I recently subscribed to MTML’s AZU EV-DO internet package and opted for the USB EV-DO modem (model: AnyData ADU-310C). I was handed a small black box which contained the modem, a one page installation procedure and a mini CD. The CD contained a manual in pdf format, drivers for windows/MAC and a dialing utility.

I did install the same on Windows Vista and the procedure was straight forward, in essence install the driver, reboot, install the dialing utility, configure (username and password) and dial.

I normally connect to the internet on Ubuntu instead of windows. No drivers or instructions were provided for GNU\Linux. I decided to give it a shot.

My kernel version is as follows

kailash@matozoid:~$ uname -a
Linux matozoid 2.6.24-21-generic #1 SMP Tue Oct 21 23:43:45 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux
kailash@matozoid:~$

I plugged in the modem in a usb slot and called dmesg to ensure that it was detected by the Kernel.

kailash@matozoid:~$ dmesg | tail
....
[  927.208146] usb 1-2: new full speed USB device using ohci_hcd and address 4
[  927.308058] usb 1-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[  927.304196] option 1-2:1.0: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[  927.304360] usb 1-2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[  927.305347] option 1-2:1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[  927.305489] usb 1-2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
kailash@matozoid:~$

The modem was detected out of the box and was attached to /dev/ttyUSB0.

The next step was to configure wvdial, my favorite dialing utility on linux, with my username, password and dialing number. I first opened wvdial’s configuration file /etc/wvdial.conf.

kailash@matozoid:~$ sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf
[sudo] password for kailash:

and edited the file as follows:

[Dialer Defaults]
Stupid Mode = on
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Baud = 9216000
Init = ATZ

Phone = #777
Username = 952XXXX@evdo
Password = 952XXXX
New PPPD = yes

The username and password is the MDN number printed on the modem’s packaging.

The final step was to dial. (I used sudo here since I am too lazy to give my user dialing permissions)

kailash@matozoid:~$ sudo wvdial
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60
--> Cannot get information for serial port.
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected.  Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Thu Nov 27 09:32:56 2008
--> Pid of pppd: 16877
--> Using interface ppp0
--> local  IP address 41.222.96.208
--> remote IP address 2.2.2.2
--> primary   DNS address 41.223.76.1
--> secondary DNS address 203.94.227.70

The LED on the modem changed from green (Idle state) to blue (Busy state/Data mode).

I launched firefox. Yay! There I was on the web. No hassle, no reboot actually.. Long live GNU\Linux! Its easier than on windows

Note: I still need to find a way to show the signal strength though. Any ideas? Gnome ppp or Kppp?

Mo pas conner si sa arrive zots souvent, mais moi boucou fois kan mo coz ek certains dimounes en creole zots repone moi en francais. Boucou fois arrive moi sa dans bannes grand magasins oussa kan mo p deal ek dimounes ki p travail dans bannes grand compagnies. Ene lexemple lotte fois la mo ti dans avion, air mauritius, be ti ena ene hotesse de l’air ki ti reconet moi lacoz nu ti etudier dans mem universite. Li vini li coz francais ar moi.. be mo dir moricienne em sa, li bisin comprend creole.. mo repone li en creole… alala li recommencer ek so francais.. mo ine persiste ek mo creole pou guet so reaction.. mais encor francais em… situation la ti assez cocasse lacoz nu deux ti tetu.. mo crwar li ti p attane ki mo coz francais mais mo pas ine fer li. Li paret ki ena ene sorte hierarchie invisible dans langaz ki nu swazir pu cozer. Apriori francais li siposer ena priorite lor creole. Si ena 2 dimounes, ene coz francais ek ene coz creole, saki coz creole la bisin changer par default.

Mo d’accord ki culturellement francais li fort comparer ek language creole. Mais mo penser ki dans moris li pas obliger etre necessairement le cas. Ena certains ki penser ki creole pas pou amene nu nullepart. Ena mo sire truv dimounes ki coz creole vulgaire. Ena hypocrite, lacaz koz creole ek declare pas conne creole dans travail. Mo ena fami, zot piti pas conne creole. Esceki nu cav dir ki nu gagne honter nu vrai culture? Francais mo d’accord forme parti nu culture.. mais creole aussi forme parti integrale nu culture ek li bete pou accepter ki li dominer par ene l’autre.

Mo pas ley rentre dans debat sipa li vaut la peine apprane en creole, mais saki mo conner c ki li vaut la peine la guerre pou so culture.. abe anou coz nu creole! Ki zots dir?

I am impressed by the impact web 2.0 and the internet has on our lives. I am also concerned but also, dare I say, very amused about how the pre-internet generation are getting overwhelmed by its impact.

The facebook cambridge paper leakages is one such example. I think that procedures simply got outdated when faced with the reach that web 2.0 has on our lives. Exams are based on information secrecy; the information, i.e. the paper, is kept in strict confidentiality until disclosed when students sit for the paper. The internet through speedy dissemination of the data has enabled such information to reach others in no time.

I have always hated exams. Students are expected to know their stuff by heart and to work in isolation. I think humans by their very nature need to share and to collaborate to find solutions to their problems. Any attempt to hinder the same is not natural in my opinion. Exams are not natural but I must admit there are little viable alternatives I can think of. Open book exams seem more viable now though.

I believe in freedom and access to knowledge. The internet and web 2.0 has enabled the same: opensource software, mp3/divx, peer to peer networks.. etc Technology is breaking traditional barriers and I am amused when I see the pre-internet generation being overwhelmed. They seek lame solutions, Lucien Finette was mentioning closing down facebook. LMAO! This phenomena is beyond their reach… clearly it is.

Notwithstanding the above, I am very concerned about the fate of those who took the exams this year. I hope an acceptable solution is found as soon as possible.