I have a minimal install of Debian sarge 2.4.27-1-386 and no internet connection. I'm trying to get a linmodem driver installed, but I can't figure out how to compile it. There's no make command that I can find. The driver came with a file called makefile, but I can't figure out how to run it.

I'm also running WinXP; would it be possible to download onto Windows a package (or whatever) that would let me compile, then copy it into Debian and install it from the command line? Or something like that...I'm new to Linux and command lines in general, and I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

First of all, if there's no make command, you need to install the package build-essential from your CD. From the command line apt-get install build-essential should prompt you to put in your CD. This will install make, gcc, and other tools you'll need to compile from source.

As to downloading a package from windows, first you'd have to tell me what modem you're using. There is a chance that your modem isn't supported by linux. In which case you're better off spending $15 US on an external SERIAL modem. These are hardware modems that don't need drivers. Linux can just use standard serial calls out the serial port to get them to connect.

Okay, I have gcc-3.3-base, and I have a driver (hsflinmodem-5.03.27lnxtbeta03042700)...I don't know how to compile it. I tried "make" and "make install", but it says they aren't commands. I have the driver in /home. Where should it be, and what commands should I use to compile it? If I need "make", how do I get it (apt-get install build-essential didn't work, but I think I have all the packages from the CD). Also, how do I display a list of the packages so that they all fit on the screen? I tried piping to "less"; it says it's not a command.

What is the output of echo $PATH? I think you probably don't have the right directory in your path. If you type whereis make you should see it listed as /usr/bin/make

Also, if I'm not mistaken, this is a driver from linuxant, correct? Did you download the source (tar.gz) or the debian binary (deb)?

If you downloaded the deb file (http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/hsf/..._i386.deb.zip), you should just have to unzip it and then dpkg -i hsfmodem_7.47.00.00full_i386.deb.

Also, just so you're aware (maybe you are) that the free version of these drivers limit your modem speed to 14.4k (not 56k, like your modem is capable). So even if you get it working, you either have to pay to get a key that will unlock the 56k or just buy an external serial hardware modem as I mentioned above.

The oputput of echo $PATH is /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin/x11

When I type whereis make, I get make:

I just realized that I have to configure gcc, but I'm not sure how to do it. I'm reading a lot of documentation, and I'm getting a little confused.

I got the driver at a website called int21.de; it says it's the last free Conexant driver, and that it won't work with kernel 2.6. Since I have 2.4, I thought I'd try it until I can afford an external modem.

Okay, I went and got the driver from the Linuxant website, instead of trying to compile the other one. It said it wouldn't install without the kernel header, but it is working (actually, I'm in Windows, and my connection speed is 40.0 kbps...faster than it's ever been). The driver was a .zip, and gunzip wouldn't unzip it, so I unzipped it with Winrar and copied it into /home.

How do I dial in Debian? I don't have a desktop yet, and I don't have wvdial.

I changed from dialup a couple years ago. But I feel like I used to use pon to dial and poff to hangup. I want to say that I ran the command pppconfig to get it all set up.

Aha! From google, here's the manpage for pppconfig. There appears to be a listing of the files at the bottom in the event that this command isn't present on your system.

All right, I have pppconfig, and I'm pretty sure I got it set up correctly. I used plog, and got this:

Debian pppd [1238]: pppd started by root, uid 0
Debian chat [1239]: can't get terminal parameters: input output error

Then it says the connect script failed. When I use pon, nothing happens, no sound or anything. Sooo...It's not recognizing my modem? The driver's not installed right?

I don't know if the driver is installed completely. I mean, the modem is working in Windows, so the driver must be in, right? But in Debian, it says it's not completely installed, and that I need the kernel headers, which I can't find.

The windows driver and the Debian driver are completely different. Just because the windows one is working doesn't mean the Debian one is. Okay, if installing the binary doesn't work (see post #5 above), then to download the kernel headers, you just need to apt-get them. What is the output of uname -r (should be something like 2.4.xxx-blah-blah).

Hmmm. Maybe a problem here, but how many of the CD's did you use? Not sure if the kernel headers are on the first CD or not (or on your minimal install CD for that matter). Try apt-cache search kernel-headers-2.4 and see if it was on your CD...

it's easier than that! here are 2 ways:
1. apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install <packname> from debian.
2. apt-get install alien
alien <packname> from smartlink.
hope this helps
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