[frgeek-michiana] Winmodems and Debian + other stuff
- From: Richard Zimmerman <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Free Geek Michiana <frgeek-michiana@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:37:07 -0500
Hello all,
*** 1 ***
I got a good scare last night.... Decided I wanted to get the on
board Winmodem in the laptop working. I grabbed the scanmodem script from:
http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/
I ran the script and it detected the modem just fine. I ran through
the checks for what the compile script required and everything was fine
except the version of bunutils. I decided that was ok and pressed on. I
installed the kernel headers and source files for the 2.6.8-2.686 kernel
I'm running and compiled the drivers. The I did the ./hdinst2 script, it
worked fine too. I did the ./autoload and everything appeared normal.
An lsmod showed the lt_modem and lt_serial modules were not loaded as
expected. I modprobed them and life was good. I installed minicom and
configured it for the modem and it was there! Then it happened.
I had shutdown the laptop and took it to the server closet where I've
got a phone line and booted it. Things at this point went horribly
wrong! The kernel loaded and I got a command prompt and that was it!
NOTHING module wise loaded. No sound, mouse, pcmcia nic, X11, touch pad,
NOTHING! Worse yet I was unable to even modprobe modules into the system.
It took me a little to to reason out that the modules sub-system
config obviously got blown away. Unfortunately, the documentation didn't
make it clear that if you were using a Debian system to use the
./build-deb script. I had the impression you ran the main ./scanmodem
script to completion and then the ./build-deb script.
So, lesson learned is, if you are going to use the Winmodem detection
/ compile install script on Debian, USE THE ./build-deb script! It does
it all for you. You only step after it is to dpkg -i
ltmodem-2.6.8-2-686_8.31a10_i386.deb
After doing that I rebooted the machine again and everything was
restored back to normal. I added the lt_modem and lt_serial to
/etc/modules so they load automatically and all works well. I was able
to dial out to the internet under minicom. All that remains now is to
setup pppd so I can dial out to the internet when need be.
*** 2 ***
Cable for Haynes 56k pcmcia modem.... Can you believe people want $30
for these things! I found one for $7.50... But since I got the Winmodem
working, I obviously don't need the pcmcia modem now so it's coming back
to the lab.
*** 3 ***
I'm trying to contact someone from Computers For All but not having
success to date.
*** 4 ***
Tom, can you re email me the previous work done for the volunteer
database? Since I now have the laptop fully configured I'm ready to
start programming production on it.
*** 5 ***
I have a lead for a used wi-fi pcmcia card for the laptop. If it pans
out I'll be learning wireless networking on Debian / Linux! Wow, it
feels good to be learning again...
*** 6 ***
Any chance we (FGM) can buy a new battery for the laptop? Damn, it
worked just fine last night and dies in 10 minutes this morning.... Argh....
Thanks!
Goose
--
Richard "Goose" Zimmerman
Safety Assistant / IT Guru
K&B Transport, Inc. - Elkhart, IN
(574) 389-1986 (574) 389-8527 Fax
(800) 548-2718 (574) 850-5764 Cell
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