pon

pon peer

peer
    The name of the peer configuration file located in /etc/ppp/peers/. If no peer is specified, pon attempts to use the 'default' peer.

The pon command initiates a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection. It's a simple script that automates the process of establishing a dial-up connection, typically used for connecting to the internet via a modem. It reads configuration information from the /etc/ppp/peers/ directory. This file specifies settings such as the modem device, baud rate, authentication parameters (username/password), and other PPP options. pon simplifies the connection process by executing the necessary commands, including setting up the serial port, dialing the modem, and establishing the PPP link. It's a user-friendly alternative to manually configuring and starting the pppd daemon. The command is usually paired with poff to disconnect the PPP connection. It's often used in embedded systems or older systems where dial-up connections are still relevant or used for troubleshooting.

/etc/ppp/peers/*: Peer configuration files.
/etc/ppp/options: Default PPP options.
/etc/ppp/pap-secrets: Password authentication protocol secrets.
/etc/ppp/chap-secrets: Challenge handshake authentication protocol secrets.

Common issues with pon involve incorrect configuration files, modem problems, or authentication failures. Examine /var/log/syslog or the output of pppd for error messages.

poff(1), pppd(8), pppoptions(5)