cp /usr/sbin/ppp-on to /usr/sbin/ppp-on.anysuffix
Then open the file you just created with a text editor, and change any information that applies to the secondary ISP, eg. dialup, the IP number of the ISP, username and password. write the file(save it) and try your new executable, ppp-on.anysuffix. Just a quick pointer, you could call your new script any name you want as long as there's no other file with the same name in your path,preferably no other file with the same name at all
These days most Internet Service Providers assign you a Dynamic IP when you logon to their network, due to the cost of assigning every customer a static IP. At present there are only so many IP addresses available and, apparently each one costs to register. Consequently ISPs buy a pool of IP addresses within a range and assign an available one at login. For most uses, such an arrangement is no problem, assuming that most internet usage consists of interaction between the ISP's computer and the local one. For some purposes, however such as allowing telnet or ftp to your computer the dynamic scheme is less than ideal. Here's a relatively painless way to get your current IP, so you can run with the big dogs. Open an xterm, or rxvt and type:
ifconfig
which will bring up some info in two blocks. You'll want to note the bottom block, which will have a line that specifies your inet address expressed numerically. It will be in a xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx format, which corresponds to the standard IP address, in fact that's what it is. you ca write this number down or just highlight this IP address(to paste it)and type:
nslookup the.num.ber.
the number being your inet address from the last step. It may take a couple of minutes, but you will get a two line messagethat looks like:
Name: your Fully Qualified Domain Name Address: IPa.ddr.ess.!!!
we may talk about FQDN some more another time, but for the purpose at hand, just type:
hostname Name
where Name is the first line from the above step. That's it, except that you must repeat this procedure every time you connect to your ISP. You might be able to write a script to automate this procedure, but in the meantime which as my friend Al used to say "is a groovy time", you can use this knowledge to run remote X apps(just a minute,I'm coming to that) allow your friends or inet associates to telnet to your computer, or ftp files from a telnetted site(this too, momentarily).What you need to know is that the next time youreboot, you may get a message saying that your computer name is "bad". This isn't a comment on your lack of originality or taste, and you should basically ignore it.
hostname
as detailed above. If you have a static IP address, you can skip this step.What needs to be done next is to type:
xhost + the.telnet.box
When you hit enter you will see a message like, "the.telnet.box has been added to the control list". You will probably have to restart your window manager, your mileage may, as they say, vary. Now when you start a telnet session, you can enter the name of an X application and in a moment, the application window will apear on your screen, even if you don't have it installed on your computer. Do your work, play your game, and marvel at the ramifications of this capability.
You can also invite friends and coworkers over to your computer to do some work, socialize or learn something, in the following manner. Obtain your FQDN, or IP address, as detailed above. E-mail it to them or call them on the phone to let them know where you are today(Not where you want to go today, that's another "OS"). they can then:
telnet FQDN or ftp IPa.ddr.ess.!!!
and all of a sudden they're in your den, or office or wherever you keep your computer. For more sophisticated methods of getting your address, read the "Dynamic IP hacks-HOWTO.
This esteemed tabloid is just full of novice- to intermediate level tips and tricks.The Answer Guy, Two Cent Tips, and The Weekend Mechanic in particular, are good sources of the kinds of things that will make you a demi-guru in no time at all.
In DOS and Windows,formatting a floppy disk is a one shot affair which formats, erases data, and creates a file system on the floppy. In linux however, you have to format and create the filesystem in separate steps. At first glance, this seems backward, after all, isn't linux a more sophisticated OS? Why do things in two steps that the others do in one? The reason is that linux can read several filesystems so that data can be moved from one OS to the other. By mounting the floppy drive as MSDOS, VFAT, or other filesystem type the data can be read from the mount point in a manner that linux can make use of.
have trouble with the
find
command?Try leaving your computer on overnight, and the next day use the
locate /filename |less
command instead. Locate is a database that is gathered during idle times on your computer Actually locate reads a database that is updated by a command in your system files, but if you give it time to breathe, usually overnight, it can locate any file on your hard drive(s). You can also try
whereis filename
and you will get a location for the named file.
TTYL, Mike List
Clueless at the Prompt #1 - February 1997
Clueless at the Prompt #2 - March 1997
Clueless at the Prompt #3 - April 1997