🚀 go-pugleaf

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.computers.linux on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:26:53 +1000
> ZACK. <youwillfindme@home.com.au> wrote:
>> i may need a driver for my modem
>> in linux, i cannot get one from swann.
>> modem is a swann speed demon e210
>>
>> anyone know were i can get a driver for ubuntu?
>>
> 
> Do you know you need one, or just think you do?
> 
> If you go to www.linuxquestions.org and look at the Hardware
> Compatibility List "HCL", in the modems -> other section you will see
> people who have other models of Swann modem working fine.  
> 
> If the modem is an external one, it's likely it will work
> without problems.  If it is internal, then you are almost certainly
> out of luck unless it's a very old modem.  
> 
> Often the problem in linux is not knowing which device the modem is
> talking through.  Usually the serial port is something like /dev/ttyS0
> but not always...
> 
> If you can't get the GUIfied modem programs working, time to get on
> the command line.
> 
> First job is to find which device it's using.  I have managed this by
> connecting it then sending a file out that port and see if the modem
> lights flash!

Good thinking! Wish i'd thought of that at those times when it would 
have helped! Hopefully my serial modem days are finally over though. But 
i thought that before the middle of last year - when i ended up working 
in a remote community in the NT, where there was no ADSL! My onboard 
modem "just worked" though, so i was lucky.

> eg as root:
> cat /var/log/messages > /dev/ttyS0

Possibly a bad choice of file. Because...

> Keep trying with all serial ports till you see something.   Then go
> find the howtos that are still out there about setting a modem up on
> the command line, so you can see error messages and get some idea of
> what's going on.  Don't forget to check /var/log/messages for errors.

...someone who doesn't know much about Linux might think the two 
references to "/var/log/messages" are related - which, of course, 
they're not. Any file would do in place of the first "/var/log/messages" 
and it has nothing to do with checking /var/log/messages later.

(Just in case of confusion.)