Andrew, Re: I'd love to find all the winmodem drivers >currently< available for Linux, A worth while endeavor, but the question really should be "which chipsets have drivers under Linux, for which processors, up to which kernel release??". Essentially all the answers are embedded within my scanModem utility, but are not user friendly to readout, unless you are already literate in bash scripts. Herein I'll provide a cartoon explanation, and time permitting it may be made more robust in the future. The primary goal herein is to correct some mis-conceptions in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=82608. MarvS, scanModem maintainer INTRODUCTION 1) It is not possible to write drivers for winmodems from scratch, because Proprietary information on the chipsets will not be provided by the chipset manufacturers. They are making their Profits by selling a combined package of chipset hardware + supporting Microsoft compatible software to modem assemblers. Nethertheless, over the years, some have provided some free support for Linux. Typically there is a pre-compiled and hence encrypted component, which protects critical Proprietary information, including Copyrighted compression protocols and information on detailed chipset design hardware. It is usually independent of kernel version. This pre-compiled component is typically 0.5-1 MB in size, and the largest code component, There is an additionally an Open Source (though usually still Proprietary) component , which must be updated with changes in the Linux kernel code. Fortunately, there has been a dispersed crew of Linux volunteers (to be later acknowledged) that have been able to keep most modem chipsets serviceable, given minimal initial Linux support from the chipset manufacturers. What is the best role for Ubuntu? Ubuntu cannot be expected to write drivers. However it would be beneficial if someone from Ubuntu were assigned to track how their special kernel changes affect ongoing modem services. For example, there was service for the Agere/LSI 11c11040 chipset under the 2.6.24 kernels, which has been lost under the Ubuntu variant of the snd-hda-intel code for 2.6.25 and later kernels. Additionally, serviceable drivers could be put in .deb packages for easiest installation. # End Introduction, specific chipset cases to follow. On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:38 AM, andrew /// <andrewonthenet@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hi, I've just been reading this > > http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=82608 > thread at the ubuntu > forum "winmodem out of the box?" with a poll > and I'd love to find all the winmodem drivers >currently< available for Linux, > I'ma check all the driver sites and was just wondering if you have a > database/list of all the drivers that have worked over the years? ( It > certainly looked like you did, by what was said while I ran scanModem > ) > any help/advice you can give me would be much appreciated, thanx >
