I would like to encourange the makers of KPPP and the designers of the distributions (Mandriva, Ubuntu, OpenSuse etc) to provide KPPP in a condition that it can be directly used. So when installing KPPP via Yast etc out of an user-account, I would expect the installer, to provide all necessary configuration files and rights and create and connect the required groups. It is quite wicked being forced to get complex installation help on a tool from the internet which is actually supposed to establish the connection to that help. The help itself is usually quite cryptic and I wonder, why so skilled people finding the most complex things quite trivial are not skilled enough to do it all right during the installation of the tool. Or is it a matter of protecting software against the user?
(Hint: I know that there is also KInternet available (OpenSUSE only?), but I am talking about KPPP which I prefer because it gives more information about the traffic. The manual configuration of KPPP however is almost ever necessary and in my opinion a real torture. With Ubuntu and Mandriva I never got KInternet offered. So KPPP seems to be without alternative there)
Do you mean you are having trouble installing kppp or that it is difficult to set up?
If you use the Software.openSUSE.org for it, you will find several versions that will work on suse with one-click install.
Dialers like wvdial, KPPP or KInternet are not usually difficult to configure with openSUSE, but sometimes the associated modem hardware can be problematic because of driver issues or other peculiarities.
Call Yast or another tool provided to add software. Usually there is only one choice
Search for KPPP and install.
-> First common error: KPPP cannot be installed because a component is not on the DVD. With Ubuntu and Mandriva you are now lost together with 12-13 Euro for the Linux Journal and can wrack the trash.
If KPPP is properly installed start KPPP
-> Next common error: KPPP cannot be started because there is some access restriction (root etc.). If you have incidentally kinternet you can try to bypass the problem by looking for help on the WEB. If you understand the help you get one step further. Else you can wrack the DVD with journal and the money as well.
If KPPP conveniently starts up, you have to configure the modem. Next common error message: Cannot write file XYZ. This is the moment where I am at my wit’s end and I burn the junk in the oven in order to prevent me from spending just more time and money on it.
If this all can be achieved without the mentioned problems (approx. 1% of all cases), the default dial-up speed it astronomically high by default. The consequence is a connection of 1-2 k. If you are informed enough you are aware of the problem and set the connection speed to 57 k which is the maximum for analogous modems.
Other problems with PPP etc. enrich this desert of usability. So please: NO MORE WORKAROUNDS! It is sufficient if the proud genies in here master the setup of KPPP instead of constantly explaining the wonderful world of linux to people being trapped with messages like: Get rid of windows and Microsoft in an hour and often don’t get even connected to the internet.
Looks to me like you are a windows user who runs everything with Administrator rights or xp-homes standard settings which don’t restrict the users rights.
Linux is different in that only the root user can do things which could break the system like install software or mess with settings.
This means that long-term there are fewer problems from the user messing things up.
If you don’t like doing it this way, then linux is not for you.
With many things, it is impossible to anticipate in advance what your specific requirements may be, so a one-size setup is not always feasible.
Personally, I use the traditional if up/down method of controlling my network. Once you know what to do it is a lot easier to use and control.
In response to your point 3:
Both mandriva and ubuntu have internet software repositories for things that are not included on the disc and are easily reached via the internet. Ubuntu is determined to fit it all on a cd so they put the rest in one of their repositories and it will find it for you if you use the software management tools.
I know this is sometimes a chicken and egg situation, especially when it comes to wi-fi.
But then, I have had fewer problems with linux detecting my network card than windows did.
In windows, if you don’t have the driver disc you have no network either.