Copyright © 2000 by John Fleck
Modem Lights Applet, shown in , monitors your modem while it is working. To add this applet to the panel, right-click on the panel and choose + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Panel+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ->Add to panel+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ->Applet+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ->Network+ + + + + + + + + ->Modem Lights+ +
This applet was written by John Ellis <johne@bellatlantic.net> and Martin Baulig<martin@home-of-linux.org>. Please send all suggestions and bug reports to GNOME Bug Tracking Database or use command bug-buddy.
This applet can be used to tell if your modem is working, and to track its behavior and performance.
If you right-click on the applet, it brings up a menu, containing the following commands:
Remove from panel self-explanatory
Move applet allows you to move the applet to a different place on the panel. You can also move the applet by dragging it with the middle mouse button.
Properties brings up Properties dialog
About shows info about the Modem Lights Applet, including version and author's name.
Help brings up this document.
You can customize Modem Lights Applet by right-clicking on it and choosing Properties. This will launch the Modem Lights Settings dialog, which allows you to change various settings.
By checking the Show connect time and throughput box, you cause Modem Lights Applet's graphic display to expand to include two small text boxes showing the current data transfer rate (top) and connect time (bottom).
Modem Lights Applet can either be used to monitor a modem connection made by another piece of software, or to initiate a connection itself. To use Modem Lights Applet to initiate a connection, place the name of the startup command in the Connect command text box, and the disconnect command in the box beneath it labeled Disconnect command. When you click on the single button on the applet, it will connect or disconnect your modem.
Modem Lights Applet's Advanced preferences window allows you to control advanced features of the applet.
Modem lock file specifies the file created by the computer when the modem is working, allowing other programs to know it's in operation. /var/lock/LCK..modem, the default setting, is the most common, if your computer uses a symbolic link from /dev/modem to the actual modem device. Check with your system administrator to see if a different device name and therefore lock file is in use. Modem Lights Applet needs this information to find and monitor your modem.
Device, typically ppp0 on a Linux machine, is the name of the network interface being used by the modem. If ppp0 is not correct for your machine, check your system documentation for the correct designation.
Other possible network interface names commonly used include:
ippp0: Linux ISDN
isp0: NetBSD ISDN
ipdptp0: Solaris PPP
The Verify owner of lock file check box verifies that the lockfile really belongs to the currently running PPP daemon and is not left over from an older one. This is checked by default and shouldn't be changed.
If you use an ISDN modem, check the Use ISDN checkbox. Modem Lights Applet will then ignore all the settings above related to standard modems.
After you made all the choices you want, click on OK to make the changes and close the Properties dialog. To cancel the changes and return to previous values, click on Cancel button.
The Verify lock file check box on the advanced preferences window should always be left true. It is likely to be removed from future versions of Modem Lights Applet.