[ale] Problem with PPP over null modem

[walker at america.net (Jim Pease)]

I'm having trouble getting a ppp perfectly configured over a direct
serial connection.
Here's my present configuration:

null-modem
 papa-bear   <== ethernet ==> mama-bear <---- ppp ----> baby-bear
 (171.16.1.2 eth)                     (171.16.1.1
eth)                    (171.16.10.197 ppp)
                                               (171.16.10.196 ppp)

mama-bear pppd command issued:
    pppd -detach crtscts lock proxyarp    171.16.10.196:171.16.10.197
/dev/ttyS2 38400
baby-bear pppd command issued:
    pppd -detach crtscts lock defaultroute 171.16.10.197:171.16.10.196
/dev/ttyS2 38400

Problem # 1:

I can get the ppp connection established, but cannot get the routing so
that I can reach papa-bear
directly from baby-bear.  From baby-bear, I can ping 171.16.10.196 and
171.16.1.1, but not
171.16.1.2.  (papa and mama speak over an ethernet interface).

Problem # 2:

I can't manage to get pppd to connect mama-bear and baby-bear except
manually.  When I put
the same commands in rc.inet1 one pppd appears to kill the other...
I've tried to modify several
timeout/retry ppp options to no avail.  This happens sometimes when I
issue the commands manually
also.

I've got ppp version 2.2.0 and Linux 2.0.0.  I did build this kernal
myself ... a long time ago... is it
likely that my kernal isn't configured to act as a gateway on mama-bear?

Any help would be appreciated in helping papa establish communications
with baby!

Thanks

Jim Pease