A dial-up account contains information that lets Dial-Up connect the client to the server. To set up a dial-up account, you must specify information about the server, such as the name and phone number of the server. You must also provide information about the client, such as the IP address, domain name and DNS IP address, and the gateway. During the account setup, you can create login scripts, to automate the login process. The accounting option lets you keep track of the cost of your diaI-up connection.
To set up a dial-up account using Dial-Up, you need to know the following information about your Corel LINUX computer and the server you want to connect to:
the connection name (usually the name of the ISP; it must be unique if you have more than one dial-up account)
the telephone number of the server
whether the server uses dynamic or static IP addresses
the static IP address, if applicable
the IP number of the server's Domain Name Service (DNS)
the PPP authentication method the server uses: Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) or Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)
whether the server automatically starts PPP, or whether you must issue a start command once you are logged on
Your system administrator or Internet Service Provider (ISP) can provide this dial-up information.
IP and DNS
A network identifies your computer by a unique domain name and an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The domain name is like a proper name. The IP address is a numeric address. During a dial-up connection, the domain name of the computer must be translated into the IP address. Domain Name Service (DNS) servers translate IP addresses into proper names. You must supply at least one DNS server IP address when you set up a dial-up account.
To create a dial-up account, you must specify the IP address and domain name of your computer, and the IP address and domain name of the DNS server that your ISP uses to resolve IP addresses and domain names. If the DNS servers you have specified are outside of your local network, you can disable them when you connect to computers within the local network that might not need domain name translation.
Dynamic and static IP addresses
Your computer can use either a dynamic or static IP address. When you use a dynamic IP address, each time you connect to a network, the server you contact assigns an IP address during the current dial-up session. The number is different each time you connect to your ISP. When you use a static IP address, your computer is assigned an IP address to use every time you connect.
To create a dial-up account, you must specify whether your ISP assigns a dynamic or static IP address. If you have a static IP address and your computer is part of a larger network, your ISP also provides you with a subnet mask IP address.
PPP Authentication Methods
Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) and Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) are authentication methods that prevent unauthorized users from using your PPP line and accessing your system. PAP is a login procedure. During the dial-up process, the client sends a login name and password to the server, which verifies the information using a login and password database. CHAP requires that the client send its hostname and a random string to the server, which must return a particular response. The client verifies the server's response, completing the authentication. CHAP authentication repeats for the duration of the connection.
To create a dial-up account, you must specify whether the ISP uses the PAP or CHAP authentication method.
Gateway
A gateway is the computer that acts as a physical connection port to the Internet or to other networks. If your computer is part of a larger network that has a gateway, you need to specify the IP address of the gateway. If your computer is part of a network that does not have a dedicated Internet connection, or is a standalone workstation, you enable the default gateway. Both the default gateway and the static gateway have a default route, which is a set hardware path from your computer to the gateway computer. You can disable the default route and configure an alternative route; however it is highly recommended that you maintain the default route.
Login Script
A login script is a set of commands that control the login part of the dial-up process. You can edit the default login script to customize your dial-up login. Each command you use in the script must set a string (a sequence of characters) or other parameters set to specify how the command functions. For example, the Expect command causes Dial-Up to wait to receive a specified string before logging in to a server. If you set this string as "ID", the Dial-Up waits to receive a user ID before logging in. You can use the following commands to create a custom login script:
ExpectDial-Up waits for a specific string before completing login
SendDial-Up sends the specified string
ScanDial-Up scans the input data for a specified string (for example, a response returned during CHAP authentication)
SaveDial-Up stores the scanned string; Dial-Up stores only a password string
PauseDial-Up pauses for the specified number of seconds
HangupDial-Up sends a hang-up command to the modem
AnswerDial-Up prepares modem to answer an incoming connection
TimeoutDial-Up overrides the default or previously set modem timeout with the specified number of seconds; the default is reset when the login script is complete
PromptDial-Up prompts you to enter the specified string
PWPromptDial-Up prompts you to enter a password
IDDial-Up sends your user name if you have typed it in the user name dialog box; if not, Dial-Up prompts you to type it
PasswordDial-Up sends your password if you have typed it in the password dialog box; if not, Dial-Up prompts you to type it
LoopstartDial-Up waits to receive a specified string; it saves the string for use by Loopend
LoopendDial-Up exits the loop when it receives the specified string
PPP daemon (pppd)
The PPP daemon is a program that starts when Dial-Up establishes a connection with a server. It directs the flow of information between the client and server. You can customize the pppd options; however, it is recommended that you maintain the preset pppd options.