Dear Sirs:
I currently connect to my ISP using a single modem and the program "KPPP" from the KDE window manager. I have been using Slack 9.0 for about a week and have had my best success with just using KPPP instead of pppsetup. Everything works great. I am just curious about the logistics.
My question is: Why does KPPP work so much better for the owner of a single-modem non-networked computer? Do single modem users need to do anything with netconfig? Now that I have re-installed Slackware maybe four times this week, I have finally had success by just not even configuring the net (during that part of the installation).
If you have any thoughts or answers to my question, they are greatly appreciated! Thank you for the great distribution!
Rich

Dear Rich,

thank you for the encouraging words, and I
am sure Patrick will appreciate them if he
pops in again some day.

Unfortunately I'm not in the situation to share this
experience. I have used Slackware 8.0 & 8.1
using pppd and dial-on-demand for quite a while
before I got cable and it was a breeze to set-up
using pppsetup.

If this happens to be a Slackware 9 related
issue I am most certain that some of our fellow
Slackers that already made the switch to version
9 will jump in.

I utterly fail to be able to explain the fact that
KPPP seems to work better than pppd for you.


Sincerely,
Tink

Perhaps I should have phrased the question differently:

Which option under netconfig is most appropriate for home desktop (single modem) users:
1). Static IP
2). configure eth0 with DHCP /*well, obviously not this one*/
3). Loopback (modem or no net)

In previous attempts, I have had no luck with choosing either Static IP or Loopback. the output from KPPP at connection time looks like this:

Opener: received SetSecret
Opener: received SetSecret
Opener: received OpenLock

Opener: received OpenDevice
Opener: received ExecPPPDaemon
In parent: pppd pid 1452
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Kernel supports ppp alright
Couldn't find interface ppp0: No such device
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received RemoveSecret
Opener: received RemoveSecret
Opener: received KillPPPDaemon
Opener received KillPPPDaemon
In killpppd(): Sending SIGTERM to 1452
Opener: received RemoveSecret
Opener: received RemoveSecret
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received OpenResolv
Opener: received RemoveLock
It was pppd that died
pppd exited with return value 5
Sending 1435 a SIGUSR1

and that's how KPPP connects for me. During the latter part of writing this note, the connection timed out so that's why it shows pppd dying (normally it doesn't do tha because I am busy doing stuff).
Currently my non-configured hostname is "darkstar" and my computer believes it has a local IP of 127.0.0.1. I think that from the above output of KPPP, that pppd still works just fine, but why? Shouldn't it need netconfig to set up a loopback or something? Thank you for your thoughts and comments.

Very simple to do.
Ip config you must choose loopback.
pppsetup
atdt*70, number
init string (just hit enter to use default if dont work try ATZ OK)
modem (use whatever modem is linked to)
next part if you have earthlink you put earthlink.net (end of your email)
next part if you have the DNS server IP enter it, i never needed to
then for chaps or paps some #'s use paps, some use chaps, choose one if you cant sign in then use the other

Thanks for the great answer. by "atdt*70" do you mean atdt[ISP_phonenumber] (ex. atdt5551234)?

Thanks!

No, he means atdt*70,555124 .

By the way, I don't install X, so pppsetup is a very useful and effective program for me. I despise chat scripts.

Thank you, it worked very well.
Rich

The *70 part is just so when people call they get a busy signal...you don't have to put it but if you have call waiting and someone calls it may knock you off and definetly will cause a slowdown for a minute or two.