PPPoE troubles

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Level 4

3,166 points

PPPoE troubles

My new MacBook cannot connect over DSL using PPPoE. System log gives as one response "PAP authentication failed". I cannot see other differences between the MacBook and my 17 inch PowerBook from the system log.
The /var/log/ppp.log file doesn't give much help. How do you set it to verbose logging?
Thank you.

PowerBook G4 17in 160GB, PowerBook G4Ti500. wallstreet, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jul 2, 2007 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 2, 2007 4:02 PM in response to Hardy Geer

Does your DSL modem connect using PPPoE authentication?

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Answer 2

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 2, 2007 6:34 PM in response to Gnarlodious

Yes, I connect by PPPoE. I have no problems with my PB 17. My signup information was transferred automatically from the PC while setting up the new Macbook.

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Answer 3

Jul 3, 2007 7:23 AM in response to Hardy Geer

I don't know about the verbose logging part, but I'm a little confused why your computer needs to login with autehenication. Shouldn't your modem be doing that? The only time you may need to set your Mac to PPOE authernication is if you use a really old "Dumb Modem" that just transfers packets. Virtually all modern DSL modems have a browser interface where you set it with your login info.

Or am I all wrong about this?

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Answer 4

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 3, 2007 7:42 AM in response to Gnarlodious

Sure the login should be automatic. After automatically transferring my information from my PB 17 to my new Macbook Pro all I should have to do is plug in my ethernet cable and sign on…but it doesn't work. I am trying to dig deeper using the OSX logs.
Here is information from System Profiler:
PPP:
ACSP Enabled: 0
Authorization Name: hardyjg@verizon.net
Authorization Password: <00630030 0035006e 00300032 0067>
Display Terminal Window: 0
Redial Count: 1
Redial Enabled: 1
Redial Interval: 30
Use Terminal Script: 0
Dial On Demand: 1
Disconnect On Fast User Switch: 1
Disconnect On Idle: 0
Disconnect On Idle Timer: 600
Disconnect On Logout: 0
Disconnect On Sleep: 1
Idle Reminder: 0
Idle Reminder Time: 900
IPCP Compression VJ: 1
LCP Echo Enabled: 1
LCP Echo Failure: 4
LCP Echo Interval: 10
Log File: /var/log/ppp.log
Verbose Logging: 0

I want to change Verbose Logging to 1 so that maybe I can see exactly what is going wrong.

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Answer 5

Jun T.

Level 4

2,191 points

Jul 3, 2007 7:12 PM in response to Hardy Geer

Hi Hardy,

"PAP authentication failed"

Are you sure your password is correct? Did you try re-entering the password in System Preferences > Network > PPPoE?

I want to change Verbose Logging to 1 so that maybe I can see exactly what is going wrong.

I guess the setting is in

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

But I don't know whether manually modifying this file will work or not. Be sure to make a backup of the file before modifying it.
The preferences.plist contains settings for each "location". Try modifying the "NetworkServices.location.PPP" for the current "location". The plist file is a text file so you can use TextEdit.app to edit it, but it would be easier to use "Property List Editor.app" which is installed as a part of Xcode Tools.

PowerMacG4, PowerBookG4, iMac(C2D) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 6

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 4, 2007 5:07 AM in response to Jun T.

Hi Jun T.

"PAP authentication failed"

Are you sure your password is correct? Did you try re-entering the >password in System Preferences > Network > PPPoE?

Should be the same. The password was moved from my PB17 by Apple's setup program. The string which represents it in the above System Profiler quote is the same as in the PB 17. It's so long since I typed it in that I cannot be sure.

I want to change Verbose Logging to 1 so that maybe I can see exactly what is going wrong.

I guess the setting is in

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

Thank you.

But I don't know whether manually modifying this file will work or not. Be >sure to make a backup of the file before modifying it.
The preferences.plist contains settings for each "location". Try modifying >the "NetworkServices.location.PPP" for the current "location". The plist file is >a text file so you can use TextEdit.app to edit it, but it would be easier to >use "Property List Editor.app" which is installed as a part of Xcode Tools.

I will give it a try and let you know what happens.

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Answer 7

Jun T.

Level 4

2,191 points

Jul 4, 2007 7:11 AM in response to Hardy Geer

My previous post was "wrong"; or at least misleading.

You don't have to manually edit the preferences.plist file. Instead, it can be (and should be) edited via System Preferences.

Go to System Preferences > Network > PPPoE; if "Connect using PPPoE" is checked, then you will see a button "PPPoE Options"; just push this button to set various options for PPPoE (including verbose logging).

By the way, could you please re-enter your password to the System Preferences? The password saved in preferences.plist seems to be "encoded" in some way, and I guess there is a slight possibility that the encoding is "endian-dependent" (PowerPC is big-endian, Intel is little-endian).

PowerMacG4, PowerBookG4, iMac(C2D) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 8

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 4, 2007 1:15 PM in response to Jun T.

Hi Jun T.

My previous post was "wrong"; or at least misleading.

You don't have to manually edit the preferences.plist file. Instead, it can be (and should be) edited via System Preferences.

Go to System Preferences > Network > PPPoE; if "Connect using PPPoE" is checked, then you will see a button "PPPoE Options"; just push this button to set various options for PPPoE (including verbose logging).

I feel silly not to have seen it. As far as I can see using verbose logging there is no difference between the two machines.

By the way, could you please re-enter your password to the System Preferences? The password saved in preferences.plist seems to be "encoded" in some way, and I guess there is a slight possibility that the encoding is "endian-dependent" (PowerPC is big-endian, Intel is little-endian).

Reentry is hard because I have forgotten it. Might it be possible to rearrange letters in the .plist to change endianness? Here we are back to editing the .plist again.

Thank you,
Hardy

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Answer 9

Jun T.

Level 4

2,191 points

Jul 5, 2007 1:16 AM in response to Hardy Geer

Hi Hardy,

I don't know how to decript the password in the .plist file, but it seems SystemProfiler does decript it and shows the password in UTF-16 (big or little endian, depending on the CPU). For ASCII characters, UTF-16 is just <00 + ASCII code> (<0061> for 'a', etc.). So it's quite easy to know your password from your post, a rather dangerous situation....

I think you (and many others reading this thread) can easily guess your password. I strongly recommend you to change your password ASAP.

PowerMacG4, PowerBookG4, iMac(C2D) Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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Answer 10

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 5, 2007 1:23 PM in response to Jun T.

Thank you. Now I know my password and can change it. I gave it to my Macbook Pro in a new location. Now System Profiler decrypts in both endians, but still MacBook Pro cannot get it right for the DSL sign on.

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Answer 11

Hardy Geer Author

Level 4

3,166 points

Jul 5, 2007 4:11 PM in response to Hardy Geer

New DSL password and suddenly it works. I suspect the difference between UT16 and ASCII was involved.

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