I have an adsl internet connection that works great, sometimes. When it does not, a hard modem reboot sometimes brings the connection back. I observe that the modem configuration page at 192.168.1.1 lists the interface as pppO and offers a button you may press to connect if you are disconnected. If you are connected, the button may be used to disconnect. Like a hard modem reset, this sometimes works. I hope ubuntu runs a daemon that reconnects if a connection is lost. Is it likely that what ubuntu does to reconnect is the same thing this button does? If the button does something special, can/should the daemon be configured to press the button?

If the connection status implied by the button status is superior or different from the connection status known to ubuntu, can/should the daemon be configured to use such superior and/or different knowledge? By way of context, I prefer to limit late night stumbling around in the living room.