Why Does wvdial No Longer Work?

Support knowledgebase (80_wvdial)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 8.0

Symptom:

You want to use the program wvdial to connect to the Internet through an analog modem. However, this program no longer seems to be working as it did in previous SuSE Linux versions.

Cause:

From SuSE Linux 8.0 on, the dial-up procedure for analog modems has been completely revised, mainly because of the newly-created uniform directory structure for the configuration files of the network configuration.

From now on, wvdial is only used in a sort of chat script mode. Thus, the corresponding configuration file /etc/wvdial.conf has become obsolete and only remains included because of the RPM package wvdial itself.

Solution:

Use the programs kinternet or cinternet instead of the program wvdial. Configuring your provider with YaST generates the suitable configuration file for these programs. Additionally, these programs have the advantage of enabling normal users to establish an Internet connection without the need of root permissions or the SUID bit.

kinternet is a graphical program represented by a plug symbol on the tray beside the clock in the KDE desktop. cinternet is its counterpart for the command line. Users who do not use KDE as desktop can start cinternet as follows:

/usr/sbin/cinternet

The possible parameters for the Internet connection with cinternet are displayed with the command:

/usr/sbin/cinternet --help

For more detailed information about a single parameters, refer to the relevant man page, which can be accessed with

man cinternet


Keywords: 80, MODEM, WVDIAL, DIAL-IN, PPP, INTERNET

Categories: PPP

SDB-80_wvdial, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 28. Nov 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 25. Mar 2003 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)