Laptop Conexant Modem Driver Problem
 

I have been looking into Linux for the past week or so. (PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu so far). I know its a pain to get a soft modem to work, but I can't get broadband in my area and I really need this to work on my laptop which is my main computer at home. I'm having trouble finding the correct driver and knowing how to install it. Here is some info:

Gateway MX3560 laptop
Conexant SoftK56 modem
CXT PCI bus 0, device 31, function 6

PCI Config.
Vendor ID 8086
Device ID 24C6
Subvendor ID 161F
Subdevice ID 2030
revision ID 03

Deduced info
Vendor Name ICH
Device Name ICH4(AC '97)
Modem type HSF

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!! I really want to dual boot Linux on this laptop and my internet connection is really holding me back on this.

Thanks,
Greg

There is a company, http://www.linuxant.com, that provides a driver for a nominal fee that apparently works quite well. Unfortunately, due to IP issues and FCC regulations, the driver can't be put into open source completely.

Installing driver
 

I think I have found the correct driver. However, I'm very new to linux and don't understand the install process. Can someone that has done this before, please explain to me how to do this? I will be using PCLinuxOS or BeaFanatIX. I think install C is the one I should use...

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
If your Linux distribution supports the RPM Package Manager, it is easiest to install the binary RPM package with METHOD A. If your system is based on Debian (DPKG), METHOD B is for you. METHOD C is for distributions without RPM or DPKG support, or those who prefer not to use packages.

If you obtained the driver as a ".zip" file, extract it first with "unzip <filename>.zip".

METHOD A: BINARY RPM PACKAGE (*.{arch}.rpm)
If you have obtained the driver package in RPM format:

1. install the rpm with "rpm -i hsfmodem-{version}.{arch}.rpm"

2. if necessary, run "hsfconfig" to complete the installation, enter license information, or to change your modem's configuration.

If you need to rebuild the binary RPM from source, you can get the TAR package and run: "rpmbuild -tb hsfmodem-{version}.tar.gz" (if rpmbuild is not found, you might have to install the rpm-build package or if you have an older RPM version, try "rpm --rebuild ...")

METHOD B: DEBIAN PACKAGE (*.deb)
If you have obtained the driver package in DEBIAN format:

1. install the package with "dpkg -i hsfmodem_{version}_{arch}.deb", if apt-get or some other tool hasn't already done it for you.

2. if necessary, run "hsfconfig" to complete the installation, enter license information, or to change your modem's configuration.

If you need to rebuild the Debian package from source, you can get the TAR package, and from the top directory run: "make debdist"

METHOD C: TAR PACKAGE (*.tar.gz)
If you have obtained the driver package in tar format:

1. extract the package with "tar -xzf hsfmodem-{version}.tar.gz"

2. change to the package directory with "cd hsfmodem-{version}"

3. run "make install" from the top of the package directory.

4. run "hsfconfig" to complete the installation and configure your modem.

(Alternatively to this whole procedure you may generate RPMS from the tar package using rpmbuild -ta hsfmodem-{version}.tar.gz")

AFTER INSTALLATION
If an error occurred during installation, please see the sections 'BUGS' and 'REPORTING PROBLEMS' below.

Once the modem is installed and configured, you may access it as /dev/ttySHSF0. Additionally, you can use it via the symbolic link /dev/modem (equivalent to ttySHSF0). If you have more than one HSF modem, the second will be available as /dev/ttySHSF1, the third as /dev/ttySHSF2 and so forth.

Please review the permissions on the device nodes with "ls -l" to ensure that they are adequate for your system.

The "hsfconfig" command can be used to change certain modem configuration options or recompile (generic packages only) the kernel modules after installation. Run "hsfconfig --help" for usage information.

LICENSE KEYS / REGISTRATION
To enable your modem's full functionality (high-speed 56k data and FAX), a license registration key must be obtained from Linuxant and entered with "hsfconfig --license".



CHANGING REGIONAL SETTINGS
With "hsfconfig --region" you may select another region (country) supported by the modem.

MANUALLY UNLOADING THE DRIVERS
The modem drivers can be manually unloaded using the "hsfstop" command.

Thanks,
Greg