[Nelug] Speedtouch USB modem

[root at gan.gs]

Martin Ward wrote:

>I am replacing an ancient, and dying, laptop which I use as
>gateway/firewall etc. by a slightly less ancient laptop.
>
>The old machine (Compaq Presario) runs Mandrake 9.2 with kernel 2.4.27
>and  my speedtouch modem (old green version) runs fine with it.
>
>On the newer machine (Compaq Armada V300) I have installed 
>Mandrake 10.1 (kernel 2.6.8).
>
>When I plug in the modem, I get these syslog messages:
>
>May 16 12:04:03 kate kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using address 
>12
>May 16 12:04:11 kate modem_run[7472]: modem_run version 1.3 started by root 
>uid 0
>May 16 12:04:11 kate modem_run[7495]: modem_run version 1.3 started by root 
>uid 0
>May 16 12:04:11 kate modem_run[7506]: modem_run version 1.3 started by root 
>uid 0
>
>If I run it from the command line:
>
>modem_run -v 2 -s -m -f /usr/share/speedtouch/mgmt.o
>
>it returns immediately: no flashing lights on the modem,
>no messages in syslog (despite the -v 2 options) and
>no background modem_run process created.
>If I try to run pppd I get this:
>
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppd[7630]: Using interface ppp0
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppd[7630]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/pts/2
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppoa3[7870]: pppoa3 version 1.3 started by root (uid 0) 
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppoa3[7870]: Control thread ready 
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppoa3[7870]: pusb_claim_interface 1 failed 
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppd[7630]: Modem hangup
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppd[7630]: Connection terminated.
>May 16 12:37:28 kate pppd[7630]: Exit.
>
>
>I found this web page: http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/UKSpeedtouchDSLHowTo
>which says to add the line "speedtch" to file /etc/hotplug/blacklist
>
>Now, modem_run still returns immediately, but "pppd call adsl2" 
>gets a bit further:
>
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppd[8704]: Using interface ppp0
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppd[8704]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/pts/2
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppoa3[8889]: pppoa3 version 1.3 started by root (uid 0) 
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppoa3[8889]: Control thread ready 
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppoa3[8889]: host  --> pppoa3 --> modem stream ready 
>May 16 12:45:57 kate pppoa3[8889]: modem --> pppoa3 --> host  stream ready 
>May 16 12:46:02 kate kernel: usb 1-1: bulk timeout on ep7out
>May 16 12:46:02 kate kernel: usb 1-1: usbfs: USBDEVFS_BULK failed ep 0x7 len 
>53 ret -110
>May 16 12:46:08 kate kernel: usb 1-1: bulk timeout on ep7out
>May 16 12:46:08 kate kernel: usb 1-1: usbfs: USBDEVFS_BULK failed ep 0x7 len 
>53 ret -110
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppoa3[8889]: Received signal 15 (thread 1075118208)  
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppoa3[8889]: Woken by a sem_post event -> Exiting 
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppoa3[8889]: Read from usb Canceled
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppoa3[8889]: Write to usb Canceled
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppoa3[8889]: Exiting
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppd[8704]: Terminating on signal 15.
>May 16 12:46:13 kate pppd[8704]: Modem hangup
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>My guess is that modem_run is not finding the modem for some reason.
>
>I can bring the laptop and modem to the meeting tomorrow, if that will help.
>Without a phone line connected, the working machine can at least
>get the modem to flash its lights, so we could try to get that far with it.
>
>  
>
Just a note, you can either go the newer kernel module  route or the old
method of inserting the win32 microcode with mode_run. These together
will collide. I remember i spent a very long time when i first got into
linux getting this modem running correctly... a lot has to do with the
USB modules you load. I cannot remember the exact configuration i used,
but i may stil have an old kernel .config lying around somewhere... i'll
have a look, if it would be of any use to you.
On a side note... in retrospect, the time and effort it took to get this
modem working, although i was a relative linux newb then, was not worth
it. A cheap adsl router would be so much easier... as in plug and go. To
date though, that modem was the worst hardware i have dealt with in 6
years of using linux. There is of course kernel support nowadays, which
negates the need for modem_run win32 microcode insertion, the method i
successfully got it working with and used up until a year ago, when i
bought a real router and gasped in amazement the moment i plugged it in =P
Anyway, hope i nudged you in the right direction =)
Let me know if you want that 2.4 config.
Regards,
Jordan Bradley (phrag)