This is the first weblog entry I write using my brand new PowerBook. Don�t read the rest of this entry for it is boring. My PowerBook owns.
I connected my adsl modem to the onboard vpn adapter, fooled around with some network settings and tried to connect. When this didn't seem to do the trick�and I have no documentation on the matter�I decided to call the helpdesk of my isp, Planet Internet.
The first number I dialed answered with a tape message saying the number is no longer in use, and what the new number (a pay number) is. I called the new number, and got another tape message. This one told me to wait. I waited.
When I got somebody on the line, I briefly explained the case situation. The guy on the other end seemed rather clueless on the matter, and redirected my other isp, kpn. Huray, another tape message.
This one told me to press the numbers of my private phone number. Le Fuck?
I stubbornly entered the number of the cellular phone I was calling with. The tape recorder lady simply repeated the message. How rude! I conformed.
This triggered a series of inquires: If you [�], press 1. If you [�], press 2. Etc.
I try to focus on the various options, and press keys accordingly.
After the series of inquiries, I am told to wait. Again.
Next thing, I get thed world�s lowest voice on the line. Ever. He also talked a bit slow, had a bit of an accent, and sounded remotely gay. He also articulated very clearly, took his time, and was awfully polite. I need to remember this for when I can�t fall asleep.
Anyway. He might have been able to make me fall asleep, but he coudln�t help me with the thing I called for, initially. He too put me on hold, while trying to get a hold of the technical department.
He took his time at that, too.
When he finally got back to me, he said all of the people at tech were busy, but that we could set a date at which they could call me back. It appeared that I�m busy when they got time and vice versa for the first few days to come. We agreed they�d call me back on Thursday evening. When he was about to hang up, I asked him wether I they had online documentation on the matter, so that I could try to figure it out myself in the meantime.
He then got some document in front of him, but that it was incomplete: it talked of a certain piece of software (pptp-gui.dmg
) that should be installed first, but not of where to get it and how to install it. Since he was now at it�and I doubt he has ever been in rushed for a moment in his life�he proceeded to read out the remainder of the document.
Even though I�m not an experienced Mac OS user per s�, my compyter-savvy guts told me that it could be done without pptp-gui.dmg
, and that it only sets some of the deeper configuration settings that they don�t really want their users to bother with (perhaps because it wouldn�t sound user-friendly
). The name of the thing implies it provides a graphic user interface for a universal protocol, which rationalizes my gut-feeling.
I said I would figure it out, that there�s no need to call me back, and thanked him for his time.
I decided to check for this pptp-gui.dmg
first, so I plugged the adsl modem back in my pc, and searched Planet and kpn online. I found their online support is worse than their helpdesk. Everytime I clicked a link which label came remotely close to what I was looking for, it 404�ed.
Eventually, I found the document KPN, ADSL, Service & Support, which is the document the nice man on the phone had read me outloud earlier. Indeed, it talked of pptp-gui.dmg
, but provided no resource to said file whatsoever. I could have Googled it, but finally followed my gut-feeling.
I plugged the adsl modem back into my PowerBook, and dived into the network settings again: at first, to check if it was still not working (always do this first: I have learned from experience), and then went to the somewhat deeper settings as planned.
The first thing I did, was change the encryption. Initially, this was set to Automatic (128-bit or 40-bit)
, and I figured this could be something that lacks in their security, and that it would make sense to write/use software that sets this value to None
without showing the user. Thus, I selected None
from the dropdownlistbox, and clicked Connect
.
- Status:
- Connected to
ip
Sigh. I had been two clicks away from getting it at my first attempt, and I could have saved a lot of time and probably several euros by having a tidy bit more persistency and faith.
Oh well; I found a new remedy for insomnia, and I reached my goal.
The first thing I did with my newly acquired internet connection was boot Safari, and (no offense, Hyatt) download Firefox 1.01 for Mac OS X, English.
I then used my temporary browser of choice (normally, it�s a Mozilla + SVG Build) to download Python 2.4; PIL 1.1.4; X-Chat Aqua 0.13.0; MSN� Messenger for Mac version 4.0.1; and DrawBot 2.0a1. I then started a web server, logged onto my chay clients, and wrote this insanely boring post that you should be reading (and I probably shouldn�t have written).
Did I mention my PowerBook rocks?
ACJ