How do you use a modem with Gentoo?

[Trisha]

I've got a laptop with gentoo preinstalled and the modem is supposed to be set up and ready to use, only problem is I don't know where it is or how to get to it. I can't find the equivalent of a Windows 'Dial up networking' to even be able to set anything up to see if it works or not.

[ynef]

Modems use the point-to-point protocol, or PPP for short. What you'll want to do is find info on ppp and a dialer that lets you command the modem to dial in to your ISP and have it start the ppp deamon (think of it as a background program that provides your computer with a service).

I've been using broadband for so long now that I haven't configured a modem in ages -- someone will come around and have more info for you, I'm sure. Until then, try to find HOWTOs on the subject.

Edit: Since you got it preinstalled, look for files that have ppp in them -- it's pretty common that people make a script called ppp-up and ppp-down for this task. Maybe the ones that installed gentoo for you made these?

Also, you might want to check out the program WvDial, since it's something the PPP HOWTO seems to speak fondly of. It also seems easy to use, since it tries to autodetect the modem.

[Trisha]

I couldn't find any files that had ppp in them, but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. I sent an email to the company I bought the computer from, so hopefully I will hear back from them.

when I tried to emerge wvdial, a bunch of text came up, ending with the message: Couldn't download wvstreams-3.70.tar.gz. Aborting.

[Trisha]

The company got back to me, all I had to do was run kppp! Thanks for your help too!