How-to Connect a Dial-Up Modem in Ubuntu 9

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Contributed by: Michel Matte

Category: Desktop

Distribution: All

License: Linux Forums Article License

Posted: 01 December, 2009

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I have installed a few dial-up modems in Ubuntu 8 and I prefer the external modems because they are usually easier to configure compared to internal Winmodems. But recently I ran into problems while installing a US Robotics 56K USB Modem Model 5637 in Ubuntu 9.04. The connection fails because of missing access permissions. Here is how I worked it out.

Detecting the Modem

First, I installed gnome-ppp because it provides better control of thedial-up connection:

sudo apt-get install gnome-ppp

from a terminal window or through Synaptic Package Manager. This installsautomatically wvdial as the underlying program.
Connect the modem and detect the modem using:

sudo cp -vp /etc/wvdial.conf /etc/wvdial.conf.1 (to save the original version)

sudo wvdialconf

if the modem is detected save this configuration:

sudo cp -vp /etc/wvdial.conf /etc/wvdial.conf.1

Otherwise make sure the modem driver as identified by scanModem is loaded:

sudo modprobe cdc_acm

Check using

ls -l /dev/tty*

The modem should appear as /dev/ttyACM0

Connecting to the Internet

So far so good. Test the connection.

Click on the the red phone ( the gnome-ppp dialer). Enter user name, password and telephone number as defined with the Internet Service Provider. Check also the Setup tab and make sure the settings agree with those in wvdial.conf: overwrite /dev/modem with /dev/ttyACM0 to identify the modem. Click on the Connect tab.

Alternatively, you can dial directly with wvdial. Edit the settings using:

sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf

Enter user name, password and telephone number as defined with the Internet Service Provider. Connect:

wvdial

The Problem

Unfortunately, all attempts to connect fail because of access authorizations. Clearly, Ubuntu 9 does not behave the same way as Ubuntu 8. Here is a partial sample from syslog:

Nov 30 13:59:09 xxxx pppd[3388]: pppd 2.4.5 started by xxxx, uid 0

Nov 30 13:59:09 xxxx pppd[3388]: Using interface ppp0

Nov 30 13:59:09 xxxx pppd[3388]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/pts/1

Nov 30 13:59:09 xxxx pppd[3388]: Warning - secret file/etc/ppp/pap-secrets has world and/or group access

Nov 30 13:59:39 xxxx pppd[3388]: LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests

Nov 30 13:59:53 xxxx pppd[3397]: Can't open options file /etc/ppp/peers/wvdial: Permission denied

Nov 30 14:00:01 xxxx /USR/SBIN/CRON[3412]: (root) CMD ([ -x/usr/sbin/update-motd ] && /usr/sbin/update-motd2>/dev/null)

Nov 30 14:00:01 xxxx /USR/SBIN/CRON[3417]: (root) CMD ([ -x/usr/sbin/update-motd ] && /usr/sbin/update-motd hourly2>/dev/null)

Nov 30 14:02:02 xxxx pppd[3388]: Modem hangup

Nov 30 14:02:02 xxxx pppd[3388]: Connection terminated.

Nov 30 14:02:02 xxxx pppd[3388]: Exit.

The Workaround

In order to establish the connection successfully, it is necessary to start the dialer as superuser from a terminal window:

sudo wvdia
or
sudo gnome-ppp

For a more convenient startup icon, add the gnome-ppp icon from the menu to the desktop. Then edit this icon as follows from a terminal
window:

gedit Desktop/gnome-ppp.desktop

and
change only the following line:

Exec=gnome-ppp

to
Exec=gnome-terminal
-x
sudo gnome-ppp

Click on this icon. It will open a terminal window and you will be prompted for your password. Then the gnome-ppp screen will open and you should be able to connect.

The following is a /etc/wvdial.conf file that works with the US Robotics USB modem. It is better to use a lower speed and let the modem negotiate a higher speed with the service provider.

[Dialer Defaults]

New PPPD = yes

Stupid Mode = yes

Modem Type = Analog Modem

ISDN = 0

Auto DNS = 1

Auto Reconnect = 0

Modem = /dev/ttyACM0

;Baud = 460800

Baud = 230400

Init1 = ATZ4

; Phone = <Target PhoneNumber>

Phone = 1234567890

; Username = <Your Login
Name>

Username = guesswho

; Password = <Your Password>

Password = guessit

Source:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=873268

Comments about this article

wvdial connected but unable to browse

writen by: Raemo on 2010-01-17 10:36:02

Hi,

I configured wvdial in Ubunti 8.04 , using USB modem ZTE AC2726. Connected successfully, but unable to browse. Please find the steps which i have performed below and please help me what went wrong.

root@bala-laptop:/home/bala# lsusb
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 003: ID 19d2:fff1
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 046d:c063 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05a9:2640 OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
root@bala-laptop:/home/bala# sudo modprobe usbserial vendor=0x19d2 product=0xfff1
root@bala-laptop:/home/bala# sudo wvdialconf
Editing `/etc/wvdial.conf'.

Scanning your serial ports for a modem.

Modem Port Scan: S0 S1 S2 S3
WvModem: Cannot get information for serial port.
ttyUSB0: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- OK
ttyUSB0: ATQ0 V1 E1 Z -- OK
ttyUSB0: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 -- OK
ttyUSB0: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0

RE: wvdial connected but unable to browse written by Raemo:

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