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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 12:51 am Post subject: hosting dialup/PPP on linux, and my setup for it |
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i guess this counts as "early internet," right? 
as some of you might know, there's software called Dreampi for getting the Dreamcast (and other PPP-enabled modem-equipped devices) back online again. until very recently this only ran on Raspberry Pi systems, and while there are now images for x86 hardware, it feels a little janky to have to run that inside of a virtual machine or something. you can't really just run Dreampi on a typical system either, as if i'm correct it still uses python 2.6 and has a hard dependency on systemd.
notdreamnorpi (from here on known as "ndnp") is nearly the perfect solution in my case (as i can just run it natively on my linux system).
on the hardware side, i have a Zoom 3095 USB modem with a phone cable i soldered a random 12v power brick to. ndnp should support other modems if you don't require dial tone emulation, however i have not tested this. on the software side, i had to configure my system some to get it working the way i need.
in the pppd options file (usually in `/etc/ppp/`):
- add `ms-dns 46.101.91.123` (for some reason if ms-dns is specified on the server the Dreamcast will ignore your locally-set DNS settings, so this goes along with whatever upstream DNS provider is set)
- for WebTV (and possibly other devices?), remove `lcp-echo-interval` and `lcp-echo-failure`, as having these enabled causes it to get disconnected after 2 minutes
in your pap-secrets file, add the following line if it's not already there:
by default ndnp doesn't use PAP, however if something requires it (i.e when updating Old Classic WebTVs), you can run it with `--enable-pap-auth` to enable PAP, and this line in pap-secrets will allow any username and password to pass PAP authentication.
for WebTV in particular, you must run an iptables script to get the box to actually connect to any service. the contents are too big to post here; i'll post mine in another message to make it easier to obtain.
as of present, there's a bug in ndnp that prevents detecting a modem once it's been initialized, and i'd have to replug it to make it work. i've pushed a pull request to fix this, but until that's merged you can see the fix here. (the modem replying `AT OK` at all i think is incorrect behavior, but it only replying with it once and using just `OK` on subsequent queries is definitely not right)
there's also an issue on my network where detecting unused ip addresses is incredibly slow. i know it has something to do with the arp command it runs, however i didn't really look into it.
even with all this, the introduction of Dreampi 2.0 added some VPN functionality, which is required for certain titles (i.e Daytona USA). i might look into how to uncouple this from Dreampi, or i'll just ask about it somewhere to see if it's possible.
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- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews |
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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 12:53 am Post subject: iptables script |
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here's the iptables script that i use:
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#!/bin/bash
# "borrowed" from the redialed dreampi image and modified a bit
ServerIP="31.97.129.116"
interface="wlan0"
echo "Updating WebTV Messenger/IRC iproute"
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 157.57.221.51 -j DNAT --to-destination 1.1.1.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s 1.1.1.1 -j SNAT --to-source 157.57.221.51
echo "Finished updating WebTV Messenger/IRC iproute, changing box IP to" $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.0.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.0.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.0.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.0.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.1.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.1.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.1.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.1.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.1.3 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.1.3
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.1.4 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.1.4
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.128.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.128.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.1.129 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.1.129
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.128.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.128.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.129.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.129.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.129.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.129.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.130.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.130.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.130.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.130.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.131.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.131.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.131.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.131.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.132.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.132.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 10.0.132.2 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 10.0.132.2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 204.254.74.126 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 204.254.74.126
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 207.76.180.1 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 207.76.180.1
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 207.76.180.12 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 207.76.180.12
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 207.76.180.13 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 207.76.180.13
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 207.76.180.96 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 207.76.180.96
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.40 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.40
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.41 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.41
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.42 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.42
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.70 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.70
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.71 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.71
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.72 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.72
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.73 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.73
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 210.150.22.37 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 210.150.22.37
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 210.150.22.58 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 210.150.22.58
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.215 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.215
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.216 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.216
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.194.136 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.194.136
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.207.108 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.207.108
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.207.109 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.207.109
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 209.240.207.110 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 209.240.207.110
# routes to automagically fix anyone who neglected to clear their tellyscript after the IP change
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 23.247.14.250 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 23.247.14.250
# ditto
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 192.161.48.92 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 192.161.48.92
# ditto x2
sudo iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -d 217.160.150.209 -j DNAT --to-destination $ServerIP
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s $ServerIP -j SNAT --to-source 217.160.150.209
# route normal traffic through the internet (for non-WebTV devices)
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o $interface -j MASQUERADE
echo "Finished updating iproutes! If no errors appeared above, then this should've worked!" |
change the interface variable and run this before running ndnp if you plan on using a WebTV. if you want to point it to a different server, just change the `ServerIP` variable.
_________________
- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews
Last edited by parasquared on Sun Jan 11, 2026 4:56 am; edited 2 times in total |
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europa
Gorts
Joined: 16 Aug 2025
Age: 23
Posts: 64
Location: 8:0:20:c0:ff:ee
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:03 am Post subject: |
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Lovely work! Some part of me wants to use one of my machines to connect to something like that, and create a wi-fi network from that connection, like how one might have a home PC as a base station and use a wireless card to create a wireless connection for a laptop or something lol
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Your System ate a SPARC! Gah! |
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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:09 am Post subject: |
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so basically hosting a wifi access point with the WAN connection being dialup? i love that idea actually
reminds me of something i saw when late night eBay browsing once, if i remember correctly it was a modem that connected over Bluetooth, presumably as a serial port/device. i almost want one, but also don't lol, it'd be so useless yet also incredibly silly
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- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews |
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europa
Gorts
Joined: 16 Aug 2025
Age: 23
Posts: 64
Location: 8:0:20:c0:ff:ee
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| Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:41 am Post subject: |
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Yeah! That was one of the selling points of the original Airport actually, that you could plug your phone line into it and then it'd dial your ISP for you when you wanted wireless internet access. This meant you could use your computer (laptop or desktop, given Apple included Airport card slots in both) away from the phone jack. The Airport software in Mac OS 9 and Internet Sharing in Mac OS X also made it trivial to do the same thing, if you were blessed with both a desktop and a laptop Mac.
Oh that's fascinating! It reminds me of Wi-Fi modems sorta (little Pis or similar that connect to the serial port of old computers and basically act like a modem that talks over wifi, allowing you to "dial" things like SSH and telnet servers)? I've thought it'd be cool to get one specifically for my Commodore VIC-20. I know there are both generic serial Wi-Fi modems, and ones made specifically for the Commodore User Port.
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nick99nack
Admin
Joined: 30 Aug 2023
Age: 30
Posts: 171
Location: NJ, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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There were several devices/applications designed to share a single dial-up Internet connection back in the day. You had things like the Airport (as europa mentioned), Windows Internet Connection Sharing, and more business-oriented ones, like the Intel InBusiness Internet Station.
It's definitely something I've wanted to experiment with more, especially using a multilink connection to my own dial-up ISP.
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If you like browsing without an ad blocker, you might also like getting rid of your virus scanner, and running around with your pants down. --SomeGuy, 2016 |
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daniel
Member
Joined: 09 Sep 2023
Posts: 82
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for adding this post. I might toy with this later.
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-Daniel |
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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2026 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| nick99nack wrote: | | It's definitely something I've wanted to experiment with more, especially using a multilink connection to my own dial-up ISP. |
if i had multiple modems you bet i would make my own really terrible multi node ISP with multiple concurrently running copies of ndnp to try this kind of thing 
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- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews |
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daniel
Member
Joined: 09 Sep 2023
Posts: 82
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 12:24 am Post subject: |
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BUY ALL THE MODEMS!
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-Daniel |
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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 1:58 am Post subject: |
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brb, gonna bankrupt myself by buying a bunch of usb modems in bulk. they're stupid expensive presumably because of Dreampi
i could just get regular modems, but i want dialtone emulation so
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- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews |
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europa
Gorts
Joined: 16 Aug 2025
Age: 23
Posts: 64
Location: 8:0:20:c0:ff:ee
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| nick99nack wrote: | There were several devices/applications designed to share a single dial-up Internet connection back in the day. You had things like the Airport (as europa mentioned), Windows Internet Connection Sharing, and more business-oriented ones, like the Intel InBusiness Internet Station.
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A bit later, but the Wii Wi-Fi Connection Kit or whatever it was called was designed to do the same thing, but specifically for the Wii. You would plug it into the family PC and then the dongle would create a Wi-Fi connection from the family PC's network connection.
I remember it being discussed in a Discord server and the idea of not having a home wireless network was baffling to many of the younger members.
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parasquared
WebTV
Joined: 15 Dec 2025
Posts: 42
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| europa wrote: | | I remember it being discussed in a Discord server and the idea of not having a home wireless network was baffling to many of the younger members. |
lol, i suppose when you grow up with something it's hard to imagine what came before.
(also, unrelated, but i typed this out on a Dreamcast... ow my left thumb)
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- parasquared
"In space there is no center, we're always off to the side"
- Ballad of Reverend War Character, Silver Jews |
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nick99nack
Admin
Joined: 30 Aug 2023
Age: 30
Posts: 171
Location: NJ, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:43 am Post subject: |
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lol imagine if dial-up was mentioned...
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If you like browsing without an ad blocker, you might also like getting rid of your virus scanner, and running around with your pants down. --SomeGuy, 2016 |
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europa
Gorts
Joined: 16 Aug 2025
Age: 23
Posts: 64
Location: 8:0:20:c0:ff:ee
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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I know, right? "What do you mean internet access wasn't always on?"
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Toxic_Outlook
New Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2025
Posts: 3
Location: West Siberia, RU
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| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2026 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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| europa wrote: | | Lovely work! Some part of me wants to use one of my machines to connect to something like that, and create a wi-fi network from that connection, like how one might have a home PC as a base station and use a wireless card to create a wireless connection for a laptop or something lol |
Like... hosting PPP net access from one PC, and using it as router?
i don't really understand that.
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