Modem Help
Here are some notes made to myself on the road to getting internet connected with Linux....hope it helps.
Using MDK 10.0
Just got on line with Amigo AMI-IA56 internal PCI dialup modem with Intel 536ep chipset. ( google for it)
1. Your ISP must play nice w/Linux (call them)...mine didn't (AOL) , had to change ISP. (As of recently, there is a dialer called penggy that supposedly works with AOL and linux, but I can tell you that I tried the early version of it and it was horrible. I hear some people have got the new version to work, but the probability is you're going to spend more time on a linmodem-linux-AOL connection than it is worth.)
2. I guess you know that DSL thru LAN (NIC) connection is easiest. No drivers. Takes about 4 minutes.
3. Next easiest is dialup with external serial (NOT USB) modem. Google for Best DATA or US Robotics ($20 - $65). No drivers. Takes about 5-10 min. to configure in Kppp. I bought one for the kid's PC at thrift store. ($4). Everyone's getting rid of older 56k ser. modems. (they work with linux and are faster than some internal PCI modems)
4. More difficult is internal PCI modem requiring drivers (which includes both soft and hardware modems) You must determine whether your modem is a softmodem or a hardware modem. If you insist on installing an internal PCI modem, be prepared to search for drivers. It could take 1 day or three weeks depending on lots of variables. Also, do not expect much tech support from the modem manufacturer, even if the modem is listed as being linux compatible.
Check here -->
http://www.linmodems.org
or here -->
http://www.modemsite.com
good luck