How best to manage multiple internet sources
 

I have just installed SUSE linux 10.2 in my Dell Inspiron 8200 Laptop

I get my internet from three sources:

1. CDMA EVDO USB modem--this is the only thing that works at my house.

2. Wireless Internet from Coffeeshops--Typically my second choice.

3. Ethernet Cable Modem--This is the only solution that worked out of the box. I have to go hang out at friends' houses to use this.

So I am trying to get these working in inverse order. My first problem is that apparently KInternet (for wireless) and Network Manager can't co-exist. Nobody has clearly explained the best solution for this. Or rather, everybody has a conflicting idea, but nobody seems to actually be doing it. I guess the problem has something to do with DHCP addressing?

Anyway, as soon as I configure my wireless card, it seems to mess up the wired connection. I could live without wired, but since it's currently the only thing working, that has been difficult to do....

I am trying to get the EVDO modem properly configured (it's a UTC/Starcom VX6700 PPC) and am not sure if I need a special driver, or if it will just work, if I ever get it configured right. I have found a couple of sites, one which seems to count on the system recognizing your modem, which mine does not:

http://www.swerdna.net.au/linhowtoevdoinsuse.html

I set everything according to this, but it's not working yet.

The other,
http://www.andrewtv.org/fedora-ppc6700/#driver

involves some heavy scripting in a different distro, although I think I may have enough know how to try this now....

I'm wondering what's entailed in a modem being 'recognized'. Does this load a special driver, or just help with a few settings? In any case, I haven't been able to find any reference to a linux driver for this phone.

Any help most appreciated.
-eric

until you get a better answer I will give you my thoughts

I can not test them cos I only have option ethernet or external dial up..but the idea is similar in that I have to reconfigure dial up to be default if my ISP adsl is down.

1) It should be possible to create a series of steps and put them in a script very roughly here is the idea.

boot with no network...yep none...and in rc.local sysconfig stuff disable network up stuff...and no firewall

First Script
commands to bring down wireless network like in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts
command to close firewall
firewall up suitable for eth card
modprobe your ethernet card eg r8169
network up stuff for eth0


Second Script
commands to bring down ethernet network (even if not up)
....see /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts for these scripts
eg ifdown -a is good to bring down local and external
shutdown any firewall
firewall up suitable for wireless
modprobe your wireless connection card
network up stuff for the beast as per /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts

do a post in networking and or networking forum to get exact commands.

2) to assist such a post you will need to configure each one and get the output of at least the following

lspci
ifconfig
lsmod


and tell them what your firewall gui is

BTW in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/wireless I have zip cos I have no wireless so I am guessing that is where you may find some scripts