LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Networking
User Name
Password
Linux - Networking This forum is for any issue related to networks or networking.
Routing, network cards, OSI, etc. Anything is fair game.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 09-20-2004, 09:10 AM   #1
johnMG
Member
 
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: CT, USA
Distribution: Debian Sarge (server), Etch (work/home)
Posts: 601

Rep: Reputation: 32
ADSL modems: drivers req'd? Are they all compatible?


1. Are any special drivers required to plug into an ADSL modem, or can I use any ADSL modem as long as my NIC is working?

2. Are all ADSL modems compatible? My ISP wants to sell one for $150 USD, but I see them at BestBuy/CompuUSA for much less... Will any ADSL modem do?

3. I've heard of PPPoE (PPP over ethernet) -- is that required to use an ADSL modem? Is PPPoE a "driver"? A kernel module?

I'm getting ready to get off of dialup and onto something better, so any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
 
Old 09-20-2004, 09:28 AM   #2
Bruce Hill
HCL Maintainer
 
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: McCalla, AL, USA
Distribution: Arch, Gentoo
Posts: 6,940

Rep: Reputation: 129Reputation: 129
Re: ADSL modems: drivers req'd? Are they all compatible?

Quote:
Originally posted by johnMG
1. Are any special drivers required to plug into an ADSL modem, or can I use any ADSL modem as long as my NIC is working?
No drivers if it's a normal ADSL modem where the phone line plugs into the modem, and a CAT5 cable goes out of the modem to another device, such as a nic card, router, switch, hub, etc.
Quote:
2. Are all ADSL modems compatible? My ISP wants to sell one for $150 USD, but I see them at BestBuy/CompuUSA for much less... Will any ADSL modem do?
Some work better than others, but that's all technical stuff - $150USD sounds high - when I lived in the US I had cable, and they gave us a cable modem with the account. Here in China they give me an ADSL modem with the account. Maybe check another ISP, and also check www.pricewatch.com for ADSL modem prices. Newegg is a very reliable online dealer.
Quote:
3. I've heard of PPPoE (PPP over ethernet) -- is that required to use an ADSL modem? Is PPPoE a "driver"? A kernel module?
You need rp-pppoe in your kernel. Slackware comes with it supported with the default install. After you plug your modem in you'll need to login as root and issue "adsl-setup" and then to start it issue "adsl-start" and to stop it issue "adsl-stop" and to check the status issue "adsl-status"
You can get some more reading in the man pages for those commands by issuing ->
$ man pppoe
$ man adsl-setup
$ man adsl-start
$ man adsl-stop
$ man adsl-status
Quote:
I'm getting ready to get off of dialup and onto something better, so any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
It will be a lot nicer to have some speed in your internet connection, especially for downloading - something I seem to do a lot more of in Linux than I did in Windoze...
 
Old 09-20-2004, 10:40 AM   #3
johnMG
Member
 
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: CT, USA
Distribution: Debian Sarge (server), Etch (work/home)
Posts: 601

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 32
Wow Chinaman, thank you.

I'll have a look at NewEgg and see about their ADSL modem prices.

The other option here for me is, of course, getting a cable modem. I'm pretty sure PPPoE is not required for using a cable modem (though I don't yet understand why). It looks like using a cable modem is even simpler -- just plug it in and it works (?). Is that the way it worked for you?

Glad to hear Slackware supports rp-pppoe out-of-the-box. I'm still running bare.i at the moment. I'll check those man pages (and poke around for rp-pppoe) when I get home in front of my slack box.
 
Old 09-20-2004, 11:04 AM   #4
Bruce Hill
HCL Maintainer
 
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: McCalla, AL, USA
Distribution: Arch, Gentoo
Posts: 6,940

Rep: Reputation: 129Reputation: 129
When I lived in America and used cable I was running Windoze,
and I don't even remember how it was setup. I'm sure you can
get plenty of help here if you choose cable. I would - it's much
faster than ADSL. One of the only things I miss about America. ;-)
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
linux compatible modems for laptops? webazoid Linux - Networking 1 07-30-2004 01:45 AM
ADSL modems drivers matthew turner Linux - Newbie 1 03-17-2004 10:11 AM
Compatible Modems with kernel 2.4.8 twiggette Linux - Hardware 1 10-22-2003 05:01 PM
linux compatible modems snailophone Linux - Hardware 4 08-13-2003 02:16 PM
Compatible Linux Modems tarballedtux Linux - Hardware 11 11-07-2002 07:48 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Networking

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:01 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration