christmascracker Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 As you might know I'm looking to try out installing Linux in the very near future. :) I've been having a look around on the net to see if my hardware is going to be ok and the only thing that I'm going to have trouble with it seems is my USB BT voyager 100 modem.I've been to a few Linux forums and it's the same everywhere - they cant get it to work under Linux :( So.............what are the alternatives (if any) ?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 It ccan work with Linuxhttp://eciadsl.flashtux.org/index.php?lang=enhttp://eciadsl.flashtux.org/modems.php?modem=48Read the tutorial, it should help you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted June 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Thanks, I'll have a look :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 There are things called winmodems which require part of the windows operating system to function, but there has been a lot of work done for these to support "linmodems". I'm sure you'll find something out there. Keep looking :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 I too have trodden the winmodem/Linux path, and it can be a right pain in the CPU. As scarecrowman says they utilise some of your CPU in order to function, and Linux is not cooperative. There are sites that purport to supply drivers to get round the problem, but I found it all a big, big bind. I eventually gave up and went on to Ebay and bought a good second hand external modem and that worked with no trouble, because Linux just fumbles around a bit, recognises it, and fires up its own appropriate driver. What you may find is that setting the dial up connection is not just as easy as Windows, and asking your ISP will usually lead to "We do not support Linux".If you do get problems in this area PM me and I will let you have the info that I collected (although it may only be applicable to my ext. modem) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 catgate is right. If your modem won't work with Linux (because it's a winmodem), it may not be cheaper, but at least you'll keep some of your hair, if you go out and buy a new one.But then again, it is possible to compile your OWN kernel to support your modem, but for a 1st time user, this is probably the last thing you want to do... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted June 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 I've tried the link from expertec but most of it is way beyond me I'm affraid :( I've been at this all day and got nowhere, still, I've at least got it installed and working. :) I think an external modem might be the easiest if not the cheepest way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted June 30, 2004 Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 The easiest way is with a NIC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I've got an Ethernet thingy, that any good? :unsure: This is what Everest tells me:-Network Adapter Properties Network Adapter Intel® PRO/100 VE Network ConnectionInterface Type Ethernet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 My limited understanding of things tells me that Ethernet is purely for local nets, and so, unless you have a local net of your own that is connectable to an ISP, this may prove a fruitless avenue to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Network Inteface Card...You'll need a router...which i don't think you have as you have the modem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Network Inteface Card...You'll need a router...which i don't think you have as you have the modem.I'm really confused now :confused: My BT modem seems to be a bit of pain, so...........you said that a NIC card would be the easiest (I take it they fit in a pci slot?) What else would I need?Sorry to be a pain but as you've probably gathered I havn't got a clue when it comes to things connection wise other than a dial-up and USB modem. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 My limited understanding of things tells me that Ethernet is purely for local nets, and so, unless you have a local net of your own that is connectable to an ISP, this may prove a fruitless avenue to explore.99.9% of the broadband connections use ethernet devices, some have USB connections, but I never recomend them, they are buggy, require proprietary drivers and just not as reliable as ethernet.Ethernet is the standard world wide for broadband connections, a local network is merely a side benefit but has nothing to do with the internet connection.christmascracker, if your modem has and ethernet connection you will find that useing it couldn't be easier. It requires no special drivers or software, plug it in and that is pretty much the extent of it.I am not sure why there seems to be so many USB only modems in the UK, all I can say is ask your ISP for a "real modem"The Unreliable Silly Bus just shouldn't be used in my opinion for networking purposes. It relies on software, it uses CPU cycles and memory where an ethernet device has all hardware on the card to handle the work. Much more effiecient, much more reliable, and extremely cheap.You can get an ethernet card for about $10 US and sometimes cheaper. Most modern motherboards come with one and often two built in ethernet devices. I just simply wouldn't connect to the internet any other way.If you are on dial up, then any cheap external serial modem will do, it is not only compatible with linux and every other operating system available, but they perform better, and just simply work. In short, ethernet or serial modems are far superior, and work with all operating systems. I always recommend when purchasing hardware, that people avoid USB devices if at all possible, often times they are windows only devices and sometimes do not even support all versions of windows, if you ever change operating systems, or upgrade to a newer windows OS, you can in short be left with a USB device that is good for nothing more then a doorstop/bookend.Winmodems, well the latest distributions actully support many of the most common ones very well, Connexants HSP, HCF, Lucent, slmodem(Smartmodem), are probably the most common winmodems and it has been my experience with SuSE and Fedora that they work out of the box with very little effort.Setting up a dial up account is just as easy as in windows, unless your ISP requires windows proprietary software. Because they claim linux isn't supported usually only means don't call them for assistance, it doesn't mean the connection won't work.I have personally set up numerous accounts with ISP's that don't "support" linux. If it is possible to setup a dial up connection in windows without the aid of any added on software then that connection will work with any operating system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I just read the instalation directions and they are very easy to install. The biggest question is what linux distribution are you running. Most of the drivers for the 2.4 series kernels are pretty painless to install. The 2.6 kernel series (SuSE 9.1, FedoraCore2) can be a bit more difficult.What distribution are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 At the moment Mandrake but looking to install slackware really.So, correct me if I'm wrong, seeing as I have an ethernet port on the PC all I need is a Broadband modem with an eternet connection instead of USB (or both) ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 At the moment Mandrake but looking to install slackware really.So, correct me if I'm wrong, seeing as I have an ethernet port on the PC all I need is a Broadband modem with an eternet connection instead of USB (or both) ?Which version of mandrake are you using?If you already have an ethernet card, then a modem with an ethernet connection would just be peachy. B) Open a terminal/console that would be like a Dos prompt in windows. When you have itr open type uname -r and post the text it outputs. That will let us know what kernel you are using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 It's Mandrake 9.2.When I type that in in tells me 2.4.22-28 ddkenterprise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 The driver in the second link posted above is claimed to work fine in the 2.4 series kernels. Mandrake 9 is a 2.4 series distribution.Download the file below, right click it and choose save as.http://eciadsl.flashtux.org/download/norte...tek2021.tar.bz2Copy it to a floppy or CD so you can copy to linux. Once thats done we can help you get it up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 9.2?I've got the full CD set for that, bought from PC WORLD....With a... wait for it USER MANUAL :o'ave if you like? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 BTW, if you are having a hard time with Mandrake and installing device modules/drivers, the you certainly don't want to go any where near SlackWare.The text based partitoning and formating, along with a text based install may be a bit confusing for you. Slack is a very nice distribution, but the installation and setup is far from being newbie friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 9.2?I've got the full CD set for that, bought from PC WORLD....With a... wait for it USER MANUAL :o'ave if you like? :DJust sent you a pm :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christmascracker Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 BTW, if you are having a hard time with Mandrake and installing device modules/drivers, the you certainly don't want to go any where near SlackWare.The text based partitoning and formating, along with a text based install may be a bit confusing for you. Slack is a very nice distribution, but the installation and setup is far from being newbie friendly.I'm beginning to realise that :confused: I'm going to leave the modem for now and just spend time on getting to know Mandrake and find my way around. Thanks for your help though.I've a lot to learn :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archlyric Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 well ur hardware should work with the kernal 2.6, i suggest you try fedora core 2, its way better, i am a linux guru myself (almost makes me wonder what im doing in a windows support forum, lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-2004 Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 BTW, if you are having a hard time with Mandrake and installing device modules/drivers, the you certainly don't want to go any where near SlackWare.The text based partitoning and formating, along with a text based install may be a bit confusing for you. Slack is a very nice distribution, but the installation and setup is far from being newbie friendly.I'm beginning to realise that :confused: I'm going to leave the modem for now and just spend time on getting to know Mandrake and find my way around. Thanks for your help though.I've a lot to learn :) Speaking of the "ethernet modem", if you do buy one for around 100-120£ then you can have a ethernet modem, 5 wired connections to a home network and some wireless connections as well :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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