New to Linux, got Red Hat running but can't get it to recognise a modem. Tried all sorts... internal, external, serial and USB. Tried all the tricks in the manuals.... and no I'm not using a WinModem.
Best I can get is ' the modem is busy', on ttyS3. I've been trying for two weeks now and I'm on the verge of uninstalling Linux and going back into the clutches of Mr Gates..... any helpful ideas???

Is that the only error you get?
How are the IRQ's?

it shows the IRQ as 3, but on Windows ( I have a dual boot) it shows the IRQ as 5.

IRQ 3 is normally assigned to ttyS0 (com1), may be ttyS2.
but not any other com except that.
if it is a serial modem then it should be accessible only to ttyS0 or ttyS1.
can you tell us what kind of tools you are using to dial?

I have tried using RedHat's RHPPP, and also KDE dialer. When configuring neither find any modem on searching, and I've gone through the serial ports one by one and only on COM4 (ttys03) do I get any response at all (the modem is busy). I have also tried using an external USB modem... but still can't 'find' it.

Hi
Maybe you can use the lsof command (be root) to
find what keeps your modem busy.
like lsof /dev/modem or lsof /dev/ttySX (lsof; list open files)
See if your /dev/modem is linked to the proper
serial port.
otherwise link it; ln -s /dev/ttySX /dev/modem (where X is
your actual serial port no)
For more info;
dmesg |fgrep tty ; spits out the base adress and irq
and use the setserial and statserial to get or set the serial
port.
An externel serial modem just has to work fine with linux
if you use kppp you can send a query to the modem, to
check it.
And maybe need to adjust the ATZ init string, read the .inf file that came with your modem for windoze. If it needs some
modification you can do that in the ATDT part just put it
in between AT and DT (mine for setting async to sync on an
external isdn/TA; B4 reads; ATB4DT
Redhat also has the modemtool command try that.

And don't go back to crappy windows; it's one of the reasons i lost most of my hair take a look at the smiley
except for the yellow color it's almost me.
good luck

if you have "wvdial" installed then
execute
"wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf"
this will try to auto detect you modem on all ports.
wvdial is normally installed by default in redhat.

Okay, well using lsof /dev/modem I get nothing. Using lsof /dev/ttyS03 (where the modem is supposed to be) I get 'status error.... no such file or directory.

dmesg | fgrep tty only shows ttyS00 and ttyS01

kpp when using a query only gives the modem busy message

I used wvdial and it says 'no modem detected'.

Now, using setserial - ttyS3 is showing an IRQ of 3, where according to Windows the modem is on IRQ5 (where it works).
I have used setserial to reset the irq...
Still no change.....


Grrrrrrrrr!

Hi
The modem you are actually using now , is this an internal
or external one? Seems to me internal, cause hanging it on
one of your serial ports, only ttyS0 or ttyS1 are involved,
depending on which one you put the modem.
regards

Hi mrGee
It's an internal modem, standard 56k PCI modem. On Windows (dual boot system) it's on com4 irq5. On Linux, there is no modem found - though using kppp to query modem, I get a Modem busy message on ttyS3.

If it's an internel modem then chances are that it is a winmodem. All is not lost however, there are drivers available for some winmodems, have a look at http://www.linmodems.org for more info.

Thanks Aussie, but it isn't a Win Modem, its a new Motorola 56K V90/92 PCI card hardware modem - I bought it and installed it myself precisely for Linux because I'd had a winmodem previously. I think the problem is more fundamental - I have also tried using an external USB modem, and the system won't recognise that either. In frudtration I even blew away my hard-drive, re formatted and re-installed RedHat 7.2.

It's crazy, I work as a web developer and I'm piloting Linux at home with a view to moving our development platform at the office to Linux.... and the only thing I can't get it to do is to access the Internet!

I think I might turn to the beer also....

Can you do "lspci -vv" and post the modem info here?

how can be a internal modem a hardware modem.and as you said that it is using it on COM3 in windows how is possible to use a external modem on COM3. better to identify your modem then ask . i think you have motorola SM56 modem . in this case
you can download your drivers for linux here
http://e-www.motorola.com/webapp/sps...Id=01M0yyK3NVV

Thanks for the last two responses, putting them together, here is where I am.
fool_inteligent - yes you are quite right, sorry to add to the confusion, it is a motorola SM56 modem (or at least a generic using their driver). Sooo... I downloaded a linux driver from the link, thanks. Installed and setup the driver as best I could. But still no joy. But at least the driver is showing and rpm shows it as installed and dev/modem is linked to sm56.

Aussi - thanks to you also - lspci -vv shows -
" 00:9.0 Communications controller: Motorola: Unknown deveice 5608
Subsystem: Motorola Unkown device 0000
Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr Stepping SERR- Fast B2B-
Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
Latency: 32 (250hs min, 32000ns max)
Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ5
Region 0: I/O ports at e000 [Size=256]
Region 1: Memeory at ed104000 (32-bit, non-preferable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
Flags: PMEC1k - DSI+ D1- D2+ AuxCurrent=55mA PME(D0+, D1-,D2+, D3hot+, D3cold+)
Status: D0 PME-Enable- Dsel=0 DScale=0 PME-