Bug 118529

Summary:	ppp parameter maxfail not allowed in baselayout-12.0_pre13-r1
Product:	Gentoo Linux	Reporter:	Igor Testen <igor>
Component:	[OLD] baselayout	Assignee:	Gentoo Dialup Developers <net-dialup>
Status:	RESOLVED INVALID
Severity:	minor	CC:	uberlord
Priority:	High
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	All
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---

Description Igor Testen 2006-01-10 06:31:49 UTC

I use an internet provider that requires pptp, so I run the net.ppp0 at start. For an unknown reason (I was tampering with the kernel, I guess), ppp could not set up connection and kept on restarting endlessly.

So I had to boot again in the interactive mode and specifically choose not to run net.ppp0, to be able to log in.

When I tried adding the maxfail parameter, I got an error message saying that that usage of this parameter wasn't allowed. I found that the parameter is being set to 0 in the /lib/rcscripts/net.modules.d/pppd. I changed the file for myself, but wouldn't it make sense to put a more sensible number in there, or at least let the user choose it in /etc/conf.d/net?

Comment 1 Alin Năstac (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2006-01-10 07:05:30 UTC

no can do, for the reasons explained in bug 115346.

I don't undestand how net.ppp0 failure to start could keep you from logging in, except of course the case when pppd_${iface} contains "updetach" and pppd enters in an endless loop of try-and-fail (for whatever reason).
If you don't specify "updetach", the net.ppp0 will go in background the split second after the pppd daemon has been launched.

Comment 2 Igor Testen 2006-01-10 08:08:19 UTC

I did specify updetach (thanks for the hint), but I removed it now. I also understand the point with persist maxfail 0. Is it correct that the holdoff parameter will instruct pppd to wait before reconnecting even if the previous attempt wasn't successful?

Comment 3 Alin Năstac (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2006-01-10 09:16:05 UTC

'holdoff' will put pppd to sleep no matter whether previous connection was a successfull one or not. 
The holdoff main purpose is to delay modem reconnection. Without it, if the modem is quick enough, the PSTN line doesn't have a chance to go through off-hook -> on-hook -> off-hook process.