Fedora 2 and USR External

[oldsoundguy]

I just installed Fedora core 2 on my Linux machine and I can not get the external USRobotics fax/modem to be seen. It worked on Red Hat 7 through 9 and I just tested it's veracity on an xp box and it loads, so it is NOT the modem or the computer. (Plug and PRay has been shut off in the bios.) Any one with a clue on this one? (I have other problems, but one at a time!)

PIII 667 on Asus board with 768m ram and a primary hd of 8.4gig

[loninappleton]

I just installed Fedora core 2 on my Linux machine and I can not get the external USRobotics fax/modem to be seen. It worked on Red Hat 7 through 9 and I just tested it's veracity on an xp box and it loads, so it is NOT the modem or the computer. (Plug and PRay has been shut off in the bios.) Any one with a clue on this one? (I have other problems, but one at a time!)

PIII 667 on Asus board with 768m ram and a primary hd of 8.4gig


Your problem is similar to mine which is just a few posts
below. Please share any solutions.

I'll be tracking both threads but would appreciate any
other info that you might find

Thanks,



lon@athenet.net

[tashirosgt]

Is this an external serial modem? Do your serial ports show up in
dmesg | less
?
I've gotten the US Robotics "56K Faxmodem" to work with Fedor Core 2. I have PNP OS enabled in the Bios.

[Dog-One]

You can verify if the port is enabled and found by the kernel: dmesg | grep ttyS

Next, I would use minicom to talk directly to the port. Might do a minicom -s first to configure the terminal program; set port, baud rate, init string if you want.

If the port is there and minicom won't respond to an AT command, do a statserial /dev/ttyS0 and power up and down the modem while watching the screen. You should see status line indicator changes.

If that doesn't work. LMK and will try some other things.

[oldsoundguy]

You can verify if the port is enabled and found by the kernel: dmesg | grep ttyS

Next, I would use minicom to talk directly to the port. Might do a minicom -s first to configure the terminal program; set port, baud rate, init string if you want.

If the port is there and minicom won't respond to an AT command, do a statserial /dev/ttyS0 and power up and down the modem while watching the screen. You should see status line indicator changes.

If that doesn't work. LMK and will try some other things.
thanks, but I do NOT know how to change to root in the new terminal system! so I can accomplish nothing!

[oldsoundguy]

Is this an external serial modem? Do your serial ports show up in
dmesg | less
?
I've gotten the US Robotics "56K Faxmodem" to work with Fedor Core 2. I have PNP OS enabled in the Bios.
as mentioned in the original post .. it is an external modem. Since most older external modems are serial modems, it is a serial modem. and I can NOT see anything with that command as terminal launches in user, not root and I do not know how to change that .. help is no help.

[tashirosgt]

In the usual Fedora installation, you don't have to be root to use the dmesg command.

To become root, use the command
su --login root
which can be abbreviated as
su --login
or
su -
The command
su
will also work, but your PATH won't be set to anything that is convenient.

To stop being root, use the command
exit
To determine whether you are root or not, use
whoami

[oldsoundguy]

I am seriously debating whether to wipe the install and go back to RH 9 or so and THEN do an upgrade instead. The dial up worked in that system .. my reasons for the upgrade were many, but the primary one was to get a wireless nic to work (which it does NOT, also) (and yes, I have a recognized chipset on the nic .. the system sees it, just won't install it!) and to get the card reader to work (which it does) and to upgrade the cups printer driver as the old one was dodgy and too slow for my 1150c office jet. (newer driver is much faster and cleaner) Scanner still does not work, and I also lost my sound card because of the failure of the new system to support ISA without a dance around.

[oldsoundguy]

In the usual Fedora installation, you don't have to be root to use the dmesg command.

To become root, use the command
su --login root
which can be abbreviated as
su --login
or
su -
The command
su
will also work, but your PATH won't be set to anything that is convenient.

To stop being root, use the command
exit
To determine whether you are root or not, use
whoami
Thanks for that tip! it is now filed with the manual(s) At least I will now be able to do something. As to the basic dmesg command .. yes, I can launch that one .. but the other commands I could NOT. dmesg gives me this humongeous list of the items, and at present I am NOT that conversant with just what a lot of that means .. for instance it tells me the cd is there then it tells me it isn't and then it tells me that it is there .. and since I can USE the cd, I am assumming that the NOT portion is NOT!!

[oldsoundguy]

OK, now that I could go into root .. got some testing done! .. minicom does not work it sees nothing .. minicom -s shows the strings as they should be .. statserial shows the modem as THERE when switched! So whahoppen? (Ain't this FUN?? (NOT))

[tashirosgt]

I guess if one thing sees the modem and another doesn't we have to figure out what it was that you wanted to see the modem. In my setup I want kppp to use the modem. I run kppp from a terminal window. You say that the modem isn't seen, so when you do the kppp setup (if that's what you do) you don't see a /dev/modem in the list of devices?

(I've always had the idea that I should go tot he Mozilla icon and change its command so that it ran a script which started kppp when Mozilla was started. And perhaps I could fix up kppp so I don't have to enter the root password. Anyone done that?)

[oldsoundguy]

I guess if one thing sees the modem and another doesn't we have to figure out what it was that you wanted to see the modem. In my setup I want kppp to use the modem. I run kppp from a terminal window. You say that the modem isn't seen, so when you do the kppp setup (if that's what you do) you don't see a /dev/modem in the list of devices?

(I've always had the idea that I should go tot he Mozilla icon and change its command so that it ran a script which started kppp when Mozilla was started. And perhaps I could fix up kppp so I don't have to enter the root password. Anyone done that?)
The modem is not seen when I run the Lizzard er Wizzard .. tells me it ain't there so give it up!

[tashirosgt]

I tried redhat,system tools, internet configuration wizard. It didn't find my modem. Nevertheless, I got kppp to work.

[oldsoundguy]

I tried redhat,system tools, internet configuration wizard. It didn't find my modem. Nevertheless, I got kppp to work.
Yep!! Got it to work with KPPP .. but just how can I get a quick launch of same onto the desktop, for one, and how can I get a CLOSE CONNECTION in there .. the darn thing only closes IF I shut the modem down! (but we ARE moving in the right direction .. I can at least go get some of the added stuff for the sound card and for the scanner and get THEM in operation. THEN I will go to work on that wireless NIC!)

[oldsoundguy]

OK, now have a quick launch and a shutdown in the task bar (just did a click on the box .. simple) .. now just how in blue blazes do I get a browser to work .. I launch KPPP and get on line, open Mozilla and NUTTIN!! it won't hook up with the on line system. I KNOW I am missing something here! (I have also been visiting the sound card problem forums, and NONE of that seems to work .. may be time to replace the card (no big deal .. 5 bucks, used, for a basic 64 PCI Blaster card at the local recycle shop.)

[loninappleton]

I had some success today.


I logged in as root.
Gave the wvdialconfig <username> command


There was a hint from an error message which prompted
to use the command wvdialconfig with username rather than
'create' which produced a command not founf in bash error.


Result was:

"found a modem on /dev/ttys0 <username> Warn: Can't
read config file <username>

then


Modem configuration written to <username>
ttys0 <info>: Speed 115200; init "ATQ V1 E1 S0=0 & C1 & D2 + Fclass=0" which is an init string for the modem.


Then I ran Internet Wizard which reported:

Profile Status Device Nickname Type
check Inactive PPP0 <username> Modem


At this box I clicked on the 'Activate button'


Result of this was:


"failed to activate device <username> with Error 2



I have not set up any needed TCP IP yet.


So that's where I am today.


I am not at the point of being able to dial out yet.

[oldsoundguy]

I had some success today.


I logged in as root.
Gave the wvdialconfig <username> command


There was a hint from an error message which prompted
to use the command wvdialconfig with username rather than
'create' which produced a command not founf in bash error.


Result was:

"found a modem on /dev/ttys0 <username> Warn: Can't
read config file <username>

then


Modem configuration written to <username>
ttys0 <info>: Speed 115200; init "ATQ V1 E1 S0=0 & C1 & D2 + Fclass=0" which is an init string for the modem.


Then I ran Internet Wizard which reported:

Profile Status Device Nickname Type
check Inactive PPP0 <username> Modem


At this box I clicked on the 'Activate button'


Result of this was:


"failed to activate device <username> with Error 2



I have not set up any needed TCP IP yet.


So that's where I am today.


I am not at the point of being able to dial out yet.
tried that .. wvdialconfig then username got me nowhere in root .. just bad command message. so I could go no further.

[tashirosgt]

I found that kppp doesn't work with the DNS set to dynamic. I had to set it to static and enter the IP addresses of my ISP's nameservers. The symptoms of this problem are that while you are connected, your /etc/resolv.conf has no nameservers in it.

[oldsoundguy]

I found that kppp doesn't work with the DNS set to dynamic. I had to set it to static and enter the IP addresses of my ISP's nameservers. The symptoms of this problem are that while you are connected, your /etc/resolv.conf has no nameservers in it.
when I set the KPPP up today, all I had to do was enter the ISP # (but could NOT use the * pause keys used in Windex) and my user name and password .. it went right through, but now the other problem .. how do I make Mozilla USE that connection??????

[tashirosgt]

If the modem seems to connect, but mozilla doesn't go anywhere, try doing a ping of something. If you ping-by-name as in
/bin/ping google.com
and don't get any packets, then you may have the problem I just described. You don't have anything working that will associated google.com with a numerical address. So you have to configure the DNS portion of kppp. It will seem to connect without having DNS working because you give it a numerical address for the ISP. But it doesn't known how to get to any non-numerical address.

[tashirosgt]

...and I am using a machine not on a network so I don't have eth0 up and running. In the past, on redhat distributions, I've had to bring the ethernet card down by
/sbin/ifconfig eth0 down
Then start kppp and connect.
Then start mozilla.
(Yes, Linux can be irritatiing. It's probably my fault for not tyring to improve my scheme once I got it working. )

[oldsoundguy]

If the modem seems to connect, but mozilla doesn't go anywhere, try doing a ping of something. If you ping-by-name as in
/bin/ping google.com
and don't get any packets, then you may have the problem I just described. You don't have anything working that will associated google.com with a numerical address. So you have to configure the DNS portion of kppp. It will seem to connect without having DNS working because you give it a numerical address for the ISP. But it doesn't known how to get to any non-numerical address.
gotcha .. now if only they would answer the phone, so I could get the numbers, I could test the thing!! LOL .. oh well, tomorrow is another day .. will try then.

[tashirosgt]

If you are connecting to the ISP on another machine, the info may be on that machine. If it's a windows machine, I don't know how to find it, but some Windows expert should be able to tell us. If its a linux machine. look in /etc/resolv.conf while you are connected.

[oldsoundguy]

On for a while this AM .. I did as instructed .. called the dial up provider and entered both the regular DNS number (tried it .. NO GO) then added the back up DNS number, tired it also NO GO .. so something is not happening here .. the modem will handshake and get on line (I have the volume up so that I can hear the activity when logging on, and I get the connect and the timer) but I can not, for the life of me, get a browser to see that I AM on line and to link to the modem activity. I even tried by opening the browser first and THEN went on line .. Also. NO GO! Do I have to set up a browser profile? Never have had to do that before on ANY system. (once this is done, I can quit walking through my place from front to back and actually sit down at the Linux box and get something done!)

[tashirosgt]

Some things to check:
Is etho shut off?
/sbin/ifconfig eth0 down

Does /dev/modem exist and what does it link to?
ls -l /dev/modem

And after your modem seems to connect, what is in /etc/resolv.conf?

[oldsoundguy]

Some things to check:
Is etho shut off?
/sbin/ifconfig eth0 down
(get unknown interface - no such device)

Does /dev/modem exist and what does it link to?
ls -l /dev/modem
(get /dev/modem in green typeface)

And after your modem seems to connect, what is in /etc/resolv.conf?
(get permission denied)

[tashirosgt]

For the purposes of dialup, its good that /sbin/ifconfig tells you no such device for eth0.

You'd have to be root to look at /etc/resolv.conf. Then
less /etc/resolv.conf
should do it.

My modem is on the first serial port and ls -l /dev/modem (don't forget the "-l") gives:
/dev/modem -> /dev/ttyS0
It may be that, in the kppp configuration, under the device tab, you can set the modem device to /dev/ttyS0 or to whatever serial port you are using.
Edit: However since you are able to get kppp to dialup, I don't think this is the problem. I have to wait till the dialup is finished and the main kppp window minimizes iteself, before I bring up Mozilla. If I bring up Mozilla too soon, it doesn't work.

[oldsoundguy]

You'd have to be root to look at /etc/resolv.conf. Then
less /etc/resolv.conf
should do it.
(am in root, still get permission denied)

My modem is on the first serial port and ls -l /dev/modem (don't forget the "-l") gives:
/dev/modem -> /dev/ttyS0
(Now I get command not found)

And yes, I do wait until I have complete connection before I attempt to launch Mozilla.

This thing has got me snowed!! .. But I don't have time now to tackle it as I have to leave and spend my usual Sunday brunch with my Dad and my handicapped brother. Will check this thread when I return .. thanks for the help thus far.

[tashirosgt]

Don't forget that when you become root you need to use
su -
or su --login
otherwise you'll get many "command not found"s because your PATH won't be set right.
(If you forget try giving the full path to the commands:
/bin/ls /etc/resolv.conf
/usr/bin/less /etc/resolv.conf
)

While the modem has connected, if you do
ls -l /etc/resolv.conf
what permissions does /etc/resolv.conf have?
Mine shows:
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 89 Oct 10 14:02 /etc/resolv.conf
I emphasize that you have to do this while the modem is connected because /etc/resolv.conf will be missing or empty when there is no connection. It is temporary file.

Enjoy the brunch, I'm working on the porch roof, off and on, today.

[oldsoundguy]

Back for a few and then heading out again.

Backed out of terminal and re started it logged in as root.

/bin/ls /etc/resolv.conf ((message: No such file or directory))
/usr/bin/less /etc/resolv.conf((message: No such file or directory))


While the modem has connected, if you do
ls -l /etc/resolv.conf
what permissions does /etc/resolv.conf have?

Mine shows: (-rw-r- -r-- 2root 76 oct 10 13:08 /etc/resolv.conf)

Still no way to get Mozilla to latch onto the web!

[oldsoundguy]

BTW, I also switched to a v.92 brand new USR external I had lying around when I was setting up .. The Lizzard didn't see that one, either! (so the problem has to be in the core since the modem worked in RH 7 through RH 9 with no problems on the SAME machine and setup!) Still debating going back to RH 9 and then doing the install as an upgrade to see if that will work.

[tashirosgt]

I didn't try the wizards in Redhat 9 or Fedora Core 2, but I know that kppp worked with dynamic DNS in Redhat 9 and doesn't work with it in FC2. I'd like to understand why - whether its a bug or whether its a misconfiguration, if anyone knows.

[oldsoundguy]

I gave it up .. moved a windows box into the front area .. set it up wireless. Then moved the Linux into this media room, put in a NIC, and hard wired it into the router! Then reloaded the system. It worked right out of the box. Now to get into the network and access the printers (says I have to install Samba .. think I might be able to do that!! LOL) and to get some file sharing set up. BUT, thanks very much for all of the help, even tho we couldn't get that modem to talk to the system. It HAS to be a glitch or bug in the Fedora 2 system. That wizzard should have hooked up that USRobotics 56k Dial up without any problems as earlier versions WORKED with the same setup!