---
name: "dunc"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dunc"
version: "2.4"
release: "Debian 2.1 (Slink)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dunc"
---

# dunc(8)

configure a dial up networking client connection

## NAME

dunc - configure a dial up networking client connection

## SYNOPSIS

**dunc** \[no options yet\]\

## DESCRIPTION

**dunc** is a  **dialog** based interactive, menu driven utility to help automate setting up a dial up network connection.  It currently only handles vanilla ppp connections with some hooks for manual configuration.  It creates (by default) the directory *$HOME/.dunc* where it stores its options and chatfiles.  It keeps a control file in *$HOME/.dunc2rc* which is created the first time you run the program.  This stores the values selected for the various prompts during program execution.

**dunc** actually does a few things:  it creates a  **chat** file (see [chat(8)](/chat/8.md)) to be used when calling pppd, it creates an options file to be used on the pppd command line as well, and it names them as \<connection name\>.cht or .ctn respectively.

These files are designed to be used without this utlity.  The idea is to use this utility to create a profile for connecting to an ISP, for example, and then just use the  *dppp* (see [dppp(1)](/dppp/1.md))  script to make a dial up network connection anytime after that.  During program execution, **dunc** needs to be run as root in order to do certain things, like update the /etc/ppp/options file or /etc/ppp/{pap,chap}-secrets files.

## BUILT IN DOCUMENTATION

There is comprehensive help system on the utility and its components available from the menus.

## ENVIRONMENT

The following environment variables may be set to augment **dunc's** default behavior:

- **DUNC\_DIR**

  This is the base dirctory where ppp options (.ctn) and chat (.cht) files get written to.  The default is *$HOME/.dunc*

- **DACU\_RC**

  This is the control file that contains the state information between program runs.  It defaults to *$HOME/.duncrc*

- **EDITOR**

  This defines the editor called by **dunc** if manual editing is selected from a menu option.  The default is  **ae** (see [ae(1)](/ae/1.md)). Please note that if  **ae** is not installed, and this variable is not set, you will not be able to manually edit files from within this utility -- even if you have an editor installed!

## FILES

- **$DUNC\_DIR/\*.ctn**

  These files are the name of the connection with a .ctn appended.  They are actually a ppp options file appended to the pppd command line by  dppp

- **$DUNC\_DIR/\*.cht**

  These are chat files named with the .ctn files.

## NOTES

**dunc** creates temporary files in **/tmp.** It cleans up after all of these.  If you need error logging, redirect STD\_ERR on the command line to a file (a la 2\>filename in bourne compatable shells).

## CAVEATS

**dunc** now does take the files in  */etc/ppp/* into consideration.  This means that changes in the /etc/ppp/options file may have adverse effects on a previously working dunc managed PPP connection.

## TO DO

This utility needs to support **diald** and **slip** at some point.

## SEE ALSO

[ae(1)](/ae/1.md), [chat(8)](/chat/8.md), [pppd(8)](/pppd/8.md), [dialog(1)](/dialog/1.md), [dppp(1)](/dppp/1.md) and the **built in documentation.**

## COPYRIGHT

**dunc** is free software; see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying conditions.  There is *no* warranty. COPYRIGHT(C)1997 Richard G. Roberto