cable modem install on Linux
 

i've got ntl broadband, the modem connects to my computer via USB. i tried setting the modem up on linux, got it running on peanut linux with dhcpcd -d.

however on slackware linux and other distros i cant start the connection by typing dhcpcd -d. i don't know the reason but when i run ifconfig -a i don't see the cable modem there. on peanut the cable modem was assigned eth1.

how can i get the modem to work on other distros.




thank you

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Forget it m8 - I spend days trying to get the stupid usb drivers working. Save yourself hours of banging your head against the wall :banghead: and get an ethernet card.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

agree there , the only time i had a play with linux , red hat i think , i used ethernet and it worked no problem with no messing on to boot :tu:

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Yup, another vote here for ethernet. It's virtually a no-brainer to get it working under Redhat.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Erm. Why?

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Have you tried running netconfig as root?

But I agree with others, using a network card is far easier and more efficient.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

are there any usb cm drivers for linux then?

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Most distros come with some generic ones

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

I have not tried getting the CM running over USB, but I have had no problems getting other USB devices working under both RH and SuSe.
The drivers appear to be ok - but can be a bit of a pig to setup correctly.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

didn't know that. I use xp mostly but have a dual boot with SuSe 8.2 - set it up using a nic straight away - nice 'n easy

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

I wouldn't even bother trying to get USB cable modem sorted. I've done it, but it's so much easier to just whack in a network card which linux gets straight away and then it's all go ;)

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

USB does work on linux, all other USB devices work, its just the modem.

Anyway, I'll switch to the NIC. Are there any other advantages of using the NIC other than its easier to set up.


Thanks for ur help

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

The modem probably doesnt work due to the driver for the modem you have (or lack of it) that doesnt work. Its got nothing to do with whether USB works or not.

Use ethernet :D

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Other advantages? Less processor intensive.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

It make life a lot easier if you ever want to network your broadband ;)

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Hi,

Although you can get it to work via USB on some linux distros, you could initially struggle with Slackware. While Slack has all the usual USB modules available in it's kernel source tree, if you've installed Slack with one of the 'vanilla' kernels, you will have some USB services (USB Storage, for example) you may find that the USB driver support for 'external' cable-modems isn't compiled in by default. (I'm currently running Slack 9.1)

If you wanted, you could recompile to include support for your USB CM (as it's in the kernel source somewhere I'm sure!) but in all honesty, the better option is as discussed above - use a Network Card. If you don't want to use an NIC, or have an NIC in your linux box in use already, consider a cheap router (which you can pick up for around £70-odd) which will also do as you wish, and makes it much easier to share your BB connection.

I have a Netgear wireless router plugged in to my cable modem, and my Slackware boxes connect to that to share the broadband connection. Simple and easy to set up, and also somewhat more secure than plugging your 'box directly in to the internet!!

HTH!

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

i agree just wack in a nic card and linux will sort the rest

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

Using slackware, although admittedly on freeserve dsl now - usb speedtouch modem which won't be the same as yours I guess.

You could try a search on

http://sourceforge.net

or

http://freshmeat.net

for whatever modem you've got and see if it comes up with anything, of course though banging in a £15 network card into your computer is an even easier option.

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

ok, heres the million pound question.

how the hell do i set the modem up using a net card. my computer has an onboard NIC (intel). the NIC is detected by all linux distros (obviously) its assigned eth0, i plugged the ethernet cable into my computer and modem. then ran the command:
dhcpcd -d

the console window hung for a while then back to the prompt, but no net service.

i tried booting using a knoppix CD (USB modem works on knoppix cuz its smart), but ethernet didnt.

By the way my NIC is definately working cuz i've tested it.

Help me Please!

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

The way I'd do it is thus (BTW I haven't tried this, I set it all up at install time):

Turn off your pc
Turn off the CM
Plug the CM into the NIC
Turn the CM back on
Turn the pc on
Log on as root or go superuser (same thing really)
run netconfig and follow the instructions, use anything you like as hostname domain name, set it to use dhcp on you nic (eth0).
Restart the pc, and hopefully you've got a working connection

Re: cable modem install on Linux
 

And if you are choosing to run dhcpcd manually you should pass the appropriate interface to it ( as an aside -d parameter means log output from to syslog)

dhcpcd -d eth0

or whatever the interface number is