Trying to setup a winmodem, PLEASE HELP!

Forum: Networking
Topic: Trying to setup a winmodem, PLEASE HELP!
started by: kormaworm

Posted by kormaworm on July 02 2005,10:29

I've only used Linux a few times in the past (Redhat and Suse), but DSL looked pretty cool so I thought I would give it a try.

I've got as far as doing a hard drive install of DSL 0.9.2 and now I need to see if I can get my winmodem (urgh) to work. A few guys in the DSL irc channel recommended a good hardware modem, but I really can't afford to buy one right now so I need to try and get my winmodem working, otherwise I have to boot into Windows 2000 to get online, which defeats the purpose of installing DSL in the first place.

After installing scanModem I need some advice on what I need to do to compile and install the drivers (I think I've found the right one; ltmodem-2.4.26-1-686_8.31a3_i386.deb).

It will be easier if I just paste the contents of the ModemData.txt file here instead of trying to explain. So, if anyone knows what they're doing then please at least point me in the right direction! Any help is greatly appretiated!! Thanks

ModemData.txt:

Debian GNU/
on System with processor: i686
currently under kernel: 2.4.26
The kernel was assembled with compiler: 2.95.4
a gcc-2.95.4 package must be installed to support driver compiling

Checking for kernel-headers needed for compiling.
Checking /usr/src/ for compressed compressed headers or kernel-source

Kernel-header resources needed for compiling are not manifestly ready!
If compressed resources are present, expand and then configure them following DriverCompiling.txt
They may have to be installed.
Within your Linux distributions' installation CD or online resource (and mirrows), search for :
Distribution PackageName OnLine
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Debian kernel-headers-2.4.26 < http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages > or install CD
Ubuntu linux-headers-2.4.26 < http://http://packages.ubuntu.com/ > or install CD
Xandros
kernel-kbuild-3.6 are additionally required by Debian, Ubuntu and Xandros
Mandrake kernel-source-2.4.26 If not present on install CDs search
FedoraCore4 kernel-devel-2.4.26
< http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp....PMS >
< http://rpms.mandrakeclub.com/rpms/mandrake/official/LByName.html, > or other mirrors.
SuSE kernel-source-2.4.26 , kernels are named k_deflt
One of which must be installed if compiling drivers to match kernel 2.4.26 proves necessary.
Within the output Modem/ folder, read CompilingDrivers.txt for details.

A /dev/modem symbolic link is not set.
USB modem not detected.

Modem candidates are at PCI_buses: 0000:01:0b.0

Providing detail for device at 0000:01:0b.0
with vendor-ID:device-ID
----:----
Class 0780: 11c1:0440 0780: 11c1:0440 (rev 01)
SubSystem 11c1:0440 11c1:0440
0000:01:0b.0 0780: 11c1:0440 (rev 01)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 9

-----PCI_IDs------- --CompilerVer-
Feature List: Primary Subsystem Distr KernelVer kernel default CPU
./scanModem test 11c1:0440 11c1:0440 debian 2.4.26 2.95.4 none i686

== Checking PCI IDs through modem chip suppliers ==

The modem has a supported Lucent/Agere DSP (digital signal processing) chipset
with primary PCI_ID: 11c1:0440
DSP=1

Agere Systems, Inc provides periodic software releases for there DSP modems,
which are made more Newbie friendly by volunteers. There are some installer packages
and also resources for compiling drivers:
< http://ltmodem.heby.de > is a repository for installers for later 2.4.2n and early 2.6.n kernels.
Packages below are for compiling drivers:
ResourceName Use for kernel ranges
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------
ltmodem-8.26a.tar.gz kernels 2.4.21 and earlier
ltmodem-8.30a3.tar.gz kernels 2.4.21 and subsequent 2.4.2n kernels
ltmodem-8.31a10.tar.gz beginnig with 2.4.21 through and into 2.6.n kernels

< http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/packages/ltmodem/ >
has installers for older 2.4.n kernels moved from < http://ltmodem.heby.de >
and subfolder kernel-2.6/ for 2.6.n kernel support. The latest resouce is:
ltmodem-2.6-7-alk-7.tar.bz2 from Alex Kondratenko
ltmodem-2.6-7alk.src.rpm is a repackaging for by Stephan Puck. After installation
of a kernel-source package (not necessary for fedora releases) use by:
rpmbuild --rebuild ltmodem-2.6-7alk.src.rpm , which will deposit an installer at:
/usr/src/rpm/RPMS/i586/ltmodem-kv_YourVersion.rpm Check with
# ls -l /usr/src/rpm/RPMS/i586/ltmodem*
Then install with:
# rpm -i /usr/src/rpm/RPMS/i586/ltmodem-kv_YourVersion.rpm

Support is effective at least into 2.6.11-1.14_FC3.
PCMCIA ltmodem support is still being ported from 2.4.n to 2.6.n, as of May 2005

< http://dag.wieers.com/packages/kernel-module-ltmodem/ > for some 2.4.n installers
SuSE/Novell has some ltmodem installers at their repositories and newer install CDs.
More related output is below.

Vendor 11c1 corresponds to Lucent Technologies or subsidiary Agere Systems, Inc.
Information is at: http://www.agere.com/client/modem_dsp.html. Produced are both:
1) modems identifiable from their primary PCI IDs and
2) soft modem Subystem chips requiring identification through codec readouts.

Call waiting specified by, +pcw=1, is not implmented in the ltmodem drivers.
Configuration with forcing is described in: < http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/archive-fifth/msg00055.html >
0x0440 -- Mars 2 - data/fax/voice

Add either of the following lines to the Debian /etc/apt/sources.list
to enable automatic updates on installer availability:
deb < http://www.physcip.uni-stuttgart.de/heby/ltmodem/dists/debian/ > ./
deb < http://www.sfu.ca/~cth/ltmodem/dists/debian/ > ./

The desired installer name is like:
========================================
ltmodem-2.4.26_8.nn_i386.deb
----------------------------------------
ltmodem-kv-Kernel_FL-LTver--.CPU.rpm explains the versioning.
For your System
Kernel_FL is 2.4.26 , the full kernel version displayed by: uname -r
LTver is 8.31a10, the release of the compiler kit
8.nn is the Agere core code designation.
The proccesor type or CPU is: i686 dispayed by: uname -m
used in compiling and assembling driver packages.

A suitable installer is not available as of this 2005_June_24 update.
Check in the section debian at http://ltmodem.heby.de/
for a subsequent Installer submission.
Older releases have been archived at:
< http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/packages/ltmodem/archive/ >
Also there is a RPM search engine at: < http://rpm.pbone.net >
The closest match to your i686=CPU is recommended.
The closest match to your i686=CPU is recommended.
For example replacements in order of preference for an
i686 would be i586, i486 and i386
If not present use the ltmodem-8.31a10.tar.gz compiler kit.

The list of available Installers for debian as of this 2005_June_24
is inserted into to Modem/YourModem.txt
======= PCI_ID checking completed ======
Update=2005_June_24
A PCMCIA CardBus is not detected on this System.
The following information blocks just query some ppp support items.

====================================================
grep -rs ppp /etc/modules.conf
-------------------------------------
alias char-major-108 ppp_generic
alias /dev/ppp ppp_generic
alias tty-ldisc-3 ppp_async
alias tty-ldisc-14 ppp_synctty
alias ppp-compress-21 bsd_comp
alias ppp-compress-24 ppp_deflate
alias ppp-compress-26 ppp_deflate
### update-modules: start processing /etc/modutils/ppp
alias /dev/ppp ppp_generic
alias char-major-108 ppp_generic
alias tty-ldisc-3 ppp_async
alias tty-ldisc-14 ppp_synctty
alias ppp-compress-21 bsd_comp
alias ppp-compress-24 ppp_deflate
alias ppp-compress-26 ppp_deflate
### update-modules: end processing /etc/modutils/ppp
-------------------------------------
Resident PPP support modules are properly uncompressed .
COMM services are not active
DEVPPP=crw------- 1 root dip 108, 0 May 15 2001 /dev/ppp
A /dev/modem symbolic link is not present

No devfsd.conf file found, indicated absense of the devfsd daemon package
for device file system (devfs) symbolic link support.

DEVFSD=
---- dmesg queries -------
PCI: if you experience problems, try using option 'pci=noacpi' or even 'acpi=off'
apm: BIOS version 1.2 Flags 0x03 (Driver version 1.16)
apm: overridden by ACPI.

For usage of winmodems with the kernel-2.4.nn Fedora releases a change in the serial-like driver code of WinModems is necessary.
See for guidance: http://hepunx.rl.ac.uk/~wmurray/pctel/pctel.html
Basically , the line:
if ((tty->count == 1) && (state->count != 1)) {
should be changed into:
if (atomic_read(&tty->count) == 1 && state->count != 1) {
This works in the ltmodem code too. See
< http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/archive-third/msg02360.html >
An error about "rs_close" during compiling is a signature that the fedora fix is needed

debian is not yet providing pre-compiled drivers for WinModems
[U][/U][B][U]

Posted by kormaworm on July 03 2005,17:54

Now I have managed to find the source for the drivers and compiled them after installing gcc-2.95, cpp, and binutils. I've tried dialing with PPPdial and WVDIAL but I can't seem to get either of them to work. PPPdial either tells me that /dev/modem doesn't exist, or if I get it to use /dev/ttyLT0 it freezes the computer. WVDIAL won't even create the config file (and if I create one manually it also freezes the computer)

I've googled the hell out of this and have tried many suggestions. Does anyone know what I might be doing wrong?

Posted by Shane(R) on July 04 2005,01:29

I find PPPd freezes my laptop as well. All I can do is keep trying until it does not. I have no idea what causes it to do so.

As for your modem, even with the proper drivers installed and configured, there is no guarantee the winmodem will work. I fought with my desktop for ages on various distros I tried. Finally gave up and ordered an external off of eBay. I also purchased a PCMCIA modem for my laptop (it has a winmodem as well).

I know that doesn't help. But, in my research I found fewer had them working than didn't. If you do have the money, take a look at ebay. You can get them quite cheap (paid 10 for mine). You'll save yourself a lot of frustration!

Good luck,
ShaneR

Posted by kormaworm on July 04 2005,17:32

I'll probably end up buying one eventually if I can't get this to work, but I really don't have the money right now.

Something related: I'm trying to compile the driver again on a fresh hd-install, and it's telling me i don't have gcc or a compiler installed, and I just installed both of these.

I did the exact same thing yesterday under root, and now im trying again under a fresh hd-install under the user dsl. Could this have something to do with it?

Posted by ShaneRay on July 05 2005,00:59

Well, here is an idea (BTW, that's my post up above...I was on another computer when I wrote that and forgot my username..LOL)

Anyway, I was fooling around with Ubuntu tonight. For a reason I can't remember I disable PnP in the bios screen. AFter I booted to Gnome, I loaded the lt modules and the damn thing dialed out. It didn't connect, but it never dialed out before nor did the system auto detect my modem--it does now.

LOL...Now, I don't want this to work 'cause I gave in after 6 months and ordered an external modem. Figures :laugh:

Anyway, try disabling PnP in your bios and see if that helps.

Good luck!

Shane

Posted by kormaworm on July 05 2005,07:25

I might try that but first I need to get the drivers to compile again.

The build_module tells me the following when I try to compile:

Basic utilities required for compiling have not been installed on your System.
creating cache ./config.cache
Checking OS
Checking machine type
Processor i686 is supported.
checking for gcc... no.
checking for cc... no.
configure: error: no acceptable cc found in $PATH

I have already installed both gcc-2.95 and cpp-2.95, so why is it telling me they aren't installed?

Posted by kangaroo killa on July 08 2005,13:18

hmm my external cost me $80 AUS but it was worth it V.92