wvdial Ask Password fails with tcgetattr error

I am trying to configure wvdial to prompt for the ISP password rather than
storing it in the configuration file. I've entered "Ask Password = 1" in
/etc/wvdial.conf, and that does produce a password query, but it
immediately spits out a tcgetattr error message without allowing me to
enter the password. The terminal output from vwdial is something like:

--> Please enter password (or empty password to stop):
error in tcgetattr: Input/output error
error in tcgetattr: Input/output error

Can anyone tell me how to fix this or give me some hints on how to track
the problem down.

Thanks
Richard

Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>I am trying to configure wvdial to prompt for the ISP password rather than

This is almost certainly the wrong thing to do. Virtually no isp wants you
to log on. Rather they want you to use pap or chap to log on.
Post your exact output from wvdial or look at
www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/ppp-linux.html
..


>storing it in the configuration file. I've entered "Ask Password = 1" in
>/etc/wvdial.conf, and that does produce a password query, but it
>immediately spits out a tcgetattr error message without allowing me to
>enter the password. The terminal output from vwdial is something like:

>--> Please enter password (or empty password to stop):
>error in tcgetattr: Input/output error
>error in tcgetattr: Input/output error

>Can anyone tell me how to fix this or give me some hints on how to track
>the problem down.

>Thanks
>Richard

Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:dakoc3$168$(E-Mail Removed):

> Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>
>>I am trying to configure wvdial to prompt for the ISP password rather
>>than storing it in the configuration file.

>
> This is almost certainly the wrong thing to do. Virtually no isp wants
> you to log on. Rather they want you to use pap or chap to log on.
> Post your exact output from wvdial or look at
> www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/ppp-linux.html
>

I'm not logging on, just authenticating via pap/chap.

I found my problem -- just needed to run wvdial in the foreground.

I've decided my goal of not storing the password in the wvdial.conf file
doesn't enhance security, since the password gets stored in pap-secrets and
chap-secrets anyway.

Thanks for the help.

Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:dakoc3$168$(E-Mail Removed):

>> Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>>
>>>I am trying to configure wvdial to prompt for the ISP password rather
>>>than storing it in the configuration file.

>>
>> This is almost certainly the wrong thing to do. Virtually no isp wants
>> you to log on. Rather they want you to use pap or chap to log on.
>> Post your exact output from wvdial or look at
>> www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/ppp-linux.html
>>

>I'm not logging on, just authenticating via pap/chap.

>I found my problem -- just needed to run wvdial in the foreground.

That would certainly do it. In background there is no stdin, which is where
it asks for a password.

>I've decided my goal of not storing the password in the wvdial.conf file
>doesn't enhance security, since the password gets stored in pap-secrets and
>chap-secrets anyway.


Again, you should not have to have your password in the wvdial.conf file
either. Almost no ISP asks for a login befor ppp, which is what that is
for.
Put
debug
into /etc/ppp/options, put
daemon.*;local2.* /var/log/daemonlog
into /etc/syslog.conf
and then do
killall -1 syslogd
(DO NOT forget the -1)
and then run wvdial, and show us the contents of /etc/ppp/options.

Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:damn4o$m92$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>>
>>I've decided my goal of not storing the password in the wvdial.conf
>>file doesn't enhance security, since the password gets stored in
>>pap-secrets and chap-secrets anyway.
>
I finally got around this feature by denying wvdial write permission to
pap-secrets and chap-secrets. I get warning messages from wvdial, but
authentication still succeeds, so I guess my ISP isn't using pap/chap.
>
> Again, you should not have to have your password in the wvdial.conf
> file either. Almost no ISP asks for a login befor ppp, which is what
> that is for.

My wvdial exits immediately without dialing if it doesn't find a password
(or Ask Password = 1) in the configuration file. Here's the wvdial output
in this case (log file looks the same):

--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: AT&F1
AT&F1
OK
--> Sending: ATL1
ATL1
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Configuration does not specify a valid password.
(exits)

With a password (or Ask Password =1 ) in the configuration file the wvdial
output is:

--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: AT&F1
AT&F1
OK
--> Sending: ATL1
ATL1
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Please enter password (or empty password to stop):
(above line is missing if password is specified in wvdial.conf)
--> Sending: ATDT<my ISP phone number>
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT<my ISP phone number>
CONNECT 50666/ARQ/V90/LAPM/V42BIS
--> Carrier detected. Waiting for prompt.
*****Authorized use onlty-Unauthorized use is Prohibited.**
Login:
--> Looks like a login prompt.
--> Sending: username
username
Password:
--> Looks like a password prompt.
--> Sending: (password)
Entering PPP Session.
IP address is <my IP address>
MTU is 1500.
--> Looks like a welcome message.
--> Starting pppd at Fri Jul 8 07:31:55 2005
--> pid of pppd: 4536
--> Using interface ppp0
--> pppd: aler ppp0
--> pppd: aler ppp0
(etc)


BTW, thanks for the tutorial link, it was very instructive.

Richard

Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:damn4o$m92$(E-Mail Removed):
>>
>>> Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>>>
>>>I've decided my goal of not storing the password in the wvdial.conf
>>>file doesn't enhance security, since the password gets stored in
>>>pap-secrets and chap-secrets anyway.
>>
>I finally got around this feature by denying wvdial write permission to
>pap-secrets and chap-secrets. I get warning messages from wvdial, but
>authentication still succeeds, so I guess my ISP isn't using pap/chap.
>>
>> Again, you should not have to have your password in the wvdial.conf
>> file either. Almost no ISP asks for a login befor ppp, which is what
>> that is for.

>My wvdial exits immediately without dialing if it doesn't find a password
>(or Ask Password = 1) in the configuration file. Here's the wvdial output
>in this case (log file looks the same):

>--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
>--> Initializing modem.
>--> Sending: AT&F1
>AT&F1
>OK
>--> Sending: ATL1
>ATL1
>OK
>--> Modem initialized.
>--> Configuration does not specify a valid password.
>(exits)

>With a password (or Ask Password =1 ) in the configuration file the wvdial
>output is:

>--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
>--> Initializing modem.
>--> Sending: AT&F1
>AT&F1
>OK
>--> Sending: ATL1
>ATL1
>OK
>--> Modem initialized.
>--> Please enter password (or empty password to stop):
> (above line is missing if password is specified in wvdial.conf)
>--> Sending: ATDT<my ISP phone number>
>--> Waiting for carrier.
>ATDT<my ISP phone number>
>CONNECT 50666/ARQ/V90/LAPM/V42BIS
>--> Carrier detected. Waiting for prompt.
>*****Authorized use onlty-Unauthorized use is Prohibited.**
>Login:
>--> Looks like a login prompt.
>--> Sending: username
>username
>Password:
>--> Looks like a password prompt.
>--> Sending: (password)
> Entering PPP Session.
> IP address is <my IP address>
> MTU is 1500.
>--> Looks like a welcome message.
>--> Starting pppd at Fri Jul 8 07:31:55 2005
>--> pid of pppd: 4536
>--> Using interface ppp0
>--> pppd: aler ppp0
>--> pppd: aler ppp0
>(etc)


>BTW, thanks for the tutorial link, it was very instructive.


What does your wvdial config file have in it (do not post the password
here).

As I said (almost) no ISP uses login -- it really is highly unlikely.

However wvdial can be stupid, and they realise it, so put in the option
Supid Mode = 1
Make sure you have pap/chap secrets file properly set up.

Also remove the Login and Password or Ask Password entries.

Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:dap6it$jna$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> What does your wvdial config file have in it (do not post the password
> here).
>
Configuration files:
/etc/ppp/options
asyncmap 0
noauth
crtscts
lock
hide-password
modem
proxyarp
lcp-echo-interval 30
lcp-echo-failure 4
noipx

/etc/ppp/wvdial.conf
[Dialer ppp0]
Init2 = ATL1
Password = ******
Stupid mode = 0
Init1 = AT&F1
Phone = 421-0549
Username = XXXXXX
Dial Command = ATDT
Modem = /dev/ttyS1
Baud = 115200
[Dialer Defaults]
Modem = /dev/ttyS1
Baud = 115200
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0L3
ISDN = 0
Modem Type = Analog Modem

/etc/ppp/peers/ppp0
usepeerdns
user XXXXXX
/dev/ttyS1
connect "/usr/bin/wvdial --chat ppp0"
defaultroute
noipdefault
noauth

> As I said (almost) no ISP uses login -- it really is highly unlikely.
>
> However wvdial can be stupid, and they realise it, so put in the
> option Supid Mode = 1
> Make sure you have pap/chap secrets file properly set up.
>
> Also remove the Login and Password or Ask Password entries.
>
I tried several experiments at your suggestion, and here are my
observations:

With Stupid Mode = 0, wvdial will authenticate via login/password before
starting pppd.

With Stupid Mode = 1, wvdial will start pppd immediately and (apparently)
authenticate via pap/chap-secrets files.

Either method connects successfully.

Regardless of how Stupid Mode is set, wvdial gets a username and password
from wvdial.conf (or asks for a password if Ask Password = 1), and writes
them to the pap/chap-secrets files. If it cannot find/get both username and
password, it exits before dialing. When I remove Username, Password and Ask
Password from wvdial.conf, I get the following result (with Stupid Mode = 1
or 0):

--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: AT&F1
AT&F1
OK
--> Sending: ATL1
ATL1
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Configuration does not specify a valid password.
--> Configuration does not specify a valid user name.
(exits)

The wvdial man page does say it automatically updates pap/chap-secrets
files, so I guess it wants a username/password pair to accomplish that.
Don't recall seeing any way to turn that behavior off.

OK, I do not know the inner attributes of wvdial. It is primarily usefull
sometimes in figuring out what your ISP wants. However you now know.
Ie, you could replace the use of wvdial with the use of chat instead if you
wanted to. Then you could just once place the user and password inot
/etc/ppp/{pap,chap}-secrets file. On the other hand you now have it working
with wvdial.

I have no idea if wvdial can be used without the user/password options.



Richard <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:dap6it$jna$(E-Mail Removed):

>>
>> What does your wvdial config file have in it (do not post the password
>> here).
>>
>Configuration files:
>/etc/ppp/options
> asyncmap 0
> noauth
> crtscts
> lock
> hide-password
> modem
> proxyarp
> lcp-echo-interval 30
> lcp-echo-failure 4
> noipx

>/etc/ppp/wvdial.conf
> [Dialer ppp0]
> Init2 = ATL1
> Password = ******
> Stupid mode = 0
> Init1 = AT&F1
> Phone = 421-0549
> Username = XXXXXX
> Dial Command = ATDT
> Modem = /dev/ttyS1
> Baud = 115200
> [Dialer Defaults]
> Modem = /dev/ttyS1
> Baud = 115200
> Init1 = ATZ
> Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0L3
> ISDN = 0
> Modem Type = Analog Modem

>/etc/ppp/peers/ppp0
> usepeerdns
> user XXXXXX
> /dev/ttyS1
> connect "/usr/bin/wvdial --chat ppp0"
> defaultroute
> noipdefault
> noauth

>> As I said (almost) no ISP uses login -- it really is highly unlikely.
>>
>> However wvdial can be stupid, and they realise it, so put in the
>> option Supid Mode = 1
>> Make sure you have pap/chap secrets file properly set up.
>>
>> Also remove the Login and Password or Ask Password entries.
>>
>I tried several experiments at your suggestion, and here are my
>observations:

>With Stupid Mode = 0, wvdial will authenticate via login/password before
>starting pppd.

>With Stupid Mode = 1, wvdial will start pppd immediately and (apparently)
>authenticate via pap/chap-secrets files.

>Either method connects successfully.

>Regardless of how Stupid Mode is set, wvdial gets a username and password
>from wvdial.conf (or asks for a password if Ask Password = 1), and writes
>them to the pap/chap-secrets files. If it cannot find/get both username and
>password, it exits before dialing. When I remove Username, Password and Ask
>Password from wvdial.conf, I get the following result (with Stupid Mode = 1
>or 0):

>--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
>--> Initializing modem.
>--> Sending: AT&F1
>AT&F1
>OK
>--> Sending: ATL1
>ATL1
>OK
>--> Modem initialized.
>--> Configuration does not specify a valid password.
>--> Configuration does not specify a valid user name.
>(exits)

>The wvdial man page does say it automatically updates pap/chap-secrets
>files, so I guess it wants a username/password pair to accomplish that.
>Don't recall seeing any way to turn that behavior off.

Unruh <unruh-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:daqa3f$2dq$(E-Mail Removed):

> OK, I do not know the inner attributes of wvdial. It is primarily
> usefull sometimes in figuring out what your ISP wants. However you now
> know. Ie, you could replace the use of wvdial with the use of chat
> instead if you wanted to. Then you could just once place the user and
> password inot /etc/ppp/{pap,chap}-secrets file. On the other hand you
> now have it working with wvdial.
>
Yeah, that's what I've done, now that I learned I don't need the password
in the chatscripts file. Thanks for the education.