System Administration Guide: Network Services

Common Chat Script Problems

Chat scripts are trouble-prone areas for dial-up links. The following table lists common chat script errors and gives suggestions for fixing the errors. For procedural information, refer to How to Obtain Debugging Information for Chat Scripts.

Table 21–5 Common Chat Script Problems

Symptom 

Problem 

Solution 

pppd debug output contains Connect script failed

Your chat script supplies a user name and password. 


ogin: user-name
ssword: password

However, the peer that you intended to connect to does not prompt for this information. 

  1. Delete the login and password from the chat script.

  2. Try to call the peer again.

  3. If you still get the message, call the ISP. Ask the ISP for the correct login sequence.

The /usr/bin/chat -v log contains "expect (login:)" alarm read timed out

Your chat script supplies a user name and password. 


ogin: pppuser
ssword: \q\U

However, the peer that you intend to connect to does not prompt for this information. 

  1. Delete the login and password from the chat script.

  2. Try to call the peer again.

  3. If you still get the message, call the ISP. Ask the ISP for the correct login sequence.

pppd debug output contains possibly looped-back

The local machine or its peer is hanging at the command line and not running PPP. An incorrectly configured login name and password are in the chat script. 

 

  1. Delete the login and password from the chat script.

  2. Try to call the peer again.

  3. If you still get the message, call the ISP. Ask for the correct login sequence.

pppd debug output shows that LCP activates, but the link terminates soon afterward.

The password in the chat script might be incorrect. 

 

  1. Ensure that you have the correct password for the local machine.

  2. Check the password in the chat script. Fix the password if incorrect.

  3. Try to call the peer again.

  4. If you still get the message, call the ISP. Ask the ISP for the correct login sequence.

Text from the peer begins with a tilde (~). 

Your chat script supplies a user name and password. 


ogin: pppuser
ssword: \q\U

However, the peer that you intend to connect to does not prompt for this information. 

 

  1. Delete the login and password from the chat script.

  2. Try to call the peer again.

  3. If you still get the message, call the ISP. Request the correct login sequence.

The modem hangs. 

Your chat script contains the following line to force the local machine to wait for the CONNECT message from the peer:


CONNECT ”

Use the following line when you want the chat script to wait for CONNECT from the peer: 


CONNECT \c

End the chat script with ~ \c.

pppd debug output contains LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests

Your chat script contains the following line to force the local machine to wait for the CONNECT message from the peer:


CONNECT ”

Use the following line when you want the chat script to wait for CONNECT from the peer: 


CONNECT \c

End the chat script with ~ \c.

pppd debug output contains Serial link is not 8-bit clean

Your chat script contains the following line to force the local machine to wait for the CONNECT message from the peer:


CONNECT ”

Use the following line when you want the chat script to wait for CONNECT from the peer: 


CONNECT \c

End the chat script with ~ \c.

pppd debug output contains Loopback detected

Your chat script contains the following line to force the local machine to wait for the CONNECT message from the peer:


CONNECT ”

Use the following line when you want the chat script to wait for CONNECT from the peer: 


CONNECT \c

End the chat script with ~ \c.

pppd debug output contains SIGHUP

Your chat script contains the following line to force the local machine to wait for the CONNECT message from the peer:


CONNECT ”

Use the following line when you want the chat script to wait for CONNECT from the peer: 


CONNECT \c

End the chat script with ~ \c.