TODO forever when life runs faster than you can afford

Sakis3G: 0.2.0 Unleashed

After a severe networking problem which resulted into:

• extended downtime during 2010-04-28 (problem persists, resulting in network being dropped for 1-2 minutes, be patient and try again), and
• three days of delay against scheduled release date:

 
I am finally proud to announce version 0.2.0 of Sakis3G All-in-one script!!! Sakis3G script now has:

1. Its own mini-site: http://www.sakis3g.org/.
2. And its own Wiki, to get documentation out of my blog: http://wiki.sakis3g.org/.
3. And its own forum for supporting users: http://forum.sakis3g.org/.
4. Sakis3G.org is also affected by fore mentioned network problem.
5. If you provide links on your site, referring to Sakis3G script, please update your site so it now points to www.sakis3g.org.

 
I really hope that you enjoy new version (especially those disappointed by previous versions)!!!

• By the way, if you are one of those who prefer legacy version's interface, use "--legacy" command line switch.

Release notes:
Version 0.2.0 is written from scratch and is not derived from 0.1.3 (now called legacy) series.

• Examples, user guides, instructions and documentation for legacy version, are not applicable to 0.2.0 series.
• Modified functionality:
  • Drastically improved workflow and device selection procedure, allowing even more USB modems to work with Sakis3G script.
  • Permanently dropped dependency to sharutils/uudecode. Script now depends on bunzip2 and tar instead.
  • 9menu binary is not anymore embedded in script, still can be used if "--9menu" or "--legacy" switches are specified.
  • Menu, presented by user interface, now has more options.
  • Removed "replacedefaultroute" from pppd arguments since several pppd versions do not recognize it. Script anyway fixes routing table, unless newly introduced "--nofix" switch is set.
  • You no longer need to again provide connection details, when using "reconnect" argument, while already connected.
  • Several command line arguments and variables are now obsolete or replaced. Consult documentation for more details.
  • Setting environment variables, before invoking script, is not anymore encouraged. Instead, they can now be supplied as arguments or within configuration files. Consult documentation for more details.
  • Employed a workaround for "gksu" versions which do not respect arguments containing whitespace characters.
  • Employed a workaround for modems not properly displaying operator's name. Name is read from operator's database, if an entry exists.
  • Improved method of acquiring access to a running X session, when invoked with root privileges.
  • Kernel module loading/unloading is now safer and cleaner. Script now attempts to unload module only when it refuses to unbind from device.
  • Script should now be able to utilize even more USB modems (and not just option.ko handled ones).
  • Modems can now be recognized and setup according to the model name they report, and not by their USB IDs.
  • Script can now understand whether pppd or wvdial succeeded, or failed, into getting connected, and success is not determined upon timeouts.
  • Improved desktop shortcut creation method.
  • Several, less important, modifications.
• New functionality:
  • A more sophisticated concept for command line arguments has been introduced for those wishing to max out possibilities.
  • Command line arguments, environment variables and user input are now sanitized before being used. This should reduce risk of a malicious user passing specially crafted values.
  • Several new configuration variables are now introduced, allowing better overall control over performed actions.
  • Connection information is now available, while connection is still running.
  • Configurations file(s) are now possible. Consult documentation for more information.
  • Script can now discover available/best fitted kernel module(s) for a USB modem.
  • Script can now create character device nodes, within /dev directory, when system did not already.
  • Script now takes care of not becoming "stalled" when a broken USB device blocks access to USB bus.
  • Script now exclusively locks "org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.Storage" before switching a device, unless "--nohal" switch is set. This improves stability by reducing simultaneous operations to storage and modem interfaces of a USB device.
  • Script now utilizes "avoid_reset_quirk" available in recent kernels.
  • Script now checks for mandatory dependencies being present in PATH, before proceeding with execution.
  • Script now instructs pppd to use file /etc/ppp/peers/sakis3g, if file exists and pppd is used for connection.
  • Script now offers a UI for selecting and setting up nearby Bluetooth devices, to be used as modems.
  • When operator is not found within embedded operators' database, script attempts to fetch last APN, modem was used with, by querying modem.
  • Subscribers to virtual operators are now presented their operator's name instead of network's name. This is possible by reading service provider's name from SIM card, if modem permits it.
  • Script can now use "zenity", for becoming a "background process" reachable through an icon in notification area, when "helper" command line argument is used.
  • It is now possible to keep "secret" a modem from HAL by using "--nohalinform" switch.
  • It is now possible to request for storage part of a USB device being "eliminated", using "--nostorage" switch, which might improve stability on some devices.
  • It is now possible to construct a binary free version of script, suitable for all architects. However, binary free version depends on a working Usb-ModeSwitch installation, for setting up switchable USB devices.
  • It is now possible to disassemble script, back to its ingredients, by using "disassemble" command line argument.
  • Script can now switch devices, not found within embedded Usb-ModeSwitch device database, if appropriate file is found within /etc/usb_modeswitch.d directory.
  • Script now embeds man pages, accessible using "man" command line argument.
  • Script now allows UTF-8 translations, so that localized versions appear in the future. A translation is currently available only for Greek language.
  • Several, less important, newly introduced functionality.
• User interface:
  • Sakis3G now has its own Tux icon. Icon is used when creating desktop shortcut, unless an operator logo is available and user selects that one instead.
  • Script can now use anyone of "kdialog", "zenity", "Xdialog", "9menu", "whiptail" and "dialog" for displaying user interface.
    • If none of them is available, script can resemble an elementary text-mode user interface through shell builtin functions, if "--interactive" switch is set.
  • Balloon notifications can now appear, when "--balloons" switch is set, using libnotify.
  • All options available through user interface, are available as command line arguments as well. The opposite statement is not true.
  • Translations are not used when:
    • using "Xdialog" or "9menu" as user interface.
    • displaying OSD messages.
    • Switch "--notranslate" is set.
• Embedded Usb-ModeSwitch:
  • Upgraded to version 1.1.2alpha.
  • Device database upgraded to 2010-04-18 version.
  • It is now possible to compile it for your platform, by using "recompile" command line argument, or by selecting equivalent UI option.
  • It is now possible to directly reach embedded Usb-ModeSwitch binary, by using "usb_modeswitch" command line argument.
• Operators' database:
  • Entries available in legacy version were migrated to 0.2.0 version.
  • You can now connect to any operator, even if not found within operators' database. You just need to know APN details.
  • It is not anymore possible/required to add operators by modifying script.
  • Modified following networks:
    • 20201: Cosmote (Greece): Included an extra APN.
    • 20209: Wind (Greece): Added "Q" APN.
    • 20210: Wind (Greece): Added "Q" APN.
    • 26202: Vodafone (Germany): Added "1und1" APN.
    • 26204: Vodafone (Germany): Added "1und1" APN.
    • 26209: Vodafone (Germany): Added "1und1" APN.
    • 26801: Vodafone (Portugal): Added "ZON" APN.
  • Added the following operators:
    • 23430: T-Mobile (United Kingdom)
    • 23802: Telenor (Denmark)
    • 34001: Orange (French Caraibes)