Modem-compatible Linux Distribution

I got a "Linux-compatible" (mail-order web tech spec.), 100% hardware, internal, PCI modem that needs COM 5. Should I now I look for a 'modem-compatible' Linux distribution, or keep looking at the net, and occasionally dealing with downloading through windows?

While, it is not fashionable to talk about hardware component compatibility issues, I feel I have to, because avoiding them does not solve the problems. I am sure that I am not the only person who feels this way.

I wish

• there were a reliable, comprehensive, up-to-date hardware database on the web that one could consult before buying anything.

• the tests of Linux distributions were run on computers of commonly used components rather than on some so-called "Linux-compliant" hardware having T1 connection.

• the development were better coordinated: before loading 500 news-reader, mailer, and chitchat utilities, one would make sure that the user can dial-out, and establish a net connection. And, I wish that the developers would learn to count from thumb to pinkie, uninterrupted. (You know very well that one cannot select COM 5 from COM 1, COM 2, COM 3, and COM 4. Please, include COM 5 also in the list of selection!)

While you can blame the concept of double decking of COM ports, the weird design of an internal PCI modem of having its own UART that requires an extra IRQ, and setting its COM value to 5, instead of packaging a slightly reshaped external modem in a 5-1/2" bay to reduce clutter without introducing any compatibility issues. But, blaming does not help. Windows has learned to deal with it; FreeBSD has learned to deal with it, and I am wondering how Linux has left it dormant for so long. Any good news? I am anxious to hear about them!

Thanks corvus_albus

There SHOULD be no problem running a 100% hardware modem under any recent Linux distro. You can check here for good info on modems that work under Linux. The page also has a link to a very comprehensive table of modems that have been proven to work under Linux and have also been proven to not work. There are folks trying to develop the software that will replace the proprietary drivers that allow software modems to run under Windoze, but it's a hard task when so few modem makers want that data made public .