Dial up using Kppp

Debian Gnome

Dial Up Using Kppp

Install Kppp

Kppp is on the Debian DVD, but it is not installed by default.

To install it, put the DVD in the drive.

Open the Root Terminal and type:

apt-get install kppp

Kppp will be installed.

For more information, see Install Additional Programs.

When Kppp is installed, you will not be able to start it from the menu.

Let's set it up so it can be started from the menu.

Change User Priveleges

Go to: System -> Administration -> Users and Groups. You need to enter the root password.

Click on the user's name.

Click "Properties."

You will see a new window.

Click on the tab "User Priveleges."

Click on the square preceeding "Connect to the Internet using a modem," so it will have a tick in it.

Click "OK."

This will close this window and take you back to the previous one.

Click "Close."

It is not necessary to turn the computer off and restart now, but if you do, you will be able to start Kppp from the menu.

You may also get a message saying:

"/etc/resolv.conf is missing or can't be read! Ask your system administrator to create this file (can be empty) with appropriate read and write permissions."

Let's create this file.

Create File resolv.conf

In the Root Terminal, type:

cd /etc
touch resolv.conf

This file is now created.

Kppp will now start without displaying a message.

Before you can send or receive anything on the internet, there needs to be one more modification.

Change kppp-options

Open the Root File Manager.

Go to "/etc/ppp/peers/" and open the file "kppp-options."

The contents of the file are:

#noauth

Delete the "#," so it becomes:

noauth

Save the file.

Close the Text Editor and File Manager.

For this to take effect, turn the computer off and restart.

Kppp will now work.

Set Up Kppp

Following is an explanation of how to set up Kppp using common options. In some situations the information which needs to be entered may be different. Enter information as appropriate for your situation.

Begin by clicking on "KPPP" in the menu to open it. You should find it under Applications -> Internet -> KPPP.

Click "Configure." You will see a new window.

Click "New." You will see a new window.

You may try "Wizard" and see if it works. Only some countries are included here. If your country is not included, you cannot set it up using this method. Let's use Manual Setup.

Click "Manual Setup." You will see a new window.

Click "Add." You will see a new window.

Enter the phone number your computer dials to connect to the internet. Then click "OK." This will close this window and take you back to the previous one.

Enter the name of your internet provider in the box following "Connection name." (You can enter anything here.)

You may click on the "Accounting" tab and set up accounting if you want to record your phone costs, but this is not necessary.

Click "OK." This will close this window, and take you back to the previous one.

Click the tab "Modems."

Click "New."

Enter the name of your modem in the box following "Modem name." (You can enter anything here.)

The box following "Modem device" needs to set as appropriate for your modem. If you have an internal modem, leave it as "/dev/modem." If you have an external serial modem, it may be "/dev/ttyS0." If you are not sure, try different ones and see which works.

In the box following "Connection speed," change it to "115200."

Click "OK." This will close this window, and take you back to the previous one.

Click "OK" again. This will close this window, and take you back to the previous one.

In the box following "LoginID," enter the username you use to connect to the internet.

In the box following "Password," enter the password you use to connect to the internet.

You can now click "Connect," and connect to the internet.

You can also click "Quit" to close it.

Other Linux Distributions

People using dial up modems with other Linux distributions can find more information here.