18.3 Using Kernel PPP

18.3.1 Setting up Kernel PPP

Before you start setting up PPP on your machine make sure that pppd is located in /usr/sbin and the directory /etc/ppp exists.

pppd can work in two modes:

1. As a ``client'' -- you want to connect your machine to the outside world via a PPP serial connection or modem line.

2. as a ``server'' -- your machine is located on the network and used to connect other computers using PPP.

In both cases you will need to set up an options file (/etc/ppp/options or ~/.ppprc if you have more than one user on your machine that uses PPP).

You also will need some modem/serial software (preferably kermit) so you can dial and establish a connection with the remote host.

18.3.2 Using pppd as a Client

Based on information provided by Trev Roydhouse.

The following /etc/ppp/options might be used to connect to a Cisco terminal server PPP line.

    crtscts         # enable hardware flow control
    modem           # modem control line
    noipdefault     # remote PPP server must supply your IP address.
                    # if the remote host doesn't send your IP during IPCP
                    # negotiation , remove this option
    passive         # wait for LCP packets
    domain ppp.foo.com      # put your domain name here
    
    :<remote_ip>    # put the IP of remote PPP host here
                    # it will be used to route packets via PPP link
                    # if you didn't specified the noipdefault option
                    # change this line to <local_ip>:<remote_ip>
    
    defaultroute    # put this if you want that PPP server will be your
                    # default router

To connect:

Now your computer is connected with PPP. If the connection fails, you can add the debug option to the /etc/ppp/options file and check messages on the console to track the problem.

Following /etc/ppp/pppup script will make all 3 stages automatically:

    #!/bin/sh
    ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing pppd, PID=' ${pid}
            kill ${pid}
    fi
    ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing kermit, PID=' ${pid}
            kill -9 ${pid}
    fi
    
    ifconfig ppp0 down
    ifconfig ppp0 delete
    
    kermit -y /etc/ppp/kermit.dial
    pppd /dev/tty01 19200

/etc/ppp/kermit.dial is a kermit script that dials and makes all necessary authorization on the remote host (an example of such a script is attached to the end of this document).

Use the following /etc/ppp/pppdown script to disconnect the PPP line:

    #!/bin/sh
    pid=`ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ X${pid} != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing pppd, PID=' ${pid}
            kill -TERM ${pid}
    fi
    
    ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing kermit, PID=' ${pid}
            kill -9 ${pid}
    fi
    
    /sbin/ifconfig ppp0 down
    /sbin/ifconfig ppp0 delete
    kermit -y /etc/ppp/kermit.hup
    /etc/ppp/ppptest

Check to see if PPP is still running by executing /usr/etc/ppp/ppptest, which should look like this:

    #!/bin/sh
    pid=`ps ax| grep pppd |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ X${pid} != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'pppd running: PID=' ${pid-NONE}
    else
            echo 'No pppd running.'
    fi
    set -x
    netstat -n -I ppp0
    ifconfig ppp0

To hang up the modem, execute /etc/ppp/kermit.hup, which should contain:

    set line /dev/tty01    ; put your modem device here
    set speed 19200
    set file type binary
    set file names literal
    set win 8
    set rec pack 1024
    set send pack 1024
    set block 3
    set term bytesize 8
    set command bytesize 8
    set flow none
    
    pau 1
    out +++
    inp 5 OK
    out ATH0\13
    echo \13
    exit

Here is an alternate method using chat instead of kermit.

The following two files are sufficient to accomplish a pppd connection.

/etc/ppp/options:

    /dev/cuaa1 115200
    
    crtscts     # enable hardware flow control
    modem       # modem control line
    connect "/usr/bin/chat -f /etc/ppp/login.chat.script"
    noipdefault # remote PPP serve must supply your IP address.
                # if the remote host doesn't send your IP during
                    # IPCP negotiation, remove this option
    passive         # wait for LCP packets
    domain <your.domain>  # put your domain name here
    
    :       # put the IP of remote PPP host here
                # it will be used to route packets via PPP link
                    # if you didn't specified the noipdefault option
                    # change this line to <local_ip>:<remote_ip>
    
    defaultroute    # put this if you want that PPP server will be
                # your default router

/etc/ppp/login.chat.script:

    ABORT BUSY ABORT 'NO CARRIER' "" AT OK ATDT<phone.number>
      CONNECT "" TIMEOUT 10 ogin:-\\r-ogin: <login-id>
      TIMEOUT 5 sword: <password>

Once these are installed and modified correctly, all you need to do is run pppd, like so:

    # pppd

18.3.3 Using pppd as a Server

/etc/ppp/options should contain something similar to the following:

    crtscts                         # Hardware flow control
    netmask 255.255.255.0           # netmask ( not required )
    192.114.208.20:192.114.208.165  # ip's of local and remote hosts
                                    # local ip must be different from one
                                    # you assigned to the ethernet ( or other )
                                    # interface on your machine.
                                    # remote IP is ip address that will be 
                                    # assigned to the remote machine
    domain ppp.foo.com              # your domain
    passive                         # wait for LCP
    modem                           # modem line

The following /etc/ppp/pppserv script will enable tell pppd to behave as a server:

    #!/bin/sh 
    ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing pppd, PID=' ${pid}
            kill ${pid}
    fi
    ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing kermit, PID=' ${pid}
            kill -9 ${pid}
    fi
    
    # reset ppp interface
    ifconfig ppp0 down
    ifconfig ppp0 delete
    
    # enable autoanswer mode
    kermit -y /etc/ppp/kermit.ans
    
    # run ppp
    pppd /dev/tty01 19200

Use this /etc/ppp/pppservdown script to stop the server:

    #!/bin/sh 
    ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep pppd |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing pppd, PID=' ${pid}
            kill ${pid}
    fi
    ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep
    pid=`ps ax |grep kermit |grep -v grep|awk '{print $1;}'`
    if [ "X${pid}" != "X" ] ; then
            echo 'killing kermit, PID=' ${pid}
            kill -9 ${pid}
    fi
    ifconfig ppp0 down
    ifconfig ppp0 delete
    
    kermit -y /etc/ppp/kermit.noans

The following kermit script (/etc/ppp/kermit.ans) will enable/disable autoanswer mode on your modem. It should look like this:

    set line /dev/tty01
    set speed 19200
    set file type binary
    set file names literal
    set win 8
    set rec pack 1024
    set send pack 1024
    set block 3
    set term bytesize 8
    set command bytesize 8
    set flow none
    
    pau 1
    out +++
    inp 5 OK
    out ATH0\13
    inp 5 OK
    echo \13
    out ATS0=1\13   ; change this to out ATS0=0\13 if you want to disable
                    ; autoanswer mod
    inp 5 OK
    echo \13
    exit

A script named /etc/ppp/kermit.dial is used for dialing and authenticating on the remote host. You will need to customize it for your needs. Put your login and password in this script; you will also need to change the input statement depending on responses from your modem and remote host.

    ;
    ; put the com line attached to the modem here:
    ;
    set line /dev/tty01
    ;
    ; put the modem speed here:
    ;
    set speed 19200
    set file type binary            ; full 8 bit file xfer
    set file names literal
    set win 8
    set rec pack 1024
    set send pack 1024
    set block 3
    set term bytesize 8
    set command bytesize 8
    set flow none
    set modem hayes
    set dial hangup off
    set carrier auto                ; Then SET CARRIER if necessary,
    set dial display on             ; Then SET DIAL if necessary,
    set input echo on
    set input timeout proceed
    set input case ignore
    def \%x 0                       ; login prompt counter
    goto slhup
    
    :slcmd                          ; put the modem in command mode
    echo Put the modem in command mode.
    clear                           ; Clear unread characters from input buffer
    pause 1
    output +++                      ; hayes escape sequence
    input 1 OK\13\10                ; wait for OK
    if success goto slhup
    output \13
    pause 1
    output at\13
    input 1 OK\13\10
    if fail goto slcmd              ; if modem doesn't answer OK, try again
    
    :slhup                          ; hang up the phone
    clear                           ; Clear unread characters from input buffer
    pause 1
    echo Hanging up the phone.
    output ath0\13                  ; hayes command for on hook
    input 2 OK\13\10
    if fail goto slcmd              ; if no OK answer, put modem in command mode
    
    :sldial                         ; dial the number
    pause 1
    echo Dialing.
    output atdt9,550311\13\10               ; put phone number here
    assign \%x 0                    ; zero the time counter
    
    :look
    clear                           ; Clear unread characters from input buffer
    increment \%x                   ; Count the seconds
    input 1 {CONNECT }
    if success goto sllogin
    reinput 1 {NO CARRIER\13\10}
    if success goto sldial
    reinput 1 {NO DIALTONE\13\10}
    if success goto slnodial
    reinput 1 {\255}
    if success goto slhup
    reinput 1 {\127}
    if success goto slhup
    if < \%x 60 goto look
    else goto slhup
    
    :sllogin                        ; login
    assign \%x 0                    ; zero the time counter
    pause 1
    echo Looking for login prompt.
    
    :slloop
    increment \%x                   ; Count the seconds
    clear                           ; Clear unread characters from input buffer
    output \13
    ;
    ; put your expected login prompt here:
    ;
    input 1 {Username: }
    if success goto sluid
    reinput 1 {\255}
    if success goto slhup
    reinput 1 {\127}
    if success goto slhup
    if < \%x 10 goto slloop         ; try 10 times to get a login prompt
    else goto slhup                 ; hang up and start again if 10 failures
    
    :sluid
    ;
    ; put your userid here:
    ;
    output ppp-login\13
    input 1 {Password: }
    ;
    ; put your password here:
    ;
    output ppp-password\13
    input 1 {Entering SLIP mode.}
    echo
    quit
    
    :slnodial
    echo \7No dialtone.  Check the telephone line!\7
    exit 1
    
    ; local variables:
    ; mode: csh
    ; comment-start: "; "
    ; comment-start-skip: "; "
    ; end: