[9fans] ISA pnp modem config? ppp + smtp? combine local net + ppp?

[9fans] ISA pnp modem config? ppp + smtp? combine local net + ppp?

[Axel Belinfante]

Probably a simple (I hope) question: I have an old ISA pnp modem
that currently uses irq 3 and port 0x2e8. In 3e its use of irq 3 and
the use of irq 3 for COM3 would 'bite', so in 3e I configured it as
(typing from memory; the idea should be clear notwithstanding small errors)
   eia1=disable
   serial0=type=com irq=3 port=0x2e8

How do I do the same for 4e? I'm reluctant to 'touch' the current pnp
settings of the modem -- I know current irq and port, and they work...
So far I enabled the modem by hacking the uart8250.c(?) file and
removing the COM2 entry and adding a modem entry; I assume there is
a better way?


Related question: I'm trying to send out email over ppp.
This fails with the error that ndb/cs cannot translate $smtp.
I have an smtp=mail.my.domain field in the record of the network in
/lib/ndb/local, (together with dns entries and other 'general' settings),
this record also has a ipsubnet(?)=255.255.255.255 entry, which seems
to help to find the external dns server.
After starting ppp I run: ndb/dns -r
Should I add a -f /lib/ndb/local flag?
Did I misconfigure /lib/ndb/local?

Related:
The machine also contains an ethernet card that I used to connect
to another machine, using addresses unrelated to the ip address I
get via ppp.  I have the dns servers specified in the record for the
ppp-accessed network, and not in the record for the 'local network'.
This seems to confuse things, because the machine seems to take its
identity (partly) via the ether= entry -- at least, things worked
better after I commented out the record for this ethernet card
and commented out the ip config line in termrc.

I'll reread the documents and try to figure out how to fix this;
in the meantime all suggestions, pointers are welcome.

As always, thanks!,
Axel.