Configure a GPRS dialer in Linux using wvdial / gnome-ppp

Accessing internet from linux pc using GPRS connectivity is easy in latest Linux distributions like ubuntu. Some of the Linux distributions are not integrated any of those dialers. Some days back i faild to dial out from my backtrack 5, that inspired me to find out the possibilities and write the possible solutions. I have setup a wvdial and resolved the problem. I now it is difficult for non techie users to configure/dial from the console. Here i explained the installation / configuration of GUI based dialer (Gnome-ppp ) as well as wvdial. Before going to the configuration you have to collect some information.

How to detect modem name ?

Monitor log file and find out newly plugged devices. Run following command and plug your device.

#tail -f /var/log/messages

Find modem using wvdialconf.

#wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf

Above command will automatically create a configuration file with your current modem. open the fine and find the line starting with “Modem = “

Here i am using My Nokia 5230, so my modem is /dev/ttyACM0. I am using this in my examples. replace the line with your exact modem name.

APN names of your GPRS provider (Only for GPRS dials )

You have to know the APN name of your service provider for gprs configuration. you can check the same in your handset configuration, or contact customer care to get your APN name. I am using Apn name of Idea cellular. So APN name “internet” is used in examples

Method 1 – Wvdial

1, Download and Install wvdial
For online users
#apt-get install wvdial
For offline Users
There are some dependency for wvdial download all packages and install
Packages as follows,

1. libwvstreams4.4-base 
2. libwvstreams4.4-extras 
3. libuniconf4.4 
4. wvdial

Debian lenny - http://packages.debian.org/lenny/wvdial 
Debian Sid  http://packages.debian.org/sid/wvdial 
Debian squeeze http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/wvdial 
Debian wheez  http://packages.debian.org/wheezy/wvdial

Ubuntu natty http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/wvdial 
Ubuntu lucid http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/wvdial 
Ubuntu maverick http://packages.ubuntu.com/maverick/wvdial 
Ubuntu oneiric http://packages.ubuntu.com/oneiric/wvdial

2, Configure wvdial.conf

File is located at /etc/wvdial.conf. Find the sample to know content format. you have to change the modem name, username, password, and the APN name, according to your scenario. i have already cover about how to find the modem name. Most of the providers are not using authentication. but you canot put that field blank. fill it with any values. Here it is “web” . You can find the APN name in the 6th line.
Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”internet” #Here “internet” is my APN name,

[Dialer Defaults] 
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0 
BAUD = 460800 
Init1 = ATZ 
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 
Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet" 
Phone = *99***1# 
Username = web 
Password = web 
New PPPD = yes 
Stupid Mode = 1

Wvdial configuration file creator

You can also create a config file using command “wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf”. It will detect the modem name, modem speed etc.. and create file /etc/wvdial.conf. After that edit the file and change values of phone, user, pasword etc..

How to dial : Open a termainal and type “wvdial” to connect internet