If KeepAlive V1.0 determines that the internet connection has been dropped, it attempts to reestablish an internet connection at predefined user-configurable intervals until it is successful in doing so.

KeepAlive V1.0 acts as a sentry over the two major causes of losing a pppd(8) internet connection; loss of carrier and loss of the pppd daemon.

A loss of pppd daemon is fairly easy to detect and is usually caused by human error (accidentally killing the pppd daemon) or a system problem that interupts the running pppd daemon. KeepAlive monitors the pppd daemon and restarts it if the daemon stops running for any reason.

A loss of carrier is harder to detect and much more frustrating. In this situation, a visual inspection of the modem (if one is being used) may not even indicate a problem exists. Many times, a visual inspection of the external status lights of a modem, including the carrier detect, will suggest that the modem is functioning properly even when the internet connection has been lost. KeepAlive V1.0 solves this elusive cause of internet loss by monitoring the internet connection at pre-defined intervals and attempting to reach a user-defined list of nodes on the internet. If KeepAlive determines that these nodes are unreachable, it breaks the internet connection by stopping the pppd(8) daemon, then restarts the daemon and redials your ISP.

KeepAlive V1.0 is designed as "persistant software" that tirelessly attempts to reconnect you to the internet in the event your connection is dropped. If the connection problem is at your ISP, KeepAlive V1.0 will reconnect you automatically as soon as your ISP sorts out the problem on their end.

KeepAlive V1.0 creates log entries each time it detects a break of the internet connection and attempts to reestablish the connection. You'll have a permanent record of your internet interupts that you can show to your ISP to resolve potential problems that may exist.