Verizon Internet connection

troyatlarge · #1 2009-11-05, 08:41 AM CST

I am employed as a computer tech, mostly taking infections off of Microsoft computers. By default we install anti-malware on the customers computer, as well as Firefox and OpenOffice.

We have a rather large number of people who are willing to change their system over to Linux (for whatever reason they are tired of their Microsoft box). However, in doing so one of the greatest limiting factors in our putting Linux on their boxes is a Verizon internet connection (or same type connection with other phone companies - its a little device that hooks in a USB slot)). The phone companies do not support Linux and as a result, we hit a road block for Linux installation.

I mention this to draw attention to you chaps who are good with the the Linux kernel and devices take account that in Linux conversion via one little tech shop, it is on this one point which I have found the greatest bottleneck to be.

JN4OldSchool · #2 2009-11-05, 09:08 AM CST

You install stuff on customer's computers? Really? I think I would be a little irked to say the least if I got a computer back from you and it had FF and OO.o on it when I didnt ask you to do that!

kyryder · #3 2009-11-05, 09:18 AM CST

While distro hopping I have seen some OS's with special features for connecting to mobile broadband. I can't remember which one right now but will post back here when I next run across the mobile broadband feature.

trigpoint · #4 2009-11-05, 09:28 AM CST

Mobile broadband works pretty effectively in Fedora 11.

1. Plug-in USB modem.
2. Wait a few seconds for it to be detected by NetworkManager.
3. Attempt to connect, it will fail.
4: Edit connection that has now been created in NetworkManager.
5. Give it a sensible name, add dial-up number (usually *99#), APN and a username and password.
6. Click Connect
In future when the device is plugged in, the connection will appear in NetworkManager.

No drivers needed, no reboots, simple, works from the live cd

JN4OldSchool · #5 2009-11-05, 09:30 AM CST

#777 for Sprint, Verizon and a few others.

CiaW · #6 2009-11-05, 06:41 PM CST

I have my dsl connection partly thru my local telco (qwest), and they sent it with a windows CD. I actually could have gotten a somewhat cheaper 'try me' rate through them directly, but it was using MSN as the ISP and I didn't want to do that, so I went with a local ISP where the local telco provides the modem and whatever else they provide. ($15+$8 for wireless enabled dsl modem to telco, $12.95 to ISP per month for 256k connection.)

When I called my ISP for the initial connection, they told me not to bother installing the CD, that it was mostly spyware, and had me open a browser and point it to http://192.168.0.1/ which was the router config page and enter my username and pw they provided, and I was connected!

So it may be that their telco's have them using Win software when it maybe doesn't really need it. I can't say for sure of course, but it may be that they just don't have folks that know any other way.

troyatlarge · #7 2009-11-06, 07:17 AM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

You install stuff on customer's computers? Really? I think I would be a little irked to say the least if I got a computer back from you and it had FF and OO.o on it when I didnt ask you to do that!

lol - as though you would actually bring me your computer to start with!! Of course there are exceptions. Most of the more advanced users, that is, people who know how to keep malware off their boxes to start with, as a rule, tend to have Firefox and OpenOffice to start with. Others, with sensitive information, like accounting firms and such, of course we install nothing without prior asking. However, your general end user who has 297 infections, can't get his computer to do anything other than flash a message saying how he needs to pay for infection removable tools, these guys, in nearly every case get Malwarebytes installed on their computers, as well as other programs, including a FireFox and OpenOffice. In addition, we explain to them what we have done and why we did it, and why we recommend using what we have provided (so its not like we just sneaked it in or set it there in a completely misleading way). To date have not had, not ONE single complaint, and on the other hand, have seen things like the all computers tied to local court records getting a copy of OpenOffice after ONE person saw the glaringly obvious advantage to it.

Thanks for the replies on how to set these up.

Quote:

5. Give it a sensible name, add dial-up number (usually *99#), APN and a username and password.

We found a problem here to start with when it simply came up that we needed a 4 digit pin number and the phone companies res ponce to this was "we don't know what you are talking about, and we do not support Linux". At a later time we got to play with one a little longer and found that the 4 digit pin number is sorted in the device itself and autoloads when hooked up via Microsoft boxes - furthermore it is readable if you pick and click around to find it.

I will have to make sure I can run this stuff on PCLinuxOS as well - it seems to be pretty well liked among new converts to Linux from Windows - I susspect strongly because of the intuitive wording, or way, that they are set up. Anyway, thanks for the pointers.

Just to say it, the longer I have this job the more I realize the wisdom in Microsoft sending to techs their little ad about how techs should never convert anyone to Linux. In my job I deal with people who are sick and tired of their computers not running well and a constant non-ending frontal attack on their bank account. When their systems run its not so pronounced perhaps, but when they are down, even though they are paying for anti-virus and have this or that anti-malware fired up, they tend to be just a little beyond sick of it. For such people, it is EASY to get them to try Linux - not hard, but EASY.

JN4OldSchool · #8 2009-11-06, 07:25 AM CST

well, you keep up the good work! Pretty soon we will have a penguin in every garage! ........or is it a penguin on every table?

I always get those old sayings confused.

troyatlarge · #9 2009-11-06, 07:36 AM CST

In the backwaters of good old Ely Nevada, where one still finds arrowheads laying around without much effort, and where one has to drive 395 miles round trip to the local Wal-Mart store, I don't think we need worry about on over abundance of Penguins taking over the planet anytime soon! On the other hand ..... I'll do my best in making this place penguin friendly!

JN4OldSchool · #10 2009-11-06, 07:39 AM CST

Lots of arrowheads in Florida too. The best places to find them are in the lakes around the shorelines. Just sift through the sand on the bottom, they are everywhere.

shess01 · #11 2009-11-06, 08:13 AM CST

If you are talking about the Verizon EVDO usb modem, NetworkManager handles it nicely. I did not have to do any manual setup to get mine to work. Mostly this is because the evdo modems use USB, even the pci and pciexpress cards. As long as the ehci and uhci usb drivers are loaded you should be fine.

Where NetworkManager comes in handy is that it now autodetects these devices and will manage the connection. mine will autoconnect soon after being plugged in.

NOTE: On devices that have not yet been activated, in order to activate the modem the devices will need to be connected to a pc running the Verizon connection manager software (on Windows). Occasionally there are PRL updates that will be pushed to the devices configuring for changes in the network. But these should not affect performance or connectivity, I have not connected mine to Windows in 6 months and have no issues connecting.

Before NetworkManager came along, I was connecting manually using some ppp scripts. I found a link in the forums from the "old days" of manual connection. Also the pppd man page has lots of information.

Hope that helps.

JN4OldSchool · #12 2009-11-07, 08:49 AM CST

Hello Troy!!!

I just came across something in another thread. You were talking about a lady who used Works in Windows and could not read these files after a clean install. I forgot the thread but posted here instead hoping you would see this. Check this out:

http://www.go-oo.org/

First paragraph; better interoperability.

Hope this helps, maybe not this lady but in the future anyway.

troyatlarge · #13 2009-11-07, 03:17 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

Hello Troy!!!

I just came across something in another thread. You were talking about a lady who used Works in Windows and could not read these files after a clean install. I forgot the thread but posted here instead hoping you would see this. Check this out:

http://www.go-oo.org/

First paragraph; better interoperability.

Hope this helps, maybe not this lady but in the future anyway.

Yeah, our old site for this got cut from religiously turning to politics or some such thing. I also found the web site you mention. So far as the lady goes, we found an old copy of the program she liked and put it on her system (is that against the law or no????) so she could read her documents and encouraged her strongly to start using OpenOffice so she does not face buying it again when she has to get a new computer.

JN4OldSchool · #14 2009-11-07, 03:19 PM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by troyatlarge

Yeah, our old site for this got cut from religiously turning to politics or some such thing. I also found the web site you mention. So far as the lady goes, we found an old copy of the program she liked and put it on her system (is that against the law or no????) so she could read her documents and encouraged her strongly to start using OpenOffice so she does not face buying it again when she has to get a new computer.

Yeah, darn that Jimmy Carter anyway we should impeach him.

troyatlarge · #15 2009-11-08, 07:26 AM CST

Quote:

Originally Posted by shess01

NOTE: On devices that have not yet been activated, in order to activate the modem the devices will need to be connected to a pc running the Verizon connection manager software (on Windows). Occasionally there are PRL updates that will be pushed to the devices configuring for changes in the network. But these should not affect performance or connectivity, I have not connected mine to Windows in 6 months and have no issues connecting.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for that note!! I would like to get off the nipple of Microsoft if at all possible, but given we have Microsoft boxes all over work if it bridges the gap for now, GREAT!

I think today I'll set up my first one as expect a customer to bring one in. Although have been setting up the new to Linux folks on PCLinuxOS as an easy introduction, in honor of Fedora and the people in the FedoraForum who are so helpful, his box is going to be a Fedora box.