1) when I insert the modem, I get a modem icon on the desktop
2) right-click this, and select "Eject" from the menu
3) this switches the modem from being seen as CD-ROM to being seen as modem
(as shown by following the action on a terminal using the lsusb command)


I could not configure this off the Mandriva control centre so used wvdial:


from a terminal, logged in as root, load the text editor programme gedit that gnome uses



4) # gedit /etc/wvdial.conf


and pasted 



[Dialer Defaults]
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2
Modem Type = Analog Modem
ISDN = 0
Baud = 460800
Dial Attempts = 1
Username = user
Password = pass
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = AT&F &D2 &C1
Init3 = ATS7=60 S30=0 S0=0
Init4 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","wap.telecom.co.nz"
Phone = *99#
Stupid Mode = 1

save and exit 

in terminal, logged in as root

5) # wvdial




and I am logged on in about 1-2secs

 

wvdial is turned off by control-c




doubtless one can simplify some of this but at least it works ...........

 

Mandriva uses the 2.6.31.5 kernel I understand