network manager ppp doesn't support evdo/gprs/umts data cards

[Dave Hall]

There are multiple problems with Network manager which make it unusable for managing umts/gprs connections.

Unless a username and password are specified the connection can not be saved. Not all gprs connections require a user/pass combo - see http://www.taniwha.org.uk/gprs.html

There is no way to specify additional options for gprs such as APN

Network Manager doesn't detect a manually connected (such as "sudo pon <provider>") ppp connection, so any VPNs in network manager are not available when using the connection.

Although this is really a wishlist, I think it is pretty important, as it makes Network Manager not very useful when using ppp connection which require extra options such as umts/gprs (and I suspect hsdpa).

[Simone Tolotti (simontol)]

+1 for this..
Editing /etc/ppp/peers/ppp0 could do the trick.
But I think it's no so difficult to add the option to edit Init strings (such as in gnome-ppp) to modem (ppp) connections in network-manager.
Actually most of the GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA connections (at least in europe) are not 24/7. I mean you have time or kb traffic limits...
So it could be useful to have a simple (and working) connect/disconnect switch. Actually, I can disconnect ppp0 from network-manager, but I have to reboot to reconnect, or run "sudo pon ppp0".
I'm on gutsy beta.

[Greg Grossmeier (greg.grossmeier)]

As I do not have any umts/gprs connections to test:

Does this problem still exist in Gutsy (or, in the development version Hardy)?

[Dave Hall (skwashd)]

This is fixed in Hardy - mostly

Last I checked there is still no VPN support in NM when using a PPP connection. It is quite common to need a VPN connection to access office resources when on the road.

[Greg Grossmeier (greg.grossmeier)]

Glad to hear that this is fixed in Hardy (marking as Fix Released).

Does bug 134547 seem like what your other issue is?

If so, please don't hesitate to add more information to that one.

Thanks!

[Dave Hall (skwashd)]

134547 is an issue with PPTP VPNs. This is a general issue PPP connections and VPNs in NM. I will open a new ticket next time I am on the road to confirm it is still an issue.

[Brian Dorsey (brian-dorseys)]

I'm using KPPP to use my EVDO modem. It connects and works properly. However, NM thinks that I'm offline and VPNs aren't enabled for use. (same behavior with GnomePPP) Is there a command line way to start the same VPN connections?

Also, Firefox 3 Beta 5 automatically switches into 'offline' mode, and stays 'offline' even after starting a ppp connection. If I manually unset 'offline' mode, web pages work fine.

[Tolga (kaos19)]

I had to edit ppp0 peer and chatscript to get it working. However, this is still a MAJOR issue, as Networkmanager does not recognize ppp connections (v8.04). Why is major? Well lots of things don't work if NetworkManager says "offline" like:
     Firefox
     Pidgin
     VPN
     etc.

[Tolga (kaos19)]

This is still not fixed as of Fri Apr 18, 4:23 PM PST

[Simone Tolotti (simontol)]

You cannot say it is fixed in hardy 'cause NM stays in offline mode even if connected with ppp.
See this bug and all its duplicates. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/191889

[Alexandre Fiori (fiorix)]

please check #220497

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

not a ffox 3 bug.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

not a pidgin bug.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

only a network-manager bug

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

network manager 0.7 will fix this. however, don't expect any backport of this to official hardy-updates.

[Samuel Kogler (daasdingo)]

will network manager 0.7 support umts data card connections by default?

currently I am connecting via umtsmon, but this is not a very good solution because you need internet connection to get it...
for people who only have umts internet,like me , this is a MAJOR issue!

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

On Sat, Jul 26, 2008 at 09:58:33AM -0000, phoenix wrote:
> will network manager 0.7 support umts data card connections by default?
>
> currently I am connecting via umtsmon, but this is not a very good solution because you need internet connection to get it...
> for people who only have umts internet,like me , this is a MAJOR issue!
>

please test network-manager 0.7 from the network-manager team ppa in
launchpad. in general umts support works there for me.

 - Alexander

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

declaring as fixed. 3g support is now available.