[100658] in RedHat Linux List
Re: "Winmodems" (Support in Linux)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Ramon Gandia)
Sun Nov 22 16:01:20 1998
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 11:56:39 -0900
From: Ramon Gandia <rfg@nook.net>
To: redhat-list@redhat.com
Resent-From: redhat-list@redhat.com
Reply-To: redhat-list@redhat.com
Leo wrote:
>
> Bruce Richardson wrote:
> >
> >
> > Pretty much.
> >
>
> Just joking. Thanx a lot, really.
> I guess I'll see if the store changes my modem for an external one...
> Also, I'd have to buy a Multi IO board (out of on-board COM ports)... do
> you know if there are (cheap) PCI versions out there? And, do they (in
> general) work with linux? The store where I bought my PC only has ISA on
> their catalog (which I guess I shouldn't even bother to get one --or
> maybe I should?).
Get it in ISA and you will have a lot less trouble with it (Linux
or Win95/98). At the speeds involved, ISA is more than adequate.
Here are your choices.
1. At the low end, a 2-port card that can be set to COM1,2,3 or 4,
and uses IRQ 3 and 4.
2. As above, but the IRQ is more flexible, perhaps has IRQ 3,4,5,
7.
3. As above, but full range of IRQ, 2-15, and a larger variety of
COM ports, perhaps COM 1-8.
If you can, get type 2 or type 3. Price is about the same. Look
in the CATALOGS rather than stores. A card like #3 gives you
the possibility of having 4 serial ports (2 on the card, 2 on the
motherboard. Type 2 might give you an extra port besides the
two on the motherboard. Not likely. Some motherboards have only
ONE com port, in which case type 1 and 2 might be useful).
4. 4-port cards, with flexible IRQ and COM assignments, otherwise
like number 3 above.
This type (4) is useful only if you have motherboard ports that
do not work (bad, or the 16450 type), and you need 4 ports.
5. Intelligent multiport cards. Typically GTEK, Cyclades, etc.
These come in ISA or PCI and use only ONE single IRQ shared to
all the ports. Believe it or not, with expansion boards at the
end of a cable, etc., I think it is possible to have up to 96
serial ports. Expect to pay lots of money, but if you need lots
of ports, this is the way to go. Linux drivers are supplied.
The Linux driver is a "driver.o" file that you compile into the
kernel, or call in as a module via the insmod command. You will
have to read the docs on the intelligent card for this.
Cards of type 1, 2 3 and 4 typically cost $10 to $50. The price
usually has to do with WHERE you buy it rather than the type
of card it is.
Also, be aware that most cards do 115,200 bps. The vast majority
of modems can go no higher on the serial port. HOWEVER, there is
an emerging set of cards that can go 230K, 460K and even 920K.
In particular these higher speed cards are useful with the 56K
external modems (assuming the modem will work above 115K), or
the ISDN / Multilink modems. If you find one at a good price,
get it.
http://www.jdr.com http://www.jameco.com are places to look but
a bit pricey.
--
Ramon Gandia ==== Sysadmin ==== Nook Net ==== http://www.nook.net
285 West First Avenue rfg@nook.net
P.O. Box 970 tel. 907-443-7575
Nome, Alaska 99762-0970 ======================= fax. 907-443-2487
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