Complete n00b - first time ive touched linux. Mandrake 9.0 Installed but cant dial up

[Con]

Hi guys

Now im working in a half-decent establishment, one benefit i wanted to make use of was a 2mbit internet connection. So, i downloaded Mandrake 9.0 the other day (3cds) and yesterday i burnt the images to cd and then took them home. Last night i looked through my spare machines to find something that might do as a linux test box, ie a box for me to use just to familiarize myself with linux and how this stuff works!

Well I opened up the case of a Cyrix MI 300mhz machine, added some more simms to it to give it 64mb of ram ;D. I also changed the 1gb hdd to a 4gb seagate drive. I booted off the Mandrake CDRom and started the install.

When it came to installing networking, it didnt find my modem, then i realised that linux won't support winmodems. So i carried on with the install. Once installed, i attached an external serial modem . I then used DrakeConnect to setup the internet connection. I use NtlWorld 56k dialup. I did all the settings that i thought could possibly apply.

I clicked connect and herd the trusty sound of the modem speaker dialing up the ISP number. You know u get one tone per number, well it did the number bit then i got the usual two high pitched beeps, but after that i head "please hang up and try again" coming from BT the other end. Then it returned and error "NO CARRIER SIGNAL". I put my mobile number as the connection number as a test and dialed but my mobile never rang.

Is my modem knackered, well the tones are working!!!! Whats going on? Shall i venture into buying a new hardware modem (expensive).

Conrad

[Kaitain]

You can work out whether your modem's at fault by connecting it to one of the Windows boxes you've got lying around, using the "default 56k" driver and hyperterm or phone dialler just to try dialling numbers, or any ol' internet account to see that it successfully negotiates a connection.

But from the sound of it some settings somewhere are wrong. There is (buried somewhere in the various menus) a program called either KDial or KInternet Dialer (I forget, and can't check anymore )- it circumvents DrakeConnect (and YaST2 incidentally) and keeps its own config files etc for creating dialup settings. You might try that instead - it tends to work where the other alternatives fail.

[Con]

Thanks for the suggestions kaitain - last time i tried to use this modem with windows xp it couldnt find drivers, but i am willing to try what u suggested when i get home from work - see if it does work or not under windows. The program i am using to connect is called something like KPPP ? I did a quick google search on this also, something i found was information that no carrier meant that there is too much line noise under the protocol i am using.

WHAT TO DO NEXT!!!???! \o/

Conrad

[Kaitain]

Yes, that's the one... KPPP. Forgetful of me.

Must get money for hard disc for putting linux on... anyone want a kidney? 1 suicidally reckless owner, twenty million miles on the clock?

[Con]

I think its the modem guys! under windows i installed it, it dials but doesnt handshake - same mofo problem! OK so this means i need a hardware modem. Kaitain what size hdd do u need?

Conrad

p.s anyone got a hardware modem for sale?

[Kaitain]

I might have one Trading not allowed in the forum so pm me