164 lines
5.2 KiB
HTML
164 lines
5.2 KiB
HTML
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<!-- BEGIN HTML HEAD ==================================================== -->
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<TITLE>Linux Gazette -- The ppptk Program</TITLE>
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<H1><IMG ALIGN=MIDDLE SRC="../gx/lg_logo.gif">PPPTK</H1>
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<H2>A Member of the Linux Documentation Project</H2>
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<H4>"The Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun...!</I>
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"</H4>
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<H5>Copyright (c) 1996 John M. Fisk <I>fiskjm@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu</I><BR>
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The LINUX GAZETTE is a member of the LINUX DOCUMENTATION PROJECT.<BR></H5>
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<HR>
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<!-- ARTICLE ============================================================ -->
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<H2><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM SRC="../gx/text.gif">PPPTK - A Tcl/Tk Front-End for PPPD
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</A></H2>
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<P>
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OK, let's take a better look at this little program. Here's a screen dump of
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the most recent version of the program:
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<P>
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<IMG WIDTH=622 HEIGHT=738 SRC="./gx/ppptk.gif">
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<P>
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I've been using a series of BASH shell scripts to set up a PPP connection but
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after school ended in June, I really wanted to create a Tcl/Tk front end for
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all of this stuff. The features that I wanted included:
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<UL>
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<LI>Run-time entry of various parameters such as ping interval, modem init
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string, redial interval, and so forth
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<LI>Auto-minimization
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<LI>Auto-ping to keep the connection from timing out
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<LI>Checkbutton selection of lines to dial
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<LI>Dial status Indicators
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<LI>Optional BSD compression
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<LI>Optional sound for connection and for connection time-out
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<LI>Buttons for launching oft-used apps such as sendmail, popclient,
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skim, and nist
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<LI>/var/log/ppplog logging to keep a running indicator of the connection
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status
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</UL>
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<P>
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Well, I managed to get all those things set up. In addition, once a
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connection has been established, it starts a timer which indicates the online
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time -- AND, if a connection is up, iconizing the program causes the online
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time to be displayed in the icon's title.
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<P>
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Seriously fun... :-)
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<P>
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I also wanted to be able to set up an auto-dial facility that would do:
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<UL>
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<LI>Immediate auto-dialing
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<LI>Delayed auto-dialing
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<LI>Auto Execution of selected programs
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<LI>Auto Hangup, Quit, or Exit once the programs had finished execution
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<LI>Auto Logging
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</UL>
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<P>
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I did this because I wanted to have this program run unattended. Currently,
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it can be set to perform a variety of functions at some specified time, log
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its activity, and then optionally hangup or quit. This is nice because it can
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be set up to run in the middle of the night when traffic is relatively
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lighter.
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<P>
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Here's a screen dump of the AutoExec dialog:
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<P>
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<IMG WIDTH=306 HEIGHT=634 SRC="./gx/ppptk_autoexec.gif">
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<P>
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And finally, I wanted to be able to do some basic configuration during run
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time. This would include changing fonts, colors, file locations, and so forth
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-- rather than relying on hardcoded values. Here's a screen shot of the
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Config dialog:
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<P>
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<IMG WIDTH=494 HEIGHT=622 SRC="./gx/ppptk_config.gif">
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<P>
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As I mentioned before, this has been a LOT of fun to work on (mostly during
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those rare spare moments late at night). If you've enjoyed doing a bit of
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shell programming and want to do something under X then I'd <B>strongly
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recommend</B> doing a bit of playing with Tcl/Tk. I'd also commend to you one
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of the excellent books on the subject: either <B>John Ousterhout's</B> book
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<I>Tcl and the Tk Toolkit</I> or <B>Brent Welch's</B> book <I>Practical
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Programming in Tcl and Tk</I>. Either of these are marvelous books although
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you'll also want to have a set of the Tcl/Tk manual pages for full
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descriptions of the language.
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<P>
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Well, have I got you interested...?
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<P>
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Hope so! :-)
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<P>
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This has been a HUGE amount of fun and it constantly amazes me that not only
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Tcl/Tk, but also an ever-increasing number of add-on's are freely available to
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anyone interested in using them. Try selling that one to the guys in Redmond,
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WA...
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<P>
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Finally, if anyone is interested, I'd be happy to send a copy of the program
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sources. Currently, this is strictly a home-grown program that has been
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significantly customized to my own needs. I get 'Net access through the local
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University which uses 8 phone numbers for a total of 120 lines. The first 32
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lines have a 4 hour time limit and the rest have a 30 minute time limit.
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So... you can understand why this has become pretty specialized. Still, there
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might be something useful to someone and I'd be delighted to hear from anyone
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regarding comments and criticisms about this.
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<P>
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Drop me a note at <A HREF="mailto: fiskjm@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu">
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fiskjm@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu</A> if you're interested.
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<P>
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Thanks!
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<P>
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John
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<P>
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<HR>
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<!-- ===================================================================== -->
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<!-- FOOTER ============================================================== -->
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<BR>
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<H3><A HREF="./lg_issue8.html">Back to Linux Gazette!</A></H3>
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<I>This page written and maintained by:</I><BR>
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<ADDRESS>
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<A HREF="./jmf.html">John M. Fisk</A> at <A HREF="mailto:fiskjm@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu">
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fiskjm@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu</A>
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</ADDRESS>
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