Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:47:24 -0500 From: "fbsd_user" <fbsd_user@a1poweruser.com> To: "Spiros Papadopoulos" <spap@avrolymos.com>, <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: RE: 3com mini-pci modem Message-ID: <MIEPLLIBMLEEABPDBIEGAENOHLAA.fbsd_user@a1poweruser.com> In-Reply-To: <200601211057.k0LAuoMD001542@mx-in-02.forthnet.gr>
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Your internal PCI modem maybe a winmodem and native FreeBSD does not support this. Internal modems are manufactured for two target markets, MS/Windows and every thing else. Winmodems are cheep because the hardware controller function is handled by the software you have to install into windows. This hardware controller function is contained in a chip on the modem circuit board. Winmodems are missing this chip and have a replacement chip that directs the modem to use driver software running in the windows system to perform the controller function. The most common replacement chip is manufactured by Lucent. There are many versions of this Lucent chip each version needing a different software driver version. Up until version 4.4, FBSD did not have any solution to using Winmodems, but with the release of 4.4 the ports collection contains the "Linux Winmodem 'ltmdm' driver" which was ported to FBSD. This port is very poorly documented, only works with a limited number of Lucent chip version, and is unreliable. Your whole internet connection is managed by your modem and trying to shoe horn a modem specially manufactured for the MS/Windows operating system into FBSD is not the way to achieve a satisfactory dialup connection. To summarize. For the FBSD newbe who does not know how to install a port, should use an external serial modem for connecting their FBSD box to the internet. This method works using the default generic kernel, creates no irq conflicts with the motherboard bios, and will work right out of the box so to say. All serial modems use the PC's serial ports' controller built into the motherboard. This has been the standard since PCs first came out Trying to use a PCI internal winmodem and the Linux Winmodem 'ltmdm' driver port is not easy. The 'ltmdm' driver port installations instructions are so inadequate as to make it darn near imposable to get the ltmdm port working on your modem. Its up to you if you want to try the ltmdm port, but using am external modem is a sure thing. -----Original Message----- From: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org]On Behalf Of Spiros Papadopoulos Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 5:55 AM To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: 3com mini-pci modem Hi all, For the next couple of weeks I will be with my DELL c810 laptop at a place where I can only have 56k connection to the internet. :( My laptop has a 3com mini-pci modem (combo with a 3com 10/100 Ethernet Adapter). Well in the past I tried to make this device working, but since I got broadband, I had no problems running FreeBSD and connecting through the NIC so I had forgotten about it. I have asked people with knowledge and told me you cannot connect with internal modems (or at least it is hard) so it is better if you get an external one. Is this right?? In order to send you output like dmesg or pciconf -lv or anything else I will have to write them down or use a floppy or something else to transfer to windows which I am using now...You see, if I cannot make the modem to work I cannot connect to the internet using FreeBSD. But I will do if is needed. Any help?? Spiros Papadopoulos _______________________________________________ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"
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