[ltp] Modem on A22p with RH 8.0
JC WOODWARD
linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
Sat, 12 Oct 2002 18:38:11 -0400
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James Mckenzie: >Thanks. Unfortunately, GnoRPM is now depreciated....
Oh noooo ... Does this mean we'll have to learn naked command line rpm? Yecch. I
hope it's being replaced with something even nicer than GnoRPM.
>Do you mind if I use your web page as a starter (with credit of course)
Use it any way you wish! ... but if you're going to take quotes from it please use
the attached revised text file which incorporates corrections suggested by Messrs.
Hood and Levin who were kind enough to share their knowledge.
Regards,
JC Woodward
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The following results from my quest to connect my ThinkPad 600X to the
internet. Although my experience is specific to the 600X and Red Hat
7.3, I found a great deal of information which may be useful to owners
of other ThinkPad models.
Having spent countless hours trying things that DON'T work, and
having discovered what DOES work, I pass on my notes in the hope
that they may be useful.
_________
GLOSSARY:
Winmodem -
A modem manufactured very cheaply by providing only the interface
circuitry to connect to the phone line and omitting some or all of the
circuitry necessary to convert the audio signals to usable digital
data. Winmodems rely instead on driver software and your CPU to
perform those functions.
Some winmodems have the hardware DSP (Digital Signal Processor) but
no hardware UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter). The
driver software emulates the UART. Such modems perform about as well
as full-fledged modems, if not better. The Mwave/ACP modem on the
ThinkPad 600 and 600E and the Lucent LTModem on the 600X are of this
kind.
Some winmodems also lack a hardware DSP. The driver software does the
digital signal processing, thus severely taxing the host CPU. These
are the ones to avoid.
DSP modem -
A winmodem with a hardware-implemented digital signal processor.
Linmodem -
A winmodem for which driver software has been written to run under
Linux. Winmodem manufacturers write drivers for Windows, but drivers
for Linux often don't exist. (Until Linux hackers write them!)
LTModem -
One of the several models of winmodems manufactured by Lucent
Technologies (now Agere Systems). The excellent LTModem Linux driver
works with all the LTModems. Several Thinkpad models, including the
390X, TP570E, A20 series, T20 series, X20 and 600X use LTModems.
Mwave (or ACP) modem -
A winmodem used on several Thinkpad models, including the 600, 600E,
770, and 770/ED/X/Z Thinkpad models. Linux drivers are available from
IBM with updates as recently as 7/18/02. They are reported to work
very well.
Agere Systems -
New name for the Lucent Technologies division that develops and
supports LTModems.
____________________________
USEFUL THINKPAD MODEM LINKS:
http://www.linmodems.org/
Much general info for all linmodems and links for drivers
refers to www.heby.de/ltmodem, below
http://walbran.org/sean/linux/linmodem-howto.html
Linmodem how to - detailed tutorial for the uninitiated
http://www.heby.de/ltmodem
LTmodem (a.k.a Lucent Technologies modem) drivers for linux
refers to linmodem howto, above.
FILES:
modem600.pdf
docu for the obsolete version 6.00 Windows 98, NT,
2000, and ME drivers - only vaguely applicable to Linux.
ltmodem-kv_2.4.18_3-8.22a5-1.i386.rpm
precompiled for kernel 2.4.18-3 and ltmodem 8.22a5-1,
does NOT install on my RH7.3/TP600X - "flavor" problem.
********
ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz
source version, this WORKS.
********
http://www.agere.com/support/client/modem_drivers.html
Agere Systems (a.k.a.Lucent) modem driver page
FILES:
v90atcom.pdf
extensive docs on modem AT control commands for all
Lucent DSP modems. Necessary for writing init strings
and programs that talk to modems.
modem822.exe
Self-extracting, self-installing current version WINDOWS,
not Linux modem driver.
http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR-4VFTT3.html
IBM's 390X, TP570E, 600X, A20 series, T20 series, X20 Lucent Modem
driver for Linux.
FILES:
ltmodem595lus.sh
obsolete ltmodem, does not compile on my RH 7.3, halts with
undefined variables.
ltmodem595lus.txt
skimpy doc file - just a few paragraphs.
http://www-124.ibm.com/acpmodem/
IBM's Mwave modem (a.k.a. ACP modem) Driver for Linux. The FAQ
page states explicitly that the Mwave driver is for the 600,
600E, and 770, and NOT the 600X which has the LTModem.
http://www.pc.ibm.com/support
IBM personal computing support. Enter your model and other
numbers printed on bottom of unit then receive detailed
description including exact installed hardware configuration.
http://www.linux-laptop.net/ibm.html
Linux on laptops's IBM page - published results of individual
users experience on many models, including 600x. Refers to Thomas
Hood's 600 page, and others.
http://panopticon.csustan.edu/thood/tp600lnx.htm
Thomas Hood's exhaustive TP600 and 600X page.
___________________________________________________
INSTALLING THE LTMODEM DRIVER ON MY RH7.3 / TP600X:
The LTModem driver package is a fine piece of software. It
automatically probes to see if it's the right driver for your modem,
checks your system for the right versions of necessary system
components, compiles, builds, installs, and tests itself. And it
comes with more detailed documentation than you have time to read.
The install script pauses after every step showing a detailed report
of the results so far, and a description of what will take place in
the next step. If something should go amiss, you'll know exactly what
happened. Since everything displayed on the screen is also dumped
into a log file, a wealth of information about your system is recorded
in the process.
install the Linux kernel source files.
(On RH 7.3 the RPM package name is "kernel-source-2.4.18-3"
found in GnoRPM under package group Development/System)
download ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz from http://www.heby.de/ltmodem
logon root
cp ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz /usr/share
cd /usr/share
gunzip ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz
tar -tvf ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz | less
(Display contents of tarfile)
tar -xvf ltmodem-8.22a5.tar.gz | less
cd /usr/share/ltmodem-8.22a5
vi 1st-readme
(Read the instructions, the
following steps are detailed)
./scanPCI
(Probes for Lucent modem, shows detailed info
Creates output log file ModemDate.txt
containing many web links to mfgr, etc)
./build_module
(THE makefile that compiles the driver
Creates logfile bldrecord.txt
Be prepared to read many pages of handholding info)
./ltinst2
(makefile to install the driver modules)
./autoload
(creates modem device node and adds it to
/etc/modules.conf enabling automatic loading
when needed.
creates symlink: /dev/modem --> dev/ttyLT0)
plug in a phone line to your TP modem port
./checkout
(Preliminary test to see if driver can issue commands to
the modem. Creates logfile checkout.txt)
vi ./wvdial.conf
(edit to include your ISP phone number, username,
password, and add the line: Modem=/dev/modem)
cp ./wvdial.conf /etc
wvdial
(Tests your modem, should actually connect to your ISP,
use CTRL-C to disconnect)
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