Kubuntu 8.04 64bit essential apps install guide

4. UMTS dialup connection using Sony Ericsson k800i, Bluetooth and KPPP

Ok, now in my opinion this is the most important demand to linux I have. Getting connected to the internet using UMTS, Bluetooth and your mobile phone. It’s quite frustrating when you’re travelling a lot and don’t have the possibility to get online!
Formerly it was a bit tricky to do that. But since Kubuntu Gutsy in most cases it worked out of the box for me. So here’s how you can solve that issue.

a) Pairing the devices

1. Make sure bluetooth is enabled on your mobile phone and it is in “visible” mode!

2. If your Kubuntu installation has finished fined there should be a bluetooth icon in the taskbar. Rightclick on it. Go to “Configurations > Input Decives”

3. Click on “Add new Devices“. If search was successful your mobile phone should show up with it’s name and mac-address.

4. Mark your mobile phone and click on “Setup

5. Accept the request on your mobile phone.

6. Proceed with device pairing and enter a code on your mobile phone. (i.e. “1234″)

7. You’ll be prompted by kbluetooth to enter this code. Do this.

8. Now you’ll asked if you want to connect to your mobile phone now. Answer: “NO’

9. Close the “Input Devices“-window.

10. To check the pairing go to “Bluetooth-Taskbar-Icon > Configurations > Paired/Trusted Devices …. There you should see your mobile phone.
Now the pairing is done. Means the devices (computer and phone) know each other and accept requests send by the other device.

b) Bind mobile phone to rfcomm0 device

You need to bind your mobile phone automatically at startup to a static device name. For bluetooth devices “rfcommX” is used (X=placeholder for inrcreasing number). So bind your phone to (i.e) “rfcomm0“.

1. Detect which rfcomm channel is used for “Dialup Networking“:
$ sdptool browseGet the channel number and keep it in mind.

2. We need the mac-address of the mobile phone again. To get it faster open a console and type in:
$ hcitool scanYour mobile phone should show up with mac-address and name. Keep this also in mind, or somewhere else!

3. Edit the Bluetooth rfcomm configuration file as root:
$ sudo kate /etc/bluetooth/rfcomm.conf
4. Copy and paste the example code with your settings. Remember the device mac-address and dialup-networking channel! Don’t forget to uncomment (removing ‘#’) every line of your settings. The file should look like this:

rfcomm0 {
# Automatically bind the device at startup
bind yes;

# Bluetooth address of the device
device 00:19:63:AC:CB:68;

# RFCOMM channel for the connection
channel	2;

# Description of the connection
comment "K800i fekw dialup";
}

5. Restart the bluetooth service to make the configurations take place.
$ sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restartOk. Your mobile phone is now configure as bluetooth network device for dialup-networking!

d) Establish Dialup-Network Connection with KPPP

Now we want to establish an Dialup-Network Connection using mobile phone as modem.

1. Open “Applications > Internet > KPPP“.

2. Click on “Configure“.

3. First we want to configure our paired mobile phone to be used as modem. Switch to tab “Modems” Click on “New“.

4. Select the preconfigured bluetooth device “/dev/rfcomm0” which represents the mobile phone. Add a name. Leave all other settings as they are. Click “OK”

5. To test the modem mark your modem and “Edit“. Go to tab “Modem” and “Query Modem“. The result should be similar to this:

6. Go back to “KPPP Configuration“. Go to tab “Misc” and activate checkbox for “Automatic redial on disconnect“.

Be careful! Only activate this option if you’ve a UMTS/GPRS flatrate by you telco provider. Otherwise surfing would become extremly expensive for you!

7. Now set up an account to dial in and establish the connection. Go to tab “Accounts“. Add a new account manual. Now you need informations from your telco provider. I’ll demonstrate the settings for my provider “Eplus”. Just edit the settings shown on the screenshots. Leave all other values preset!

Ok, fine. We come close to the end where we’ll test the connection. But there’s one important thing:

8. Quit KNetworkManager completely before using KPPP-DialupNetworking! These two apps conflict! They’re both rewriting the /etc/resolv.conf which is responsible for dns lookups!

9. Now open KPPP again, select your account and fill in your credentials. Click “Connect” …and BAM! You got it!

(request the credentials at your telco provider)

10. Enjoy surfing via UMTS!

Next chapter: VMware Server 1.0.6