The tasks in this section explain how to configure a dial-out machine. The tasks use as an example the dial- in-from-home scenario that was introduced in Figure 26–1. You can perform the tasks at your company before passing on the machine to a prospective user. Alternatively, you can instruct experienced users in the setup of their home machines. Anyone setting up a dial-out machine must have root permission for that 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. | |
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. | |
4. Define the conversation between the dial-out machine and the peer |
Gather communications data for use when you create the chat script. | |
5. Configure information about a particular peer |
Configure PPP options to call an individual dial-in server. | |
6. Call the peer |
Type the pppd command to initiate communications. |
Solaris PPP 4.0 provides template files. Each template 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.ttya.tmpl |
/etc/ppp/options.ttyname | |
/etc/ppp/myisp-chat.tmpl |
File with the name of your choice to contain the chat script | |
/etc/ppp/peers/myisp.tmpl |
/etc/ppp/peers/peer-name |
If you decide to use one of the template files, be sure to rename the template 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.
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.
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 26–2.
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 27–3 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 with Serial Ports Tool” in System Administration Guide: Advanced Administration.
Click the port where you have attached the modem, either port a or port b.
The Modify Serial Port window is displayed.
Specify modem direction as dial-out only.
You can set up the modem as bidirectional, the default template for admintool. However, the dial-out-only choice is more secure against possible intruders.
You can set the baud rate and timeout from admintool. However, the pppd daemon ignores these settings.
Click Okay to convey the changes.
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. Communications are initiated as defined in the options 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 customize to suit your needs. Refer to Dial-up PPP Template Files for detailed information about these files.
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.
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.
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 |
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 operating system, consider using the previous chat script as a template for your dial-out machines.
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 |
Specifies that the peer's DNS domain is bigcompany.com.
Lists the IP addresses of name servers at bigcompany.com.
For complete details on DNS implementation, refer to “DNS Administration (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" |
Specifies that the device /dev/cua/a should be used as the serial interface for calls to myserver.
Defines the speed of the link.
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.
Indicates that the link must time out after an idle period of 120 seconds.
Specifies that the peer myserver does not need to provide authentication credentials when negotiating the connection with the dial-out machine.
Specifies the connect option and its arguments, including the phone number of the peer, and the chat script /etc/ppp/mychat with calling instructions.
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 another computer |
cu(1C) and tip(1) man pages. These utilities can help you test if your modem is properly configured. Also, use these utitlities to test if you can establish a connection with another machine. |
Get detailed information about the PPP configuration files | |
Begin configuring the dial-in server |