There's a few ways to do it...
The easiest if he isn't really a unix head is :-
From his start button, go to KDE menus (assuming he is using Gnome), internet, KPPP. Here he can set up his dial-out stuff..(Pretty similar to dial-up-networking)..
If he can't suss that out....
cd /etc/ppp
In here should be some files he can modify to do it...They are pretty self explanatory when you read them....I think the main one will be called ppp-on. If it isn't there he can search for it with this command.... find / -print | grep ppp-o ... Then move it (and ppp-off etc) to /etc/ppp..
Here's a few pastes from one of my boxes...
[root@lesu164 ppp]# pwd
/etc/ppp
[root@lesu164 ppp]# ls -l
total 5
-rw------- 1 root daemon 78 Apr 10 1999 chap-secrets
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 265 Sep 16 1997 ip-down
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 349 May 8 1998 ip-up
-rw-r--r-- 1 root daemon 33 Mar 27 14:28 options
-rw------- 1 root daemon 141 Mar 29 14:43 pap-secrets
[root@lesu164 ppp]# find / -print | grep ppp-o
/usr/doc/ppp-2.3.7/scripts/ppp-off
/usr/doc/ppp-2.3.7/scripts/ppp-on
/usr/doc/ppp-2.3.7/scripts/ppp-on-dialer
[root@lesu164 ppp]# more /usr/doc/ppp-2.3.7/scripts/ppp-on
#!/bin/sh
#
# Script to initiate a ppp connection. This is the first part of the
# pair of scripts. This is not a secure pair of scripts as the codes
# are visible with the 'ps' command. However, it is simple.
#
# These are the parameters. Change as needed.
TELEPHONE=555-1212 # The telephone number for the connection
ACCOUNT=george # The account name for logon (as in 'George Burns')
PASSWORD=gracie # The password for this account (and 'Gracie Allen')
LOCAL_IP=0.0.0.0 # Local IP address if known. Dynamic = 0.0.0.0
REMOTE_IP=0.0.0.0 # Remote IP address if desired. Normally 0.0.0.0
NETMASK=255.255.255.0 # The proper netmask if needed
#
# Export them so that they will be available at 'ppp-on-dialer' time.
export TELEPHONE ACCOUNT PASSWORD
#
# This is the location of the script which dials the phone and logs
# in. Please use the absolute file name as the $PATH variable is not
# used on the connect option. (To do so on a 'root' account would be
# a security hole so don't ask.)
#
DIALER_SCRIPT=/etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer
#
# Initiate the connection
#
# I put most of the common options on this command. Please, don't
# forget the 'lock' option or some programs such as mgetty will not
# work. The asyncmap and escape will permit the PPP link to work with
# a telnet or rlogin connection. You are welcome to make any changes
# as desired. Don't use the 'defaultroute' option if you currently
# have a default route to an ethernet gateway.
#
exec /usr/sbin/pppd debug lock modem crtscts /dev/ttyS0 38400 \
asyncmap 20A0000 escape FF kdebug 0 $LOCAL_IP:$REMOTE_IP \
noipdefault netmask $NETMASK defaultroute connect $DIALER_SCRIPT
He can use VI or a gui based editor to adjust these for his ISP etc..
He will probably want to change 38400 to 115200..
/dev/ttyS0 is com1... That should be OK for an external modem...
Good luck,
Col.