriate fields(as indicated in your confirmation)

• Phone number
• username
• password

How to Connect and disconnect:

Highlight the PPP interface in Net configuration
Click on activate
the modem will start dialing and if all settings and hardware is correct, connect you to Express56 Network;
to disconnect make sure your PPP interface is highlighted and choose deactivate.

B: KDE Desktop

If you use KDE as your desktop and only wish to connect while running that desktop, the use of the network tool "kppp" is almost trivial.

Steps

1. Start kppp and click on Setup and then Add (for new connection).
2. At the Dial tab, enter:
   • Connection Name = Express56
   • Phone Number = <access number>
   • Authentication = PAP
   • Check Yes to store password
3. At the IP tab:
   • Check Yes for Dynamic IP address
   • Check Yes for auto-configure host name from this IP
4. At the DNS tab:
   • Domain = express56.com
   • Check Configuration: Automatic
   • Check Yes to Disable existing DNS servers
5. At the Gateway tab:
   • Check Yes for Default Gateway
   • Check Yes to Assign the default Route to this Gateway
6. The Login Script can be left alone
7. Ignore Accounting
   Enter your name and password, optionally check Show log window and hit the Connect button. To disconnect, simply click on the disconnect button.

C: Plain old ppp at command line

This requires editing the /etc/ppp-on shell script.

Steps:

1. Make sure the protections on /usr/sbin/pppd are like: -rwsr-xr-x If not, as root, try chmod u+s /usr/sbin/pppd
2. Edit /etc/ppp/ppp-on so it looks something like the following. The comment lines (beginning with #) are eliminated here for brevity.

   ----< /etc/ppp/ppp-on >----
   TELEPHONE=nnn-nnnn
   ACCOUNT=username
   PASSWORD=password
   export TELEPHONE ACCOUNT PASSWORD
   
   exec /usr/sbin/pppd lock modem \
    /dev/ttyS0 115200 crtscts \
    asyncmap 200A0000 escape ff \
    0.0.0.0:0.0.0.0 noipdefault \
    defaultroute \
    connect /etc/ppp/dial-express56
   ---------------------------------
   

   You may need to change the CPU to modem speed.
3. Create a file /etc/ppp/dial-express56 by copying /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer.
   Edit /etc/ppp/dial-express56 to look as follows. (You can just use ppp-on-dialer if you wish - change ppp-on accordingly).

   ---< /etc/ppp/dial-express56 >---
   exec chat -v \
   TIMEOUT 3 \
   ABORT '\nBUSY\r' \
   ABORT '\nNO ANSWER\r' \
   ABORT '\nRINGING\r' \
   '' \rAT \
   'OK-+++\c-OK' ATH0 \
   TIMEOUT 120 \
   OK ATDT$TELEPHONE \
   CONNECT ''
   ---------------------------------
   

   The backslashes are important. They are line-continuation characters. Remove two obsolete lines if any:

   ogin:--ogin: $ACCOUNT \
   word:-- $PASSWORD
   

   All authentication information will be requested at PPP handshaking via PAP.
4. For authentiacation via PAP create or edit file /etc/ppp/pap-secrets to look as follows.

   ----< /etc/ppp/pap-secrets >-----
   username * password
   ---------------------------------
   

   It has to contain only one meaningful line.
5. If you are not already in the directory /etc/ppp, move there. Enter the command:
   ./ppp-on &
   This should cause the pppd (ppp daemon) to start and use chat to establish a connection through the script in dial-express56.
6. To see if you are up, run as root:
   ifconfig
   It should report a ppp0 interface.
7. To bring this interface down:
   /etc/ppp/ppp-off

See also: Linux PPP HOWTO

Please email all questions, comments, typos, etc. to support@express56.com

These instructions are informational only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, phone line conditions or user's system configuration. User assumes all risk of use. Express56 and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use.