If you installed the GNOME and Dialup Workstation package groups, you’ve already installed rp3 and the packages on which it depends. If not, you can use GnoRPM to install the ppp, rp3, and wvdial packages.

To configure rp3, start your preferred desktop environment, GNOME or KDE. Then, if you’re using GNOME, select Programs → Internet → Dialup Configuration; if you’re using KDE, select Internet → Dialup Configuration.

A wizard (Red Hat calls them “druids”), titled “Create a new Internet connection,” as shown in Figure 10-1, appears. You can use the wizard to configure your modem and Internet accounts. To begin, click Next.

Figure 10-1. The “Create a new Internet connection” wizard

The Select Modem dialog box, shown in Figure 10-2, appears. Again, click Next to proceed.

Figure 10-2. The Select Modem dialog box

A dialog box shows progress as rp3 searches your system’s devices to locate a modem. If the search is not successful, simply try again; sometimes rp3 is unable to locate a modem on the first or second attempt. If rp3 fails repeatedly, you should suspect that something is wrong with your modem. If it’s an external modem, check the power and data cables. If it’s an internal modem, check that any configuration switches or jumpers are properly set.

When the wizard finds your system’s modem, the Modem Found dialog box, shown in Figure 10-3, appears. If you want to customize modem properties, click the radio button labeled “Modify this modem manually, or add a new modem” and click Next. Use the dialog box that appears to customize modem settings, such as baud rate and speaker volume. Then, whether you customized modem settings or not, click Next to proceed.

Figure 10-3. The Modem Found dialog box

The Phone Number and Name dialog box, shown in Figure 10-4, appears. Type the name by which you want to refer to this connection and the Internet provider’s phone number. Click Next to proceed.

Figure 10-4. The Phone Number and Name dialog box

The User Name and Password dialog box, as shown in Figure 10-5, appears. Type the username and password needed to log in via the connection. To enhance security, the password is echoed as asterisks as you type it. Click Next to proceed.

Figure 10-5. The User Name and Password dialog box

The Other Options dialog box, shown in Figure 10-6, appears. Select your Internet provider from the list, or if your provider is not shown, select Normal ISP. Click Next.

Figure 10-6. The Other Options dialog box

The Create the Account dialog box, shown in Figure 10-7, appears. Click Finish.

Figure 10-7. The Create the Account dialog box

Once you’ve created an Internet connection, you’re ready to connect to your ISP. The following section explains how to do so.

If you’re using GNOME, you can connect to your ISP by selecting Main Menu → Applets → Network → RH PPP Dialer; if you’re using KDE, select Internet → RH PPP Dialer. The Choose dialog box, as shown in Figure 10-8, appears and asks you to choose an interface. Select the Internet connection you just created and click OK.

Figure 10-8. The Choose dialog box

The Change Connection Status? dialog box, as shown in Figure 10-9, appears. Click Yes to initiate the connection.

Figure 10-9. The Change Connection Status? dialog box

Within a few seconds, you should hear a dial tone from your modem (if you have sound enabled), and shortly thereafter the connection should be established. Once connected, rp3 launches a dialog box titled with the name of the Internet connection; if you’re running GNOME, the dialog box may appear as a docked applet, so you won’t be able to view the dialog box’s titlebar.

If rp3cannot open the Internet connection, you’ll see a dialog box announcing the failure. In that case, you should check the phone number, username, and password you entered earlier. To do so, launch rp3-configand use the Edit button to view and correct the entries you made.

tail /var/log/messages

Once rp3 establishes the connection, you should be able to access the Internet. Try to ping an Internet host by issuing a command such as ping www.redhat.com in a terminal window.

If the command doesn’t work, perhaps your connection isn’t working. Or perhaps your ISP’s PPP server failed to properly provide DNS information. Try pinging the IP address of a host you know to be available. For example:

               ping -n 216.148.219.195

If pinging the IP address works, simply use Netconfigto revise your DNS configuration and you’re set. Otherwise, you may have some difficulty getting the connection to work. Use the ifconfigand routecommands to view your network configuration. If you can figure out the problem, again you’re set. If not, you may be able to obtain help from your ISP or from participants in an Internet newsgroup, such as linux.redhat or linux.redhat.misc.

To terminate an Internet connection established by rp3, simply click the button in the upper-right corner of the dialog box or applet associated with the connection. A dialog box asking you to confirm your decision appears. Clicking Yes terminates the Internet connection.