For the last 15 months I have been using a Westell Model 2200 DSL modem that Verizon provided me with. I have been successful using it to get online with Lycoris Linux and Fedora Core. I've had problems getting online with Slackware, Slax, and Knoppix. I just upgraded to wireless DSL and Verizon provided me with a newer router/modem combo Westell Versalink Model 327W router that works fine with Slackware and Knoppix along with Fedora Core.

If Pat or one of the other Slack people want to borrow my old modem to find out why it gives Slack people problems-they are welcome to it if I can have it back to use as a backup. I'm not sure how to contact them.

Have you tried contacting your ISP?
Or better yet manufacturer of the modem to see why it doesn't work?

Verizon is my ISP-they know nothing of Linux and don't support it. When I talked to Verizon 'tech' support they said, "is Linux a Windoze program?". Conversations like this agitate me.

I Haven't contacted Westell.

BTW, what I said about the Westell router working fine with Slackware has proven to be false. Sometimes it works on boot, other times I need to do:

ifconfig eth0 down
ifconfig eth0 up
dhcpcd eth0