All I needed was to su to root and pump. Thanks guys. The dsl is 'active' on powering it on. Just needed to get the wife's computer to connect. She hates to shutdown and restart..even tho it is simple to do.

If I shutdown the dsl after she is connected, as soon as the dsl negociates a connection we are connected. It is only when knoppix is started without the power and connection made that the system doesn't talk to the modem. PUMP gets that 'bridge' connected from the box to the modem.

Thx again.