Very Computer

                        [--------]

PLEASE! When replying to this, please edit out sections that arent relevant
to your post. Theres no point in reposting the whole document, for a
small comment.

This is a rough outline of the FAQ I am composing. Composing as in, I am
gathering information from sources and throwing them together, hopefully
avoiding stepping on anyones toes, or infringing on copyrights, etc.

  Please feel free to comment on sections, with suggestions for
questions, and suggestions for answers.

  I know this is a bit wordy, etc, but this is a rough sketch, I intend
on making a large document first, then trimming it for accuracy and
content.
  Wow, I was amazed. I expected to begin a general purpose FAQ,
but it ended up being a DIP faq, since almost ALL the questions were
related to Dip, in the usegroups.
  Sections which I have not started on but will once the main
body is done- These might be formed into two seperate FAQs.
A:   Setting up a slipserver, using dip -i
B:   PPP <software choices, howto setup, how it differs from SLIP>
   Wow, this means I'll have to actually setup PPP, oh gawd.
C:   Tia, ? <I dont know much about tia, myself, but hear a lot of
mention about it>

------------- Linux SLIP/CSLIP/(-PPP-) FAQ --------------------------
        or- How to put your linux box on the internet.
        or- How to use dip <at this stage:) for dialout.
            -       Paul Timmins       -
             -    m...@ccs.neu.edu    -
0 : What is Linux?
    Linux is a freeware UNIX operating system for PC's.
       <If anyone has a more concise SHORT!
        definition of linux, feel free to post it>
    Please pick up the Linux FAQ available in the usegroup
    comp.os.linux.help. Please read the FAQs completely, and read
    appropriate documents under
    ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs

1 : What is SLIP anyhow, and how does CSLIP differ?

     SLIP is a means of connecting you to a network,
    via a serial device (a modem). It is a software issue,
    not a hardware matter. Meaning, if you're running linux,
    and have a modem, and a phone line, you can use SLIP.
    On your end, you need a program called DIP. Most recent
    version is Dip3.3.7-uri (I think... havent checked lately)
    On the receiving end, you need a connection that will
    initiate a slip connection, a SlipServer (will be an
    ordinary modem port server, with additional software, such
    as an annex server).

   a: What do I need a provider for?
        A provider gives you a connection to the internet,
    well, of course, it may be a smaller network, but I'm making
    assumptions.
     You'll need an account on most Slipservers, though quite
    a few universities allow free, unpassworded slip connections
    to students. But these Universities firewall the systems,
    so you can only connect to local machines. At the end of
    this document I am composing a list of SLIP providers,
     Two things you'll have to consider is static connections
    versus dynamic connections. A static connection means
    you will ALWAYS have the same IP address <for instance,
    129.10.176.113> everytime you log in. Now, here at
    Northeastern, we have dynamic slip, where your ip address changes
    everytime you log in. Dynamic slip, again, is common in
    Universities, yet less common in real providers.
     Now, with a static connection, you can apply for a class
    D address. Meaning, you have a name that is linked to your
    IP address. Most providers will handle this process for you.
   <Well, in short... I need a document to point to here>

  b: What can I do via SLIP?

    Things that I have done: telnet, ftp, rlogin, mosaic, archie, netrek,
    <play muds and mushes:)>. You can read news too (But I prefer to run
    my newsreader on another machine that I'm telnetted to, and make it
    bear the brunt of the network load>
    OF course it's slower. But you can have multiple programs all running
    at the same time. Such as 5 telnets, and an ftp. Now, if you expect
    to do anything functional on those telnet sessions while transferring
    a file, your sorely mistaken.
    <Average transfer speed for me- 14.4kbps modem=1.5 Kbytes/sec.>

  c: Security Concerns via SLIP?
    Same as for any other network connection-
        <Any linux security documents I could point to here?>

  d:Tia connection.
       (need info on TIA, misplaced my document)

  e: Alternatives to SLIP?
     Term.
     PLIP.
     Ethernet.
     Packet Radio.

        <documents or contacts I could list for the above? Anyone?>

2 : Help Section or, so I got linux, a modem, a service, what do I do now?
   : How do I set up the modem, IRQ, and speed?
      For more information on setting up your device, consult-
       ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/Serial-HOWTO
             or look at the man page for setserial.
      Problems with the serial settings will manifest in forms such as
      lost characters, no echoing of characters (the modem will dial
      after fed an atdt string, but you will not see anything).
      If you changed your IRQ, or use high speed modems, consult
      at least the manpage for setserial first.
   : '<hostname>: Unknown host', what does this mean?

     The problem here is that the name in /etc/HOSTNAME is not
included in your /etc/hosts file. Please enter an entry into your /etc/hosts
file like this-
127.0.0.1 localhost <name in /etc/HOSTNAME>

   : I've got everything ready to go. Now, what do I do?

 So, before we try and write a script, we'll get things working.
 Now heres what you do, run 'dip -t' from your shell prompt.
 then type
DIP> port cua* <where * is your com port -1. <so, dos com port 1 = cua0>>
DIP> term
 This will drop you into terminal mode.
 From here, type
atdt<phonenumberhere>
 And wait for your connect.
 After the connect, give the chain of commands which initiates the SLIP
 connection. For some machines you just give your username and password,
 for others you just type SLIP. Whatever the case, do it.
then hit CTRL-] to drop you back into the DIP> prompt.
<control and ] keys at the same time>
 now type
DIP> get remote <remote address>
DIP> get local <local address, the number address assigned to YOUR machine>
DIP> get mtu <maximum transfer units you wish to use, play with figures>
DIP> default
DIP> mode CSLIP
<or, mode SLIP... try mode CSLIP first, as it is preferred... C standing
for compressed..>
this should drop you back to your shell prompt. To test to make sure
it worked type-
Prompt> route

   : How do I write DIP Scripts?

  Don't ask me why, but one night, after going INSANE trying to figure
out why a friends script didn't work, I typed send <text>\nr. And it
worked. This I don't know. \nr works to send a line, but \n should work
itself. Well, as they always say, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

    :Static
       Look at the sample script that comes with dip. <sample.dip>
    :Dynamic
       Here is a copy of my script. (m...@ccs.neu.edu)
--------------------snip----------------------
# Based off sample.dip.
# DOS Com 1= /dev/cua0, Com 2= /dev/cua1, ....
  port /dev/cua2
  speed 38400
# Reset the modem and terminal line,
# This seems to cause trouble for some people!
  reset

# Place initialization strings here. This definately needs to be changed.
# It is not required, either. I just use these to make sure the modem is
# in working order. Otherwise I can abort.
#  send ats11=60&f2\nr
   send ath\nr
#  send atz\nr
   wait OK 3
# Dial assumes hayes compatibility, sending ATD as the dialing string.
  dial *70<phonenumberhere>
  wait CONNECT 60
  wait nnex 30
  send slip\nr
  wait name: 10
  send <myname>\nr
  wait word:
  send <mypassword>\nr
  get $remote remote
  get $local remote
  get $mtu 2000
  default
  print Local address is $local
  print Remote address is $remote
  mode CSLIP
-----------------------snip--------------------------

  b: Routed? What the hell does it do, and why does it hate me so?
    <cataloguing problems and solutions people have had with routed, please
    comment on this, I havent had many problems with it, I actually don't even
    use it>
   : What are the -v and -t flags for?
    dip -v, dip -t.
    Dip -v (debugging mode)gives you more output and information, I always
     suggest using this flag, and dumping the output to a file.
    Dip -t (test mode) puts you in an interactive mode.
    dip -m <mtu> specifies the size of the mtu.

  c: Extra things-
    1: Autodialing upon boot
       Look at the scripts in the directory /etc/rc.d
       These scripts are initiated at boottime. Please place any files
       you wish to be ran upon system boot in rc.local.
       In my rc.local, I have a line that reads-
     /sbin/dip -v /root/neuslip > /root/neuslip.out&

    2: TroubleShooting
        HEY! How come my modem doesnt do anything? Is it the irq or something?
           <Try running setserial, and/or modifying an /etc/rc.d script>
    3:Network tools, such as ping and traceroute, and how useful they are.
        Ping and traceroute are useful in narrowing down problems.
       Play with them, they're very simple to understand, and figure out.
       No point to go into detail.
         <Note on both- DON'T use them excessively as they do occupy bandwidth
      and will annoy the heck out of an admin if you leave them running for
      long periods of time>
    5:How come I can connect to my gateway, but nowhere else?
        <Show how to setup a default gateway, no problem>
      Make sure you have a line reading 'default' in your dip script, right
      before the mode command.
      Optionally, you can type-
      route
...

read more »

Hi, I have a question.

I have a notebook which runs on Linux. It has a Western Digital video
chip WD9024(?).

Now we are looking forward to purchase a 14 inch monitor as an
external display for the notebook.

I have been told that monitors have the features, namely,
multisync and non-interlaced.

Can someone explain the terms a bit and do I need to paid $200 more
for those features, it would be better if you can recommend some
models as well,

thanks

Jack