My name is Philip ("phidor" includes my wife), a resounding Linux convert at the turn of the year - disenchanted with Windows.

Computer: IBM ThinkCentre (P4, 3GHz, 1GB RAM), AT external modem, Display = IBM 865G, Monitor = Phillips 170B flat, HD = Maxtor 6Y080L0 80 GB, Mouse = USB, Sound = C-Media Electronics CMI8738/C3DX card, currently multi-booting SUSE 9.1, Mandriva LE2005 and FreeBSD 5.3 - the latter explaining my graying hair.

LE2005: KPPP refuses the ISP connection - the modem hangs up true to the graceful form called "Error 16."

The log shows:
ATZ
OK
ATM1L1
OK
ATDT086725327
CONNECT ....but the network monitoring routine says it's a lie.

I tried a symbolic link but only collected a Brownie point for trying.
I checked /etc/ppp and found...
(1) connect-errors@ (presumably to tell me something is wrong)
(2) resolv.conf@ (flashing in red - could be a subtle clue?)
(3) the "options" file has 4 entries: lock, noauth, noipdefault, usepeerdns

Permutations for possible arguments for pppd outstrip my patience to test them so can anybody please suggest the likely arguments I might need to persuade the modem to be less abrupt on the ISP call or suggest another way I can return to sanity.

Thank you for time to read my concerns - Philip.

This problem now appears to be completely solved - in the end as a last resort I swapped the Dynalink modem for a CNet modem and everything now runs smoothly. - Philip (phidor)