2Wire Gateway Modem Is there a Linux Driver?

DavidLukens · 06-20-2012, 04:36 PM

I was given a 2wire Gateway Modem to connect my HP 64bit computer to the internet. It is a Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. The connections to the DSL and the Internet are all good, but the computer does not talk to the modem. All the driver information I can fond for this driver list only windows programs as compatible ones. Is this compatible with linux?
DavidLukens

jefro · 06-20-2012, 05:59 PM

Welcome.

Not sure about this product or what you are asking exactly. Most dsl modems have two basic sides. One is a side that goes to the phone and one is a side that connects to your lan. There is no driver as such for those. Even some that have a usb can also access via ethernet to some web based setup program.

Post exact model of the device maybe.

Some modems have many features that may have been saved by the prior owner.

What do you mean internet and dsl is good?

We need more info.

DavidLukens · 06-20-2012, 07:50 PM

Dear jefro,
The modem is hooked up as you say. I talked at length with an ATT agent. The modem has lights indicating power, dsl, internet, and activity. All were green, and the agent checked that, at least from her end, the internet and the dsl were connecting to the modem. The computer could not locate or connect with the modem, is what she said. The instructions from the 2wire web site said that it works with the Windows programs. Mac and linux were not listed at all. I do not have a lan - just one computer. At the agents instructions, I reset the modem, presumably to the factory settings, getting rid of any previous owner's settings. The modem uses an ethernet cable to connect to the computer.
David Lukens

jefro · 06-21-2012, 02:01 PM

Opps, I didn't see that you said you reset it.

"The modem has lights indicating power, dsl, internet, and activity. " Kind of wrong. That means that it has power, the telephone wire is getting a dsl signal of some quality and that someone/something (not you even) is sending packets.

Where to start? Yes, ATT hates anything not windows and you can't use windows program for this unless you want to load up a windows system for a few days. I have done that before.

I am going to assume you have a working nic in the computer and know how to set it via dhcp or static.

Let me tell you about dsl modems.

Most have some default setting or can be set via a web page. Manual may say or you simply guess or if enabled use dhcp. Almost all can be reset by some small easy to break switch or button.
They can be set to be in modes like pass through where the connection information goes to your computer or router.
They are normally set so that your login and password is on the modem. (I don't use that but mine is advanced)
You need to know your login and password. Hopefully ATT gave it to you or let you activate it and this modem.

I think I'd reset the modem. Set your computer to allow dhcp and then use ifconfig to get local number. Hopefully it would be a 192.168.x.x. Modem tends to be the x.1 but not always. Use web pages for that. That would be the http address to access the modem.

Some modems have or had a special access name or number on the bottom in a very small and delicate sticker. I use a marker to re-apply all that to the bottom before you loose it. Use the owners manual for all this stuff that may not be shown. It may not tell so you need to seek out other web pages. They'd have it.

onebuck · 06-22-2012, 07:46 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidLukens

I was given a 2wire Gateway Modem to connect my HP 64bit computer to the internet. It is a Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. The connections to the DSL and the Internet are all good, but the computer does not talk to the modem. All the driver information I can fond for this driver list only windows programs as compatible ones. Is this compatible with linux?
DavidLukens

There are several models of 2wire Gateway Modems, it would be nice to know the specific model your have.

The IP for most 2wire is '192.168.1.254'. You can use the 2wire as DNS by editing the '/etc/resolv.conf' file and placing 'nameserver 192.168.1.254' within.
You will need to setup the '/etc/resolv.conf' with your ISP nameservers.

Sample '/etc/resolv.conf;

Code:

#Verizon third level DNS
#place your ISP DNS first thus ahead of the Verizon DNS
nameserver 192.168.1.254      #2wire Gateway Modem can be used if you do not know ISP DNS. If you do then place # at the front 
                              #of this line then insert ISP DNS in place of xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx below

nameserver xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx    #place your ISP DNS here, if not then place # at front of this line
nameserver 4.2.2.1                  #fall back
nameserver 4.2.2.2                  #fall back

You may want to look at the '/etc/resolv.conf' file before modifying it.

You can place '192.168.1.254 gateway.2wire.net' into your '/etc/hosts' file for name resolution locally.

A few things you would need to know; available IP, Gateway, device Ethernet. Hopefully all drivers & firmware are in place and the Ethernet device is available.

We know the IP for the 2wire as '192.168.1.254' and that will be your gateway address. IP for your systems device should be within the range so hopefully '192.168.1.10' is available since you only have one system on the LAN at this point. Be sure to use a known good cable to connect the NIC(Network Interface Card) in your system to the available LAN port on the 2wire.

First, IP available for your LAN? We are using '192.168.1.10'.
What is the Gateway? 2wire address is '192.168.1.254'.
Device is Ethernet (Eth0,1,2,3)? We are assuming 'eth0'

I would setup a static IP first, do as root from cli (I have used direct resolution for commands by placing '/sbin' before each command. As root the path should be correct therefore no need for '/sbin');

Code:

 ~#/sbin/ifconfig -a                      #get recognized devices. Hopefully eth0 is shown and available' If so then proceed

~#/sbin/ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.10 #assign static IP to eth0
~#/sbin/route add default gw 192.168.1.254 #set gateway for Ehternet device eth0

You can now confirm the device assignments by;

Code:

~#/sbin/ifconfig -a       #show device information
~#/sbin/route -n    #show kernel route table

You should see the IP assignment for eth0 within the '~#/sbin/ifconfig -a' output.

Sample 'route -n';

Code:

# route -n
Kernel IP routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
0.0.0.0         192.168.1.254     0.0.0.0         UG    1      0        0 eth0
127.0.0.0       0.0.0.0         255.0.0.0       U     0      0        0 lo
192.168.1.0     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     0      0        0 eth0

To check this out;

Code:

~#ping 192.168.1.254    #Your 2wire gateway address, OK if you get a valid response
~#ping 74.125.225.70    #Google IP, if you get a response to ping then OK
~#ping google.com    #If you get a valid response then DNS OK if not then check '/etc/resolv.conf' for valid nameserver address

HTH!

EDIT: FYI: I suggest that you look at 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' so in the future your queries provide information that will aid us in diagnosis of the problem or query.