UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I'm totally frustrated, my administrator has left the state and me high and dry! My modem cannot connect to my ISP all it does is start to ping and the a high pitched squeal for about a minute. I have logged on as the "root" in hope to get into my /etc/ppp/ppp.conf file however I get a "permission denied" error. When I ask whoami it tells me I am "root". I'm not sure if my modem needs new drivers or if it's just a matter of change a few IP things. My ISP is alsolutely no help.

My server is a Sony Vaio PCV210 with 266 mhz, 640K with 31m ext RAM. I'm running UNIX FreeBSD i386. My modem is a Lucent 1673Jv7 RDD12 9927T 96 Luc 18377-K/iv.90LuV.

My school has been down for two weeks! I really need some help!!

How are you trying to get into the ppp.conf file? Simply typing it in on the command line will get an error if the file is not executable (and it should NOT be).

How else do I do it then? I've been just typing it after the gw#

I see you've read my reply, could I get an answer. I realize that I don't know much, that's exactly the way my administor acted towards me too. However, we all have to begin somewhere! If I had the time I'd be reading the whole manual but the parts I've had time to read haven't helped me out.

ppp.conf is a configuration file. It is plain
text and would be edited with...

vi /etc/ppp/ppp.conf

...however, if you go the the /etc/ppp directory
(cd /etc/ppp) and look at what is in there
(ls -l), you should see several files. If you
were able to connect before your admin left,
you should still be able to (unless the admin
removed or changed somthing). You should see
some sort of "ppp-on" and "ppp-off" scripts
(or somthing like that). The "on" script normally
will set up the appropriate variable (PHONE,
USERID, PASSWORD, etc.) and execute the pppd
program. Obviously, the documentation is the best
source for this information and what I've given
you here may or may not be true for your system.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Thanks!!

It did help and my problem is solved. Also, the best part is that I've entered a journey of learning FreeBSD, whether I like it or not. I would appreciate any helpful sites or hints to make this journey a little brighter.

What better place to learn FreeBSD than the FreeBSD website's Newbie section?!
http://www.freebsd.org/projects/newbies.html

Also, check out the areas of the forum that give book recomendations:
https://www.unix.com/new-to-unix-which-books-should-i-read-/?s=

Have fun!