System Administration Guide: Resource Management and Network Services

Configuring the Dial-out Machine

The tasks in this section explain how to configure a dial-out machine. The tasks use as an example the dialing in from home scenario that was introduced in Figure 30–1. You can perform the tasks at your company before passing on the machine to a prospective user. Alternatively, you can instruct experienced users so that they can set up their own home machines. Anyone setting up a dial-out machine must have root permission for that machine.

Tasks for Configuring the Dial-out Machine (Task Map)

Table 31–2 Task Map for Setting Up the Dial-out Machine


Task	Description	For Instructions
1. Gather preconfiguration information	Gather data that is needed prior to setting up the link, such as peer host names, target phone numbers, and modem speed.	Planning a Dial-up PPP Link
2. Configure the modem and serial port	Set up the modem and serial port.	How to Configure the Modem and Serial Port (Dial-out Machine)
3. Configure the serial line communication	Configure the characteristics of the transmission across the serial line.	How to Define Communications Over the Serial Line
4. Define the conversation between the dial-out machine and the peer	Gather communications data and use the information to create the chat script.	How to Create the Instructions for Calling a Peer
5. Configure information about a particular peer	Configure PPP options to call an individual dial-in server.	How to Define the Connection With an Individual Peer
6. Call the peer.	Type the `pppd` command to initiate communications.	How to Call the Dial-in Server.

Dial-up PPP Template Files

Solaris PPP 4.0 provides template files, each of which contains common options for a particular PPP configuration file. The next table lists the sample templates that can be used for setting up a dial-up link, and their equivalent Solaris PPP 4.0 files.

Template File	PPP Configuration File	For Instructions
`/etc/ppp/options.tmpl`	`/etc/ppp/options`	`/etc/ppp/options.tmpl` Template
`/etc/ppp/options.ttya.tmpl`	`/etc/ppp/options.`ttyname	`options.ttya.tmpl` Template File
`/etc/ppp/myisp-chat.tmpl`	File with the name of your choice to contain the chat script	`/etc/ppp/myisp-chat.tmpl` Chat Script Template
`/etc/ppp/peers/myisp.tmpl`	`/etc/ppp/peers/peer-name`	`/etc/ppp/peers/myisp.tmpl` Template File

If you decide to use one of the template files, be sure to rename it to its equivalent PPP configuration file. The one exception is the chat file template /etc/ppp/myisp-chat.tmpl. You can give chat scripts any names that you want.

Configuring Devices on the Dial-out Machine

The first task for setting up a dial-out PPP machine is to configure the devices on the serial line: the modem and serial port.

Note –

Tasks that apply to a modem usually apply to an ISDN TA.

Before performing the next procedure, you must have done the following.

Installed the Solaris 9 operating environment on the dial-out machine
Determined the optimum modem speed
Decided which serial port to use on the dial-out machine
Obtained the root password for the dial-out machine

For planning information, see Table 30–2.

How to Configure the Modem and Serial Port (Dial-out Machine)

Program the modem.

Even though a variety of modem types is available, most modems are shipped with the correct settings for Solaris PPP 4.0. The following table lists basic settings for modems that use Solaris PPP 4.0.

Table 31–3 Modem Settings for Dial-up PPP


Parameter	Setting
DCD	Follow carrier
DTR	Low so that the modem hangs up (puts the modem on-hook)
Flow Control	RTS/CTS for full-duplex hardware flow control
Attention Sequences	Disable

If you have problems in setting up the link and suspect that the modem is at fault, first consult the modem manufacturer's documentation. Also, a number of sites on the World Wide Web offer help with modem programming. Finally, you can find some suggestions for clearing modem problems in How to Diagnose Modem Problems.

Attach the modem cables to the serial port on the dial-out machine and to the telephone jack.

Become superuser on the dial-out machine.

Run admintool, as explained in “Setting Up Terminals and Modems” in System Administration Guide: Advanced Administration.
1. Click the port where you have attached the modem, either port a or port b.
  
  The Modify Serial Port window is displayed.
2. Specify modem direction as dial-out only.
  
  Although you can set up the modem as bidirectional (the default template for admintool). The dial-out-only choice is more secure against possible intruders.
Note –
You can set the baud rate and timeout from admintool, however, the pppd daemon ignores these settings.

Click Okay to convey the changes.

Configuring Communications on the Dial-out Machine

The procedures in this section show how to configure communications over the serial line of the dial-out machine. Before you can use these procedures, you must have configured the modem and serial port, as described in How to Configure the Modem and Serial Port (Dial-out Machine).

The next tasks show how to enable the dial-out machine to successfully initiate communications with the dial-in server, based on options that are defined in the PPP configuration files. You need to create the following files:

/etc/ppp/options
/etc/ppp/options.ttyname
Chat script
/etc/ppp/peers/peer-name

Solaris PPP 4.0 provides templates for the PPP configuration files, which you can change to suit your needs. Refer to Dial-up PPP Template Files for detailed information about these files.

How to Define Communications Over the Serial Line

Become superuser on the dial-out machine.

Create a file that is called /etc/ppp/options with the following entry:
lock
The /etc/ppp/options file is used for defining global parameters that apply to all communications by the local machine. The lock option enables UUCP-style locking of the form /var/spool/locks/LK.xxx.yyy.zzz.

Note –
If the dial-out machine does not have an /etc/ppp/options file, only the superuser can run the pppd command. However, the /etc/ppp/options can be empty.

For a complete description of /etc/ppp/options, refer to /etc/ppp/options Configuration File.

(Optional) Create a file that is called /etc/ppp/options.ttyname for defining how communications should be initiated from a specific serial port.

The next example shows an /etc/ppp/options.ttyname file for the port with the device name /dev/cua/a.
# vi /etc/ppp/options.cua.a crtscts
The PPP option crtscts tells the pppd daemon to turn on hardware flow control for serial port a.

For more information about the /etc/ppp/options.ttyname file, go to /etc/ppp/options.ttyname Configuration File.

Set the modem speed, as described in How to Set the Modem Speed.

How to Create the Instructions for Calling a Peer

Before the dial-out machine can initiate a PPP link, you must collect information about the dial-in server to become the peer. Then you use this information to create the chat script, which describes the actual conversation between the dial-out machine and the peer.

Determine the speed at which the dial-out machine's modem needs to run.

For more information, see Configuring the Modem Speed.

Obtain the following information from the dial-in server's site:
- Server's telephone number
- Authentication protocol that is used, if appropriate
- Login sequence that is required by the peer for the chat script

Obtain the names and IP addresses of name servers at the dial-in server's site.

Put instructions for initiating calls to the particular peer in a chat script.

For example, you might create the following chat script, /etc/ppp/mychat, to call the dial-in server myserver.

SAY "Calling the peer\n"
        TIMEOUT 10
        ABORT BUSY
        ABORT 'NO CARRIER'
        ABORT ERROR
        REPORT CONNECT
        "" AT&F1&M5S2=255
        TIMEOUT 60
        OK ATDT1-123-555-1234 
        CONNECT \c
        SAY "Connected; logging in.\n"
        TIMEOUT 5
        ogin:--ogin: pppuser
        TIMEOUT 20
        ABORT 'ogin incorrect'
        ssword: \qmypassword
        "% " \c
        SAY "Logged in.  Starting PPP on peer system.\n" 
        ABORT 'not found'
        "" "exec pppd"
        ~ \c

The script contains instructions for calling a Solaris dial-in server that requires a login sequence. For a description of each instruction, refer to Basic Chat Script Enhanced for a UNIX-Style Login. For complete details on creating a chat script, read the section Defining the Conversation on the Dial-up Link.

Note –

You do not invoke the chat script directly. Rather, you use the file name of the chat script as an argument to the connect option, which invokes the script.

If a peer runs Solaris or a similar UNIX-based operating system, consider using the previous chat script as a template for your dial-out machines.

How to Define the Connection With an Individual Peer

Become superuser on the dial-out machine.

Update DNS databases by creating the following /etc/resolv.conf file:

domain bigcompany.com
nameserver 10.10.111.15
nameserver 10.10.130.8

domain bigcompany.com

Specifies that the peer's DNS domain is bigcompany.com.

nameserver 10.10.111.15

nameserver 10.10.130.8

Lists the IP addresses of name servers at bigcompany.com.

For complete details on DNS implementation, refer to “DNS Administrtaion (Reference)” in System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP).

Edit the /etc/nsswitch.conf file to have the DNS database searched first for host information.
hosts: dns [NOTFOUND=return] files

Create the /etc/ppp/peers directory, and then add a file for the peer.

For example, you would create the following file to define the dial-in server myserver:

# cd /etc/ppp
# mkdir peers
# cd peers
# vi myserver
/dev/cua/a
57600
noipdefault
defaultroute
idle 120
noauth
connect "chat -U 'mypassword' -T 1-123-555-1213 -f /etc/ppp/mychat"

`/dev/cua/a`	Specifies that the device `/dev/cua/a` should be used as the serial interface for calls to `myserver`.
`57600`	Defines the speed of the link.
`noipdefault`	Specifies that for transactions with peer `myserver`, the dial-out machine initially has an IP address of 0.0.0.0. `myserver` assigns an IP address to the dial-out machine for every dial-up session.
`idle 120`	Indicates that the link is to time out after it is idle for 120 seconds.
`noauth`	Specifies that the peer `myserver` does not need to provide authentication credentials when negotiating the connection with the dial-out machine.
`connect "chat -U 'mypassword' -T 1-123-555-1213 -f /etc/ppp/mychat"`	Specifies the `connect` option and its arguments, including the phone number of the peer, and the chat script `/etc/ppp/mychat` with calling instructions.

Where to Go From Here

Task	For Instructions
Configure another dial-out machine	How to Configure the Modem and Serial Port (Dial-out Machine).
Test modem connectivity by dialing out to a another computer	cu(1C) and tip(1) man pages. These utilities can help you test if your modem is properly configured and can establish a connection with another machine.
Get detailed information about the PPP configuration files	Using PPP Options in Files and on the Command Line.
Begin configuring the dial-in server	Configuring Devices on the Dial-in Server.