Re: ADSL USB Modem

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:14:16 -0300, Esteban Invernizzi wrote:

Steven Jones wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:02:52 -0300, Esteban Invernizzi wrote:

Hi to all. I've got a dual boot box with linux mandrake 10.0 in one
partition, and Win XP in another one. I want to get my ADSL connection
running on both OSes. I've already got it working under Win XP, since
the OEM brings XP drivers. As I need to test some things I've been
learning about linux networking, I'm willing to install my ZyXEL
Prestige 600 Series USB Modem under linux. The thing is, I can't find
the proper driver
:S. I've found an apparently compatible driver (for 630-11) but I don't
have the enough knowledge to install it. It asks to change the kernel
config, and I'm not confident if this is reliable. I've found
instructions on how to do it on
http://www.skynet.ie/~caolan/TechTexts/ZyXEL-630-11-HowTo.html . It
says things about "now do your normal make; make modules; make
modules_install...", but I don't know what the hell this all means. I'm
just using KDE and know a restricted set of commands (not so
restricted, but I need instruction to do things like this). Being a
former Windows user I know just a bit about compiling (with Win based
IDEs, I studied C for about 2 years since being 12 yo). If anyone could
please tell me where to learn the basic concepts about ALL this stuff
in a relatively short time, I'd be plased. It'd also be helpful if
someone has any drivers for the modem/kind of modem I'm trying to
install. TIA, Esteban

Does this modem not have an Ethernet port? If it does, you'd be far
better off using it, rather than the USB one. If it doesn't, you might
like to consider trading it for one that does. USB modems are a constant
source of pain, and they impose an extra load on your computer, for with
them, your CPU must take care of some of the processing that your
Ethernet card would carry out, had you used such interface.


The modem doesn't have an Ethernet port, but even if it had, I'm already
using my Ehternet card on a home LAN.

That's not a problem - you just have to get a cheap hub. As a bonus, you
will be able to have Internet access from all the computers in your LAN
simultaneously.

There's no problem with CPU time,
it's been a year since I first put my P4 3.0 MHz together and I still
feel comfortable using it.

It's not only performance; it's reliability as well. USB is a relatively
new standard, and different vendors implement it in slightly different
ways. Compatibility is going to be an issue. In part of this, and
also because of the fact that they force your PC's CPU to do extra
processing, USB modems are liable to drop the connection frequently.

Besides, I've got the USB modem free of charge when I hired my ADSL
connection, but it is my ISP's modem, not mine, I can't trade by now.

You might like to have a chat with your ISP and see if they can give
you with one that has an Ethernet port instead. With my current provider,
the ADSL modem that they supply by default is USB-only. I told them I'd
rather have one with an Ethernet port (besides the USB port) and they
complied with no questions. Maybe yours will do so as well?

You are already experiencing the inconvenience of a USB modem. First, you
have to build an ad hoc kernel. Second, you'll have to compile a driver
into the kernel, and this driver is "apparently compatible" with your
modem. Well, it might, or might not. Or it might be only partially
compatible. If you use Ethernet instead, you won't have compatibility
problems, and you won't have to touch your kernel.

Do yourself a favor, try and get your provider to give you an ADSL modem
with an Ethernet port.



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