[MiNT] mintnet protocol?

[kellis@leading.net (Katherine Ellis)]

Hi people.

1)I have noticed this since 2 days:
I get this message, then my modem hangs up.
Anyone (mario, or bernd) know what this protocol is?

Jul 25 19:29:54 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Serial connection established. 
Jul 25 19:29:56 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Using interface ppp0 
Jul 25 19:29:56 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/modem 
Jul 25 19:29:56 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Remote message: 
Jul 25 19:29:56 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: local  IP address 207.98.198.189 
Jul 25 19:29:56 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: remote IP address 207.98.198.2 
Jul 25 19:30:26 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: CCP: timeout sending Config-Requests 
Jul 25 19:30:58 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: CCP: timeout sending Config-Requests 
Jul 25 22:18:06 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: IPCP terminated at peer's request 
Jul 25 22:18:06 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Unknown protocol (0xc029) received 
Jul 25 22:18:08 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: LCP terminated at peer's request 
Jul 25 22:18:10 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Connection terminated. 
Jul 25 22:18:12 tampa1-058 pppd[96]: Exit. 

2) Why do we need hsmodem device? what does it bring really?
I am afraid i have never used it, and seems to work fine without it.

Thanks..