Ubuntu nm-0.6.6 PPTP problems.

[Gustaf Barkstrom <gustafb verizon net>]

I am trying to get PPTP for MS Windows VPN server to work with my
hard-wired ethernet connections. I have followed the threads and
instructions below.

Instructions
http://tipotheday.com/2008/04/29/connect-to-windows-vpn-server-pptp-with-ubuntu-hardy-heron/

Thread about PPTP problems and 0.7 SVN usage.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=797059&page=25

I have the following symptoms:

1) If I set my wired Ethernet connections to "roaming mode" then the
PPTP plugin shows that I have an interface. Otherwise, I get this
in /var/log/syslog:

Nov 26 22:29:26 workshed NetworkManager: <info>  Will activate VPN
connection 'TestVPN', service
'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.ppp_starter', user_name '[removed in
email]', vpn_data 'ppp-connection-type / pptp / pptp-remote / [removed
in email] / usepeerdns / yes / encrypt-mppe / no / encrypt-mppe-128 /
yes / encrypt-mppe-stateful / yes / compress-mppc / no /
compress-deflate / no / compress-bsd / no / ppp-lock / yes /
ppp-auth-peer / yes / ppp-refuse-eap / no / ppp-refuse-chap / no /
ppp-refuse-mschap / no / mtu / 1416 / mru / 1416 / lcp-echo-failure /
10 / lcp-echo-interval / 10 / ppp-extra /  / ppp-debug / no /
usepeerdns-overtunnel / yes / routes /  / use-routes / no', route ''. 
Nov 26 22:29:26 workshed NetworkManager: <WARN>
nm_vpn_manager_activate_vpn_connection():
nm_vpn_manager_activate_vpn_connection(): no currently active network
device, won't activate VPN. 

NOTE: Same problem occurs with ppp-refuse-eap=yes. 

2) In roaming mode, I don't get address from DHCP (dumpy router DHCP
server)... so I prefer static IP. Does the interface have to have an IP
address, etc. for nm to think that it's active? e.g. the interface shows
"UP" in ifconfig, but it's not configured, so is it "UP" as far as nm is
concerned?

3) Has there been any workaround to allow static IP's and PPTP VPN in
0.7 of nm?

4) Would upgrading to 8.10 help?

Here's basic system information, all updates are applied as of 16:00EST
11/27/08:

(Thu Nov 27 17:07:31) >lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 8.04.1
Release:        8.04
Codename:       hardy

Thanks.