Bob Hubbard wrote: > > Are external modems the norm in Australia or are there some internal modem > cards also available which will work with Linux (SuSE-7.0). > > Here in Canada it's very hard to find an internal modem other than a > (Wi Wi Wi...choke) Winmodem and, of course, they don't have > their own brains and depend on Windoze drivers. I use a US Robotics 56k > external, what's the situation there? > > i understand the rationale for going with an external modem, but > i wanted to contain as much cabling as possible.
We have the same desire for our remote deployments (as every rack unit costs money and spending thousands of dollars a year just to have somewhere to put a modem sucks). Because we use the modem for remote serial console we can't use a LinModem (boot loaders simply don't have the space to run the DSP code). Maestro make good modems and we've had good success with both the external and internal JetStream models. Their tech support is very good, to the extent that we've been able to repackage their external modem into a -48VDC packaging suitable to Bellcore. It doesn't have US FCC approvals, but this isn't an issue for us (as a foriegn telco we're exempt from FCC comsumer regulations). Canada may have an agreement to recognise Australian certifications. http://www.maestro.com.au/ The major disadvantage of an internal modem is that you can't use PC Weasel 2000, so your PC BIOS needs to have serial console support (eg: Dell 1550). http://www.realweasel.com/ If you can change the BIOS remotely, then you can change the boot order from A: C: and C: A: remotely, then you can install or upgrade Linux remotely (certainly Red Hat, not sure of other distros). http://www.aarnet.edu.au/~gdt/serialconsole/ Regards, Glen -- Glen Turner Network Engineer (08) 8303 3936 Australian Academic and Research Network [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.aarnet.edu.au/ -- The revolution will not be televised, it will be digitised -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
