Re: Why is PPP so screwed up!?!?!
> Second, why should someone have to "cat /usr/bin/pon" to find out to
> edit /etc/ppp.chatscript anyway? I mean, I have to say that the Debian
> installation routine is so simple it's silly. So why doesn't it just go
> that one extra yard and ask a simple question like "Will this system be
> connected to the net via a PPP connection?" and then let me specify
> which com port and what the dialup number/login-id/password are? Even the
> people who claim that "ppp was a breeze" admit that they had to hunt
> around a little before they found the right files to edit (either that or
> they cheated and asked a friend).
The Debian files in /etc/ppp/* are generic: I have two ISP's who have two
ENTIRELY different setups: I had to ask the ISP's what they needed by way
of login strings and edit accordingly. Your init strings for
win.bright.net won't work here for Demon. The PPP HOWTO gives a generic
command line which is insecure because it includes the password but which
will get you going if you have to.
> And it doesn't have to be that way. I'd be glad to help... but in order to,
> I need at least SOME indication from others that they agree there's a
> problem here. Up until now, all I've heard is denial.
>
> - Joe
>
MS DOS was a three week learning curve for me: Linux was about 6 months.
If your friend has email and news: READ THE NEWSGROUPS. Lurk for a
week/month or two,so that before you rush in you'll see the FAQ's, see
where the problems are. Reading Debian documentation is something most
people don't always do immediately anyway.
Debian isn't necessarily for the absolute beginner to Linux although it
does offer the most potential. Most people start with Slack/Red Hat
then hear about Debian and move across. The best way, as ever, is to
have a friend to help out. i'll help anyone I can locally or
internationally: the advice initially to read newsgroups, HOWTO's and
manuals (possibly in that order) still holds.
Yes there are problems with dselect / dpkg and the whole concept of
dependencies if you're new to Debian: help your friend through these
and encourage him to help others. If you don't like the documentation
feel free to write some - at least Running Linux from Matt Welsh is
being updated to take account of Debian AFAIK.
Andy
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