Topic: modem will not dial?

[wykyd]

Ok I installed SME Server and told it where my modem is (Com 1) and it will not dial out. I can get teverything else to work but this. I have set all connections to long. I know my modem is on COM 1 becuase that is where it is located when IPCOP is on there.

System
P200 mmx
32 Ram
Netillegent NIC
Creative Modem Blaster

I know this is a small system but it is only serveing  few machine and I am currently using IPCOP which runs good. I though I would be able to install SME Server but it will not act as a gateway. Although I can FTP and set up accounts and everything on it. If I could et it to Dial I would be a very happy chappy.

I have tried to search for the answer but it seems I am alone in this.

Is there a setting for Dial on demand? Is there a setting that enables the initial connection?

[Joel Shoemark]

Try entering at&fx3l1m3 in your dialing string this will tell most modems to ingnore dial tone (modem may not detect dial tone) and turn speaker on (l1) and volume high (m1,2,3)

[wykyd]

It doesn't get to the modem though

There is no activity at the modem at all, Its like its not there. I checked the link to make sure it was pointing to Com 1. If it started to dial then I could figure that out, but there is nothing happening at all. I have tried 2 different modems to make sure but niether get anything.

[Ray Mitchell]

Have you set your correct username and password for your ISP in server console configure server ?
Did you set your connection to dialup in configure server ?
Is your server set to be gateway & server ?
Have you tried the internet connection test in server console ?
Is the modem a standard modem ie NOT a Winmodem which don't work with linux ?
Did the modem and cable work OK previously ?
Can you test the modem and cable and same phone line and dialled phone number on a PC to prove they are OK with your present physical situation ?
Did you set the ttySx correctly for your Com port ?
Are you sure its really plugged into Com 1 ?

The modem will generally connect when diald is started at boot up, but after a few minutes will disconnect.
Web browser or email activity should trigger a modem to dialup and establish a connection again for the default period eg long.

Just re-read your post:
> I am currently using IPCOP which runs good. I though I would be able to install > SME Server but it will not act as a gateway.

That may be your problem, turn the gateway mode on and it will act like a gateway then and try to dial the outside world.
PS I don't quite get if you have installed sme now or not !

Troubleshooting is fun ! Ha !

Regards
Ray

[wykyd]

Have you set your correct username and password for your ISP in server console configure server ?
Yes I checked this 5 times
Did you set your connection to dialup in configure server ?
Yes double checked this to
Is your server set to be gateway & server ?
Yes
Have you tried the internet connection test in server console ?
Yes it just times out. The modem does not even move.
Is the modem a standard modem ie NOT a Winmodem which don't work with linux ?
I use Red Hat for my desktop and It ran fine off of this.
Did the modem and cable work OK previously ?
Yeah they ran IPCOP and I am using it now,
Can you test the modem and cable and same phone line and dialled phone number on a PC to prove they are OK with your present physical situation?
Yes this is what I have running now.
Did you set the ttySx correctly for your Com port ?
Checked this and checked it again. I even ssh'ed across to double check the link.
Are you sure its really plugged into Com 1 ?
Yes, It shows up as Com 1 in IPCOP. Besides this is an old box and this is only 1 and a LPT port

I went through the usual suspects when I set the box up. I have had Win Server on it and it ran on com 1 to. I have searched endlessly for the answer but alas am still here.

Well at least I know it was not something I missed. I don't understand it though. Its like it is not reaching out. Not pushing for the net. I watched Diald, in start up and it checked out ok (as it did any other time) but the mobem just sat there, Like it was laughing at me. OK it wasn't but that is what it feels like.

and hell yeah troubleshooting is fun. when you find the answer.

[W.Raj]

probe this one from console:

pppd /dev/ttyS0 modem  noauth lock crtscts persist defaultroute user "user"


where "user" is from Your ISP

and look out in /etc/ppp/pap-secrets  for a follaw line:

"user"     *     "password"

If all is OK this command must dialout!

[Ray Mitchell]

Hey wykyd
Please tell us the answer when you find it

PS You could temporarily drop a hard disk with another OS (Win98 or similar) on it, into the same box and test the exact setup that way. If the modem works in the same box with different OS, then how you have setup sme is the likely problem.

Thanks
Ray

[wykyd]

I did what W.Raj said to do and the password and evything is right in the file.
through a remote terminla I ran that command and it light up a couple of lights on the modem but did not dial. This is realy confusing me because everything I have check is right. There has toi be something I am missing.

The Box I run IPCOP on I formated with SME Server so I know the setup works. Now I have it on a test machine using the same modem to try and figure out what it is I have missed. (i hope it is something I have missed)

This is what I have done.

I have tested red hat 9 and win 2k pro and both could dial out no problem

I have installed SME set up as server and gateway with IP 192.168.0.200
I set it not to use dhcp.

My IPCOP has 192.168.0.1, This is the gateway I am using at the momment.

I have set up to dial up with all connections to long. I entered the username and password of my ISP and verified they where right in that file.

[Ray Mitchell]

> I have tested red hat 9 and win 2k pro and both could dial out no problem

That would seem to suggest the modem is OK.

> I have installed SME set up as server and gateway with IP 192.168.0.200
> I set it not to use dhcp.
> My IPCOP has 192.168.0.1, This is the gateway I am using at the momment.

This bit is confusing me. Is the sme a standalone server and gateway or are you using a seperate IPCOP instal/box as the gateway for the sme server ?
 
If the sme is set to use another gateway for its Internet access then it will never dial the modem. How have you got the configuration set.

Show us what's in server manager review configuration.

Also show us what settings you have for each screen in server console, configure this server, (use xxx's or fake names for security)

Regards
Ray

[wykyd]

OK
originaly I had the IPCOP as my gateway. I thought I would instead use the SME server as my gateway and use the server functions on it as well. When I installed and set it up I could not use the modem as I said before. My only option to get back on the net then was to put IPCOP back on. This I did was back on the net. Now to be able to configure SME so that I could find whats wrong with it I installed it on onother machine to see if that might work, then I could just use the other machine. This did not work and I had the same problem as with the other. So in order not to interfere with the IPCOP server that was on the system I formated and reinstalled the SME server on the second machine setting it up as a gateway and server but with a static IP without DHCP.

OK so there is 2 gateways on my network. The IPCOP box which is working as a DHCP server and Gateway/firewall. And the SME server which is configured (I'll post each screen below) as a server/gateway but with DHCP off. This enables me to still get on the net and try and work out what SME is doing at the same time. although I have to disconnect every time I try to connnect with SME.

IPCOP is set to an IP of 192.168.0.1
with a range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.199

The SME has an IP of 192.168.0.200

Now the screens

S1
domain name
wykyd.com

S2
system name
server

S3
NIC Driver
Netelligent 10/100 (driver tlan)

S4
IP
192.168.0.200

S5
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0

S6
Setting
Gateway and Server

S7
Internet Connection
Server and Gateway - Dial Up

S8
Modem Port
/dav/ttyS0

S9
Modem String
Blank

S10
Net phone Number


S11
Net User Name


S12
Password


S13
8AM to 6PM policy
Long

S14
Outside office hours policy
Long

S15
Weekend Policy
Long

S16
Dynamic DNS
Off

S17
DHCP
Off

S18
Master DNS Server Address
Blank

S19
Proxy Server
Off

S20
Status Reporting
No

S21
Server Console
Auto

S22
Contact E-mail
Blank

And thats it.

I realy do appreciate the help. It just must be something I am missing.  On both machine I get the same error. I am going to go and see if I can find my ISP's DNS server, maybe that will help.

thanx again.

[wykyd]

OK I have experimented with a few Init strings for my modem.

I have not got my Modem Blaster working yet. But

I got an Acer Modem which I actualy got to  here the dial tone, but then it makes these noises. It is not a tone dial, Maybe Pulse? I am checking on a few now. I think it has to do with the string.

The string I got the Acer to fear dial tone was.

AT&FW2&D0X4S95=3\N3%C1

maybe this makes some sense to you but I know nothing of INIT strings for modems.

[Ray Mitchell]

All those settings seem OK to me, very similar to what I have except for DHCP.

Your progress with the Acer modem sounds more promising.
I was going to suggest you check your Modem Blaster  on the Red Hat compatibility list just in case. www.redhat.org

> I got an Acer Modem which I actualy got to  here the dial
> tone, but then it makes these noises.

The noises are probably the handshaking signals.

> The string I got the Acer to fear dial tone was.
> AT&FW2&D0X4S95=3\N3%C1

I would have to look up the modem handbook to interpret what these settings mean, you could try that
I just use L1M1 for my modem init so I can hear it doing its thing.

Ray

[wykyd]

Yes well now I am getting varying degree's of success.

I managed to dial into the ISP with INIT string

S32=66

But this didn't stay up for long, Although the test passed. But then it died and did not want to do anything again. I so far have tried these:

Creative

AT&FW2&D0X4S95=3\N3%C1
&FE0V1&D2&C1W2S95=47
s32=66  ####
AT&D2&C1X4V1Q0S7=70\N3\Q3\J0
&F&W&W1
AT&FE0V1&D2&C1W2\V1
AT&F&C1&D2\N3S95=1
+MS=11,1
AT&FE0V1&D2&C1W2S95=47

Acer
&F2&C1&D2
1,,"AT+MS=56,1,32000,56000"

Generic
AT&F
AT&F1
AT&F&C1&D2
AT&F1&C1&D2

For K56flex modems, try one of these generic init strings:
AT&F+MS=56
AT&F+MS=56S202=32
AT&F1+MS=56
AT&F1+MS=56S202=32

Although the AT&F seems to set it to pulse dialing. Still have had a few dial but nothing keep the connection. Just plow along I think until I come up with one that works. At least I know now where the problem is.

Thanx for the help. Much Appreciated.

[wykyd]

Weel after pretty much ll day searching and trying init strings I have given up. I got it to connect a few times but never for long and I could not get the server test to work, even when it was connected. This sucks, but hey.

I would purchase a new modem if I new it would work.

[Ray Mitchell]

Have you tried resetting the modem back to factory defaults ? I'm sure there is a standard AT command for this, look in the book.

Can you try dialling a different ISP, your ISP's protocols and your modem may have some incompatibilities.

To isolate the issue, you could try removing the HDD with the sme instal on it, and put that hard drive temporarily into another computer, and then try the different modems you have again.

If the modem(s) work OK there, then your original hardware has some problems/compatibilities.
If the modem(s) do not work in the new computer, then the modem or sme setup are the problem. Then it might be worth buying a new modem

Ray