have run kppp from a shell now and have a bit more info

couldnt find interface PPP0: no such device.

I just googled it but cant find anything thus far of any help.

There is no random host or domain on your computer. After install, in Slackware, your hostname will be "darkstar" unless you changed it to something else during the network configuration.

My box's hostname is "rick" my domain name is miles.home. On our home network I am rick@miles.home. My daughters box's hostname is "leila" her address on the network is leila@miles.home.

In netconfig you should not create a domain name that ends in things like .com, .net, .org, .com.au, etc.

Forget about your ISP's linux setup instructions for now.

I don't really understand what you have or have not done so let's start from scratch and work this through methodically.

If you don't have a home network (I do), all you want netconfig for is to set up loopback. By memory I think you can leave everything else blank.

Next try doing everything else using kppp. It's the easiest way to set up a dialup connection if your modem is set up and you can talk to it, but kppp must be set upfor each user. If you set it up for testing in root, you will still have to set it up for yourself as a user.

Follow through what I've written below and come back after you have and you can tel us something worked or you can provide some usefull info why it didn't and/or error messages.

(1) start kppp

(2) click "Setup.."

(3) When KPPP Configuration opens up first click "Modem" tab.

(4) Next click the "Query Modem" button and if you see "Modem Ready" you know
you have a modem interface.

(5) If you don't have a modem interface Click the "Device" tab and check and see
if you have the correct device selected. I Use a winmodem which is set up a bit
differently to an external modem. My modem device is /dev/modem which points to
/dev/ttyLT0. Here's the output of ls -l /dev/modem on my box

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 11 Oct 12 15:25 /dev/modem ->
/dev/ttyLT0

Other settings are Hardware: [CRTSCTS], Line Termination: CR, and Connection
speed: 230400.

(6) Next click the accounts tab.

(7) If you are set up correctly you should see your ISP's domain in the box, My
ISP is "optusnet.com.au" the (www is omitted). If You don't see your ISP
correctly entered, omit what there and proceed by pressing the "New" button. If
it is there and correct press the "Edit" button.

(8) OK, first in Edi Account window is "Dial" I have Connection name: optusnet
(name yours what you like this is for your use), my ISP's dialup telephone
number is in the center box, My Authentication is PAP/CHAP. You must have these
correct for your ISP.

(9) Click the "IP" tab. I have my Dynamic IP address ticked. That was default I
did not change this because my IP adddress is assigned by my ISP when I
connect.

(10) Click the "Gateway" tab. I have "Default Gateway" and "Assign the default
route to......" ticked.

(11) Click the "DNS" tab. I only have my ISP's domain name "optusnet.com.au"
enteredhere and the "Automatic" radio button ticked. Again remember that you
don'tpreceed your ISP's domain name withh www ( or http://).

(12) That's all you need click "OK"

(13) Don't worry about "Graph" or "Misc.) when you return to KPPP Configuration.
Just click "OK" and return to the kppp dialup interface.

(14) Enter your Login ID, Password and make sure that "Show log window" is
ticked.

(15) Try to dial out. The log window should open up and tell you what is
happening. Note this down it may be usefull. If you fail to connect you will get
a popup window telling you why and you will have an option to write the error
message to a file in your "username" directory. Do it.

#######################################################

This is the output in my shell when I sucessfully connect with kppp. Note that the output says "Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device" but I do eventually connect.

rick@rick:~$ kppp
Opener: received SetSecret
Opener: received SetSecret
Opener: received OpenLock

Opener: received OpenDevice
Opener: received ExecPPPDaemon
In parent: pppd pid 1442
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Kernel supports ppp alright.
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received RemoveSecret
Opener: received RemoveSecret

########################################################

YAY!!!

I am now connected using linux.

I did as you said and ran netconfig and set up the host so there was no standard net ending. Then I rean pppsetup but this time I chose ms chap settings and it worked. I also changed the domain name from plus.net to plus.com so it was one of the above things that fixed it

Now all I need to do is get the stuff downloaded to make this secure. Any ideas of a decent linux firewall?

Congratulations! I went to work an hour late this morning cause I decided to write that up for you

Now get out of root and set up dialup access as a normal user.

Now I'll give you a bit of advice. Write down what you did so next time you can reference it. It's something I've learned to do and once in the habit you will be thankful for it someday when you need/decide to reinstallor install on another box.

As for firewalls, there are some good scripts available that you can conigure via commandline. There is even one I noticed last week with a kde gui frontend.

I use one that a friend rooled for me and need to really learn a bit more about iptables before I make up my own. Suggest you do the same.

Best start a new thread with a request for advice on where to get a configuablr firewall script.

Thanks for your help mate

Now I can get stuck into the rest of linux and then do my coursework

Just noticed you from oz. Looking forward to saturday hehe?

Naw.......

Gotta take the wife shopping :^}

I am on aroll now

managed to install gaim but cant get msn to work with it so I`m gonna dl amsn now also got opera to install.