I just receive a well intentioned surprise gift of a Northgate computer that was recently on sale at Staples. Northgate says they haven't tested it as a Linux compatible system (they all say that even if it may be compatible) but I have installed KNOPPIX on the hard drive and it appears to work fine except there is no sound and the modem cannot be found in Linux. It has integrated sound and the modem is an Agere PCI winmodem. I don't have information about the motherboard chip set.

I'm thinking of adding an external modem although I would prefer a PCI type and possibly a sound card.

Does anyone have any advice about converting this computer to linux compatibility ---- type of external modem (USB or serial, which one preferred) or internal PCI card modem, PCI sound card, secret chant?

Are there some computers that just cannot be converted to full Linux compatibility even though Linux works perfectly except for modem and sound with the computer in its original configuration?

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Does anyone have any advice about converting this computer to linux compatibility ---- type of external modem (USB or serial, which one preferred) or internal PCI card modem, PCI sound card, secret chant?
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A PCI hardmodem is a good choice. It has to be a hardmodem, with a dsp chip and stuff.
A win-modem can be converted to work with linux, but it's a pain. I did it once, and may the force never have me do this again. To make a win-modem work with linux you'll have to compile drivers for your kernel. To do this, you'll have to have the kernel-sources installed.

For sound, any sblive will do.

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Are there some computers that just cannot be converted to full Linux compatibility even though Linux works perfectly except for modem and sound with the computer in its original configuration?
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Better put: there are problematic hardware. If a computer has a lot of problematic hardware, the setup will be a pain.

Rules of thumb:

Onboard=bad
Offboard=good

Softmodem=bad
Hardmodem=good

ATI=bad
Nvidia=good

Try to look for more info on the hcl (hw compatibility list) in this site. If you succeed in making a piece of hardware work, remember to add it to the base, so that more people can benefit from it.
there are other hcl around, too. google is your friend.


Good luck!

Hardware Compatibility Lists don't seem to have info about some of the newer devices, probably because they depend on reports from users---about the only way seems to be--- follow rules of thumb.

I checked out the specs of several external dialup modems and some omit
Linux in the list of operating systems they'll work with and some don't make any mention of an operating system I was under the impression that any external modem will work in Linux and all you need to do is decide whether it should be USB or serial port connected.

Since I haven't used a modem in a long time, I can't help you with the installation
However, I suggest you read this LQ article concerning winmodems. It may help you with the setup of a Linmodem.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ticle&artid=34

More links.
http://www.linmodems.org/
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Winmodems-...nux-HOWTO.html


I have to disagree on this point, I have an ATI 9600 Pro and the ATI proprietary module (driver) works quite well.
Althoug Nvidia is one step in front of ATI, ATI is still a good choice for Linux.

My ATI 9600 XT works great as well. I can play one mean game of Tuxracer.

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I checked out the specs of several external dialup modems and some omit
Linux in the list of operating systems they'll work with and some don't make any mention of an operating system...
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This is very common. Some vendors don´t even know their product work under linux, others don´t even know there is linux.
Whoever vendor who knows the product works under linux may also fear reporting it, cause he believes he may need to provide support for it.

So, to know if a product works under linux you have to rely on the community, on the (outdated) hcl´s or in some friend who could do the job.

For what it's worth, I'd go with a Zoom external serial modem. I have one and it had no issues with linux (mandrake 7.0, 9.0 and Suse 9.1). You may have to play around a little to point linux to the port to find it on (I think something like /dev/ttys0 ... not absolutey sure...I just know it's not on /dev/modem on my system. Don't worry, you'll find it)
Anyway, heres the modem I have (or close enough...I bought mine a few yrs back
http://www.zoom.com/products/dial_up...al_serial.html

sorry, should have specified the model I have...
Model 3049 - PC V.92 56K Modem

I don't know the secret chant yet, but I'm getting there. I can tell you that screaming WORK, $*#)@$ doesn't help.

The secret chant doesn't work so I'm getting a Zoom 3049 serial external modem.