Smoothwall newbie, PPP question
 

Have a Smoothwall 0.9.9 install running. Am attempting to access the internet from Win2K machine. Smoothwall is:
Green - NIC on my local LAN
Red - analogue (56k) modem

Essentially, everything works - except:

1) Clicking 'Connect' on the Smoothwall box 'homepage' actually causes my modem to dial - not what I want for a dial-up connection (presume I want 'Connect' to enable Smoothwall to wait for a request to dial from my Win2K box, and *then* dial...)

2) Closing my Win2K box's browser (IE5.5) does not cause the dial-up connection to terminate, or offer the 'Disconnect Now ?' dialog. I don't really want to set the 'Terminate on Inactvity' timer on Smoothwall at less than the default (15 mins. ?) - e.g. to 30 secs., as this timer, I assume, is the emergency cutout when you've forgotten to logoff...

Any help with setting either of the above much appreciated.

Regards, Jon H-D

need to read through manual.
also make sure that don't have some programs that use net open ( ie icq, messager...)

Thought I *had* read through *all* of the manuals. Will try again...

Jon H-D

My version works ok with "dial on demand".
Anyone behind Smoothie who browses gets the connection up on request, no having to push Connect etc

Have you tried those setting from the browser menu?

Regards,
Peter.

Thanks Peter - I think I've set everything OK in IE, and I *do* dial-out on demand (i.e. Smoothie is setup to 'Dial-on Demand' OK). The problem is getting the connection to auto-terminate when I've closed IE on my Windows box(es) - i.e. when there are no longer any Windows PCs trying to access the Internet, I'd like the connection to drop.
BTW, previous poster (forgotten your name) - I *have* RTFM - all of them, from Page 1 to last page. Nowhere can this newbie spot anything explicit or otherwise that addresses this issue. Prove me wrong if you've got a spare millisecond - just a page reference will do.

Jon

No such luck!!!

Smoothie uses a very "interesting" ifup and ifdown sequence. Have a go at ssh -p 222 abd navigate your way around. The bollox here is that there is a conflict with the automatic timeout settings vs the persist settings vs the idletimeout setting.
I'll have a play on mine and get back to you.
Install Midnight Commander on it, (if you dare)

Regards,
Peter mailto:peter@shoto.pl

Ok, the juice...

Win2K machines do send a lot of network traffic looking for WINS servers etc.
Smoothie will take these and usually pass them to the appropriate network, which may often be the external internet.
Smoothwall.org recommends placing a couple of dummy host settings into smoothie's /etc/hosts file, however, I have found this only works if you havn't setup the internal pc's to use Smoothie for DNS, proxy and gateway.
Also, the 'Terminate on Inactivity' should be used. It allows you to click and forget FTP xfers, mail xfers etc.
The 'Connect' button does just that... connect. My dial on demand takes upwards of 3 secs to kick in, usually instantaneously... I've got 60 or so pc's and servers behind mine, using a mix of cable internet, SDI and modems depending on the routes chosen. It's nice.
Regards,
Peter.

Thanks a lot Peter - you've given me more than enough to be going on with.

Cheers, Jon H-D

re: Smoothwall newbie, PPP question
 

JON:

I am also running a smoothy - currently back on modem
dialup after moving to a new area. Come on SWB - turn
up that DSL !!!!

My device is also configured correctly for DoD with a 10 minute timeout and dial on DNS request. The box works fine but will not terminate the connection - ever. Even when all devices on the green net are powered off.

I have read the manualsbut can not find a fix.

Can only assume that port scans on the PPP interface are
keeping the link up [resetting the timeout].

Running 0.9.9 patch 18 [can't get 19 into the box]. Working
on loading the 2nd beta of 2.0 and trying DoD via modem dialup to see if the problem disappears.

>>JD<<

Hi JD - had quite forgotten about this thread ! 'Fraid I can't offer any conclusive help. Moved over to ADSL, and am currently relying on the Router's firewall. Not great, but will do until I have more time to have another go at Smoothwall.
Never did succeed in getting satisfactory call termination.

Jon

http://www.quarkav.com/SmoothWallGPL/index.php lists a whole lot of tweaks for Smoothie...

I'm holding back on Smoothie 2 until they fix the firewall rules. There are some errors that need to be fixed their way and then tested again.
It's nice and easy to add stuff too tho'...