Need help urgently in Computers forum - Linux!!Help!!

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I am kinda running out of hope I'll find help in time...so anyone...please... if you know Linux....Computer forum...rescue needed.....

Whizper

What distro are you using?? If you're using Fedora you can try FedoraForum.org, if you're using ubuntu you can use ubuntuforum.com for example. Their is also the Linux documentation project tldp.org

Hi, Whizper's hubby here.

The distro is Mandriva 2006. The modem is a Smartlink USB. Module is slmodem-2.10.9-mdk. Only trouble is, after installing this module *and* the dkms module (as a dependency), I can see the module being loaded.

Problem is, on none of the modem devices does it actually find a modem. There's a module, /dev/slusb, which I believe is the correct kernel module. This does not, however, point to any correct modem device. I tried creating a symbolic link from /dev/slusb to /dev/modem, and also later to /dev/ttySL0 (which is where the documentation tells me it should be. Kppp still tells me the same thing, though -- modem not found.

Be glad for any help at this point.
Arno

From the PM you sent me, it seems like you're trying to use a module for a driver already compiled into the kernel. That would cause problems.

OK Alex -- are you saying I should uninstall the dkms-slmodem package?

I'm going to try that now. Will post back soon.

Ender

Did it work before you had installed that package?

Hi Alex

No, it had never worked. The user had had Windows on the machine previously; this is an experiment in using Linux.

OK... I uninstalled that package. It bitched&moaned about dkms not finding that module, but harddrake still finds the slusb module in kernel for this modem. I also have a device /dev/slusb0. I tried using this device in kppp; also tried once again linking it to /dev/modem et al, but it still merely says that it cannot find a modem on the specified device.

Oh yes... the modem did work under Windows.

Arno

Are the modem's drivers compiled into the kernel or are they loaded as modules? I've never used linux with a modem. I'm always on a network.

Damn it, I feel like such a newbie. Well, so be it.

How do I tell whether it's compiled into the kernel or loaded as a module, Alex? The hardware detection application tells me that the module for the modem is called "slusb". That's as much info as I have.

If you can tell me how to check, I'd appreciate.

that means its probably a module. From what you say, it seems like you're using some sort of automatic program that manages hardware. I've always done everything in the console because these apps aren't as quick as typing a few lines in the CLI. It's very hard for me to know what's going on on the computer when I'm not there. Is the modem a winmodem? If it is, I'd get a modem that actually runs on hardware instead of software emulation.

Please feel free to tell me which CLI commands you normally use -- I quoted from the program, because that's the source of information which is easiest for me to parse at this stage. As I grow more proficient, I probably will quote right off the console myself.

So, What Would Alex Do?(TM)

Hi guys

With much struggling I got, if not a workig modem, at least a different error message!

When I dial with Kppp, I get "Could not create a modem lock file."

Any ideas?

Quick googling:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... tnG=Search

http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/200 ... 00635.html

My bad... I did just that, and was about to post the results here. You're too quick for me! On the other hand, it *is* 03:10 AM here, so I suppose I have an excuse...

Okay! Seems that there's some rather arcane .conf file edits to be done for this modem. I can heartily recommend using the scanModem tool from www.linmodems.org for some tips.

In the end, I believe the slmodemd daemon actually creates the symlink between /dev/pts/0 and /dev/ttySL0. Only *then* is it actually a modem.

One last question. Promise I'll stop bugging you soon!

How do I add a line like this to my startup files? Ie. so that it will run at boot time?

I only switched on the ol' grey and wrinkly after I asked the question. Edit the /etc/rc.local file, et voila!

So, have a great day and weekend -- I am now officially taking a weekend off.

Ender[/b]