Quick advice PCI ADSL Modem and Linux

[sabashuali]

Hi

I have an item finishing on eBay in about 6 hours.
Here is a link - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5818988795&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

I would really appreciate it if anyone can tell me whether it will work under linux. Itried googling but I have not got a lot of time as I am at work and expected (can you beleive it.....?) to do some work today......

It supposed to be, according to the seller a "sparkcom internal adsl modem" P/N MADSLPCIAC.

Thanks for looking and any advice.

 

[Anti-Trend]

If it was me, wouldn't buy a PCI modem unless you never want to have more than that one PC connected to the Internet. I'd go for a combo modem, NAT router, switch instead.

P.S. - In the picture, it really looks like that modem has an RJ-45 jack on it. We use RJ-11 for phone jacks in the US, I thought the standard was the same in the UK. Am I wrong? Here RJ-45 is the standard for data cables.

 

[sabashuali]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.
Standard is the same. 45 ethernet, 11 telephony.

Not sure about the picture but I might reconceder.

Maybe I'll just save for a modem/router and wait with my Ubuntu until then.
I have been in touch with the mail list and maybe someone with the same set-up will pick my post and will be able to help me.

I do not think I will bother with the USB medem for now. I need to get some sleep.....

Saying all that, if I do decide to go for the PCI after all, will it work under linux?

 

[Anti-Trend]

I do not think I will bother with the USB medem for now...

I wouldn't either, unless I had a very compelling reason to do so.

Saying all that, if I do decide to go for the PCI after all, will it work under linux?

I couldn't see the chipset very well at all, but it should work out-of-the-box with newer Linux kernels. Still, if you wanted to add more systems later you'd have a big fat mess on your hands.

 

[sabashuali]

Still, if you wanted to add more systems later you'd have a big fat mess on your hands.

How do you mean BF mess? Linux wise?
Would it mess up the linux installation? Or otherwise mess up any softawre set-up? Please elaborate, if you wouldn't mint that is... I feel bad for taking up too much of your time.....like I have a personal trainer here.... LOL :O

 

[Anti-Trend]

How do you mean BF mess? Linux wise?
Would it mess up the linux installation? Or otherwise mess up any softawre set-up? Please elaborate, if you wouldn't mint that is... I feel bad for taking up too much of your time.....like I have a personal trainer here.... LOL :O

The beauty part of forums is that they're not real-time, so I can reply at my leasure. Of course, having an RSS feed of HWF does change those precepts a bit. :) But on to your questions.

No, it wouldn't mess up your Linux installation. I mean it'd be a big mess because basically you'd have to set up your system to be a router in addition to its normal workstation-like functions, and make sure it was always on and available. And you'd still have to buy a switch to connect multiple PCs to the connection. So what I'm saying is that 'just' getting a PCI ADSL card or the like may seem like the easy solution, but it isn't. The easy solution is to have one piece of hardware that handles DHCP (dynamic IP addresses), NTP, routing, firewalling, DMZ, QoS, and is always available. For me, the role is filled nicely by an obsolete PC running IPCop Linux. When somebody wants to use my network, they just plug in and go. They automatically have an IP address, they can access my server, and they can access the Internet from safely behind the firewall. No fuss, no muss. In your case, unless you have an obsolete PC laying around upon which you could dedicate to an install of IPCop (which easily supports your USB SpeedTouch modem), a hardware modem/router combo is the easiest and most cost effective way to go.