Re: [Pan-users] newbie: Why no stable "connection"?

[gaw zay]

On Tue, 26 Mar 2002, Haines Brown wrote:

> After configuring pan, it seems that I am automatically asked if I
> want to doanload a list of all groups. It seems that the default
> configuration asks automatically if no such list exists. Or I can go
> to Servers, Get list of all groups.
> The status button at lower left corner usually says "Offline," but
> when I request a list of groups, it momentarily says "Connecting."
> This I would expect, but instead of then beginning the download of the
> full group list, it immediately switches back to "Offline." Does this
> mean I've not really created a connection, or that pan is not really
> trying to download the list?

it should then have a msg in the bottom bar about getting groups xxxx of xxxx
(there the 1st x is growing and the 2nd one is a large number in the tens of
thousands. the group pane should now (when in the 'All' 'tab') have a list of
groups. IF not you 1> your server has no groups 2> you haven't connected
3> some other random screw up :-)


> If I look into Prefereces, I discover it says there that I'm "Online,"
> even though the status button at lower left ways "Offline." Which is
> right? How do I reconcile these two conflicting status reports?

hm never noticed this. Since I haven't noticed this it's probably because
Pan just flat out works when it should and stuff.

> I run a continuous DSL connection, which relies on pppoe. But I didn't
> see anywhere to tell pan what to use to connect. Is anything special
> required of a DSL service?

nope. if other tcp services work (web, telnet, ftp) news (nntp) should work.

> How can I verify I've a valid connection with the news server? I can't
> ping it or telnet into it (just hangs), but dig returns what looks
> like valid reply. I don't have tin on my RH7.2 distribution, but
> wonder if it is worth adding as a prognostic tool.

dig works with nameservers, try telnet news.yourhosthere.com 119 that is the
default news port and you should be able to connect to it and it should
spew a msg similar to this:

Trying 199.45.49.11...
Connected to news.bellatlantic.net.
Escape character is '^]'.
200 Powered by Twister 2.0 -- nwrddc01 (Twister v2.0.5.1)

good luck!

brian
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