USB ADSL Modem Manager

  1. Bug #191889
  2. Comment #126

Comment 126 for bug 191889

Revision history for this message
Michael W. (michael-weisberg) wrote : Re: Firefox's new "Offline Mode" feature cannot properly detect when there is a valid network available for use in many circumstances

Maybe I'm just looking/asking for the wrong thing, so I'll be plain about it:

I use a Verizon AirCard 620 that, because of complex command requirements and a password, can not be programmed to use the "standard" ppp scripts in NetManager. I connect, I use a script that sets up the modem, kills dhcpd, and calls pppd with /etc/ppp/peers/verizon as the parameter file. Since NetManager (which I use for connecting to wired and WiFi networks) does not control the connection, several other applications (Firefox, Pidgin, etc) all start in "Working Offline" mode.

For my own use what I have been doing is setting the wired connection to non-roaming, and a bogus fixed IP to force NM into allowing other apps to appear as "online." This is OK for me, but prevents my ability to recommend Ubuntu for wider distribution to a non-technical audience. Is it possible to provide either or both of:
 A) A check box that would allow a "Forced Online" state, and would report to downstream apps that a network is connected, and/or
 B) A programmatic way of setting "Forced Online" and "not Forced Online" for inclusion into scripts.

This is becoming a major headache for me, as I can not deploy any new machines to clients (with 8.04) until this is resolved.