Using PPP to connect Modem GPRS

[JPrad.2]

Is possible to install ppp tools to connect internet using a GPRS modem ?

We need pppd/chat and kernel support to get network interface, but I can't found them on OpenStLinux resources.

[Olivier GALLIEN]

Hi @JPrad.2​ ,

Yes ppp is part of openembedded-core yocto layer and might be installable on target with "apt-get"

Refer to :

Package repository for OpenSTLinux distribution - stm32mpu

Hope it help,

Olivier

[Jean-Marc B · Accepted solution]

Hi @JPrad.2​ 

The OpenSTLinux Package Repository offers several PPP packages:

root@stm32mp1:~# apt-cache search ppp
perl-module-devel-ppport - perl module devel-ppport
ppp - Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support
ppp-doc - Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support - Documentation files
ppp-l2tp - Plugin for PPP for l2tp support
ppp-minconn - Plugin for PPP to set a delay before the idle timeout applies
ppp-oa - Plugin for PPP for PPP-over-ATM support
ppp-oe - Plugin for PPP for PPP-over-Ethernet support
ppp-password - Plugin for PPP to get passwords via a pipe
ppp-radius - Plugin for PPP for RADIUS support
ppp-tools - Additional tools for the PPP package
ppp-winbind - Plugin for PPP to authenticate against Samba or Windows
fetchmail - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP
fetchmail-doc - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - Documentation files
fetchmail-locale-ca - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - ca translations
fetchmail-locale-cs - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - cs translations
fetchmail-locale-da - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - da translations
fetchmail-locale-de - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - de translations
fetchmail-locale-en-gb - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - en_GB translations
fetchmail-locale-eo - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - eo translations
fetchmail-locale-es - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - es translations
fetchmail-locale-fr - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - fr translations
fetchmail-locale-id - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - id translations
fetchmail-locale-it - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - it translations
fetchmail-locale-ja - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - ja translations
fetchmail-locale-nl - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - nl translations
fetchmail-locale-pl - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - pl translations
fetchmail-locale-ro - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - ro translations
fetchmail-locale-ru - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - ru translations
fetchmail-locale-sq - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - sq translations
fetchmail-locale-sr - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - sr translations
fetchmail-locale-sv - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - sv translations
fetchmail-locale-vi - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - vi translations
fetchmail-locale-zh-cn - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP - zh_CN translations
fetchmail-python - Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP
ippool - An IP address pool manager
ippool-doc - An IP address pool manager - Documentation files
ippool-test - An IP address pool manager
iptraf-ng - A console-based network monitoring utility
iptraf-ng-doc - A console-based network monitoring utility - Documentation files
ppp-dialin - Enables PPP dial-in through a serial connection
rp-pppoe - A user-mode PPPoE client and server suite for Linux
rp-pppoe-doc - A user-mode PPPoE client and server suite for Linux - Documentation files
rp-pppoe-relay - A user-mode PPPoE client and server suite for Linux
rp-pppoe-server - A user-mode PPPoE client and server suite for Linux
rp-pppoe-sniff - A user-mode PPPoE client and server suite for Linux
webmin-module-ppp-client - Webmin module for ppp-client

To install the packages you need, just type the commands:

root@stm32mp1:~# apt-get update
root@stm32mp1:~# apt-get install <the packages to install>

Best regards,

--JM

[JPrad.2]

I tried to download packages, but apt-get seems have problems

root@stm32mp1:/etc/systemd/system# apt-get update

The software package is provided AS IS, and by downloading it, you agree to be

bound to the terms of the software license agreement (SLA).

The detailed content licenses can be found at

https://wiki.st.com/stm32mpu/wiki/OpenSTLinux_licenses.

Get:1 http://packages.openstlinux.st.com/4.0 kirkstone InRelease [3459 B]

Reading package lists... Done

E: Release file for http://packages.openstlinux.st.com/4.0/dists/kirkstone/InRelease is not valid yet (invalid for another 136d 20h 12min 44s). Updates for this repository will not be applied.

.

And trying to read packages (No results)

root@stm32mp1:/etc/systemd/system# apt-cache search ppp

root@stm32mp1:/etc/systemd/system#

my linux version is:

root@stm32mp1:/etc/systemd/system# uname -a

Linux stm32mp1 5.15.24 #108 SMP PREEMPT Mon Oct 17 12:22:15 UTC 2022 armv7l armv7l armv7l GNU/Linux

[Jean-Marc B]

Hi @JPrad.2​ 

I think the date system of your board is not synchronized to the current date.

Could you check the date please and set it ?

Best regards,

--JM

[JPrad.2]

Lot of tanks for your suggestion. Repository is now working.

[PatrickF]

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[JPrad.2]

Hi. After download ppp and ppp-dialin from repositoy we continue with development.

When I try to execute pppd to stablish GPRS/Internet connection I get next message:

Couldn't open the /dev/ppp device: No such file or directory

/usr/sbin/pppd: You need to create the /dev/ppp device node by

executing the following command as root:

    mknod /dev/ppp c 108 0

After node creation and executing again, the message is:

Couldn't open the /dev/ppp device: No such device or address

/usr/sbin/pppd: Please load the ppp_generic kernel module.

I try to load using modprobe:

modprobe ppp_generic

modprobe: FATAL: Module ppp_generic not found in directory /lib/modules/5.15.24

Is the module available for Linux stm32mp1 5.15.24 ?

[JPrad.2]

After reading some forums problem seems that /dev/ppp device is not created because ppp_generic kernel module is not loaded.

ppp works with pppd (daemon downloaded from repository) and kernel ppp_generic driver to set the network interface on GPRS connection to ISP.

From ppp - ArchWiki (archlinux.org) at pont 4.3 I read:

When starting PPTP client, the pppd process cannot locate the appropriate module:

Couldn't open the /dev/ppp device: No such device or address

Please load the ppp_generic kernel module.

The solution is to create a /etc/modprobe.d/ppp.conf file with:

alias char-major-108 ppp_generic

The correct module will be loaded after reboot.

For me this operation does not work.

Any suggestion ?

[Jean-Marc B]

Hi @JPrad.2​ 

The kernel ppp module is not available by default in the OpenSTLinux ecosystem and you need to build it locally by modifying the kernel configuration in Device Drivers -> Network Device Support -> [ ] PPP (point-to-point protocol) support.

There are some STM32MPU wiki pages which explain how to perform this action. Please refer to

• from the Developer Package: https://wiki.st.com/stm32mpu/wiki/How_to_cross-compile_with_the_Developer_Package#Modifying_the_Linux_kernel_configuration
• from the Distribution Package: https://wiki.st.com/stm32mpu/wiki/How_to_cross-compile_with_the_Distribution_Package#Modifying_kernel_configuration

Best regards,

--JM