replacing orgdns.org on vpn

[dgermann]

Hi--

I'm pretty much a newbie, so need some leading by the hand, please.

I have a vpn set up by a techie, who is no longer around to help. The machine which is offsite (Mandrake 9.0) uses pptp and is somehow set to look to orgdns.org for the ip address for the server.

Orgdns.org is unreachable, and so therefore am I.

I tried putting a line like this in the /etc/hosts file to try to finesse the issue:
123.456.7.8 myhostname.orgdns.org
...^
...|----------- This is my server's actual ip address)

But this causes the machine to refuse to boot up, saying it cannot find the server at 123.456.7.8. So I had to rem out that line.

Here are the error messages:
anon fatal[callmgr_main:pptp_callmgr.c:121]: Could not open control connection to 123.456.7.8
anon fatal[open_callmgr:pptp.c:379]:Call manager exited with error 256

At this point the machine stalled and the only command I could make work was ctrl-alt-del.

Any suggestions?

[JohnT]

Here's a diagnostic you can run through step-by-step.

http://pptpclient.sourceforge.net/howto-diagnosis.phtml

[dgermann]

JohnT--

Looks like that diagnostic will be a great help.

Thanks, JohnT! :)

[JohnT]

It looked as if it were the ticket to this situation. Hope your successful.:D

[dgermann]

JohnT--

Actually it was not. There were the almost exact error messages there, but this system did not have any of the files mentioned--either in the locations suggested or anywhere else on the system!

I did a little learning to use grep (had never used it before) and found where the files were that were calling the orgdns.org stuff--there were about 6 or 8 identical files in the rc.d directory--and they all said load this file after the others!!

In any case, I went back to the change I had made in the /etc/hosts file and had the person take it back home and try it--it worked for her! So the error messages seem to have been because we were hooked up inside the system we needed to log into from outside. (If that makes any sense.) In any event, in one swell foop we managed to fool the 'puter into thinking that all those entries really pointed to my real ipaddress.

Now, if I can just remember what I did when my provider decides to change my ipaddress!

Thanks for your help JohnT! :)

[JohnT]

Now, if I can just remember what I did when my provider decides to change my ipaddress! "DHCP"...and your welcome.

[dgermann]

JohnT--

Many thanks.

However, I do not know how DHCP could help. Care to enlighten me? ;)

[JohnT]

Originally posted by dgermann
JohnT--

Many thanks.

However, I do not know how DHCP could help. Care to enlighten me? ;) Your looking for the "client"......http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DHCP/index.html

[dgermann]

JohnT--

Well, like I can say with many linux HowTos and Man pages, I have read it, but I just don't get it. :(

Not even sure what it is trying to tell me, and how that might be relevant.

I have a network with 4 computers plus a server inside. We are all connected using ethernet cables. There is one person who accesses us from outside using a vpn. If she is disconnected and cannot find me, and my ip address has changed such that nobody on the Web knows at what location I am, how could dhcp on either computer be of any help?

Sign me totally lost.

Thanks, John.

[JohnT]

Sorry I understood your question wrong, initially, when I go back and look. I had you confused with another network question. :rolleyes:
The only way anyone can find you is if you communicate your address to them. Plain and simple. If orgdns.org is down you will have to IM,email,your address to them. If it's mission critical that you be reached, you might try a back-up DNS service or just get a static IP.

[dgermann]

JohnT--

Thank you for giving me my sanity back! :)

Actually, that is safer now, but it was worth the trip reading a couple of articles about DHCP.

John, you have been a real help here, and I thank you. :D

[JohnT]

Originally posted by dgermann
JohnT--

Thank you for giving me my sanity back! :)

Actually, that is safer now, but it was worth the trip reading a couple of articles about DHCP.

John, you have been a real help here, and I thank you. :D He,he....that wasn't your sanity I gave back that was mine I misplaced. :D