Hi, linux newbie trying to get an external modem working in redhat 9 here.

Redhat picked it up during boot, and switched into a text mode screen and asked if I wanted to configure it, which I did.

Then I logged in as root and created a dialup account, which popped up a modem detection box that lists the modem at:

/dev/ttyS1

I click ok, put in my dialup account info, and get taken back to the network devices screen. Its inactive.

When I activate it, the modem makes two clicking sounds, then comes back with the following error: "Failed to activate ppp0 with error 8"

I've tried toggling the flow control, restarting the network, rebooting, but nothing seems to work.

The exact modem type is:
Us Robotics 33.6 Sportster (External)

I tried searching and found quite a few posts of people using this modem successfully, so its probably something I'm doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated

I should mention:

cat /etc/sysconfig/hwconf

returns:

class: MODEM
bus: SERIAL
detached: 0
device: ttyS1
driver: ignore
desc: "USR|2003 Sportster 33600 FAX EXT"
pnpmfr: USR
pnpmodel: 2003
pnpcompat: PNPC107
pnpdesc: Sportster 33600 FAX EXT

I guess there may be an issue with ur IRQ settings .. try changing ur irq settings from the bios for the modem.
do the lights "flash" or just be lighted all the time ?

u can use kppp to query ur modem on different tty*

Thanks for your reply, I just fixed the problem.

Under modem configuration->Advanced I changed dial-mode from manual to auto. I don't know why this would have stopped me from activating the modem though, just from the way I dial?? Anyways its working now