> >All my machines have a default route set, but there is only an
> >"internet" connection when the modem (in a remote firewall) is dialed up.
>
> Ah, I hadn't considered he might be testing for an indirect connection to
> the net. In some places, ping and traceroute firewalled; even that test
> cannot be relied upon for every configuration.
hence the suggestion a small tcp poke on some known server (his own if he
wants)
> (Am I correct that your remote firewall has no default route until pppd
> adds one?)
Yes, but some other boxes I admin have a default route at all times and do
ppp on demand for the network they serve.
> The other boxes can't tell the difference between the net being gone and
> one host being gone, though... The further "away" the tests are from the
> local machine, the greater the possibility for error and long
> timeouts.
True, and also takes quite a lot of coding todo.
> All a matter of what he *really* wants to know, I suppose. If it's
> "can I download this web page," he might as well just try to download
> it.
Or just try and get web page such as http://www.example.com/test.html
Which is on the site you want to use / view and only says:
This is a test page
If that works you can assume a working web browsing connection (not the
same as a working internet connection)
--
Tim Fletcher .~.
/V\ L I N U X
[EMAIL PROTECTED] // \\ >Don't fear the penguin<
[EMAIL PROTECTED] /( )\
^^-^^
"Courage will take you to the most dangerous places on Earth.
Overwhelming firepower will see you safely through them."
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