Multinet enables dial-up internet connection sharing through IP masquerading via a curses-based solution.
I recently had the opportunity to review Multinet, a curses-based software solution that allows users to share a dial-up internet connection using IP masquerading. This software is a handy solution for those who have limited access to the internet but want to share their connection with others.
One of the key features of Multinet is its ability to keep track of time spent online and billing information for each user. It also provides user management features so that users cannot kill each other's connection. This makes it easy to maintain a stable connection and ensure that users are not abusing the network.
The software depends on two scripts that bring up the ppp connection and shut it down again. These scripts are specified in the multinet.c code for the NETSTART and NETSTOP defines. In my case, the up script was basically a line that says: /usr/sbin/pppd call freeserve ...with a few other miscellaneous bits and pieces. The down script basically just has this line: kill `cat /var/run/ppp0.pid` Your scripts may be different, but if you use ppp and chat scripts they are going to be pretty similar.
Net activity is logged to a plain text file that shows the user ID, time, duration, and cost of each call. This makes it easy to keep track of usage and billing for each user.
To start a net connection with Multinet, simply type 'multinet' into the command line. If another user is currently using the internet, you will be notified and the program will exit. However, if you are lucky enough to use the internet while someone else is paying for it, be nice and don't use too much bandwidth. Otherwise, the other user may get upset.
When you make your own connection, it is important to keep Multinet running until you press D to disconnect. Otherwise, everything will go pear-shaped. Once you press D to disconnect, the program will calculate how long the call was and how much it cost. It will tell you this information and log it to the program's log file.
Overall, I found Multinet to be a reliable and efficient solution for sharing a dial-up internet connection. Its user management and billing features work seamlessly, and its logging capabilities make it easy to keep track of usage and billing information. While it may not be the best solution for everyone, it is definitely worth considering for those who want to share their connection with others.
One of the key features of Multinet is its ability to keep track of time spent online and billing information for each user. It also provides user management features so that users cannot kill each other's connection. This makes it easy to maintain a stable connection and ensure that users are not abusing the network.
The software depends on two scripts that bring up the ppp connection and shut it down again. These scripts are specified in the multinet.c code for the NETSTART and NETSTOP defines. In my case, the up script was basically a line that says: /usr/sbin/pppd call freeserve ...with a few other miscellaneous bits and pieces. The down script basically just has this line: kill `cat /var/run/ppp0.pid` Your scripts may be different, but if you use ppp and chat scripts they are going to be pretty similar.
Net activity is logged to a plain text file that shows the user ID, time, duration, and cost of each call. This makes it easy to keep track of usage and billing for each user.
To start a net connection with Multinet, simply type 'multinet' into the command line. If another user is currently using the internet, you will be notified and the program will exit. However, if you are lucky enough to use the internet while someone else is paying for it, be nice and don't use too much bandwidth. Otherwise, the other user may get upset.
When you make your own connection, it is important to keep Multinet running until you press D to disconnect. Otherwise, everything will go pear-shaped. Once you press D to disconnect, the program will calculate how long the call was and how much it cost. It will tell you this information and log it to the program's log file.
Overall, I found Multinet to be a reliable and efficient solution for sharing a dial-up internet connection. Its user management and billing features work seamlessly, and its logging capabilities make it easy to keep track of usage and billing information. While it may not be the best solution for everyone, it is definitely worth considering for those who want to share their connection with others.
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