installing PCI Modem

Hi,

you have to go into the directory where you extract the files and read the readme.txt (nano readme.txt) . And when you have to build by your own the best should be to install the build-essential Metapackage by sudo apt-get install build-essential.

Hope that helps you

Thank you for your reply but, exactly how do I do that.

I tried running the terminal window and this is what I got.
(it may not look right but I had to try to transfer a text file to a PC)

allan@Dell:~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential
Password:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package build-essential
allan@Dell:~$ sudo apt-get install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
allan@Dell:~$

I don't know where "E" came from

Hi,

is the PC which you want to install connected to the internet via LAN?

You wrote:

"When I open this folder, it contains three other folders called:--
coredrv
inc
serialdrv
plus seven files called:--
536ep-boot 536ep-inst config-check hamregistry
license.txt makefile readme.txt"

Can you change to this directory and read the readme.txt?

No this computer is not connected by LAN. I want to make sure this modem is able to connect before I set up a LAN network.
I have read the readme txt and it contains a lot of text that I am not familiar with, that is why I am asking to explain it in simple terms.
It says this modem has been tested with Mandrake, Redhat & Suse.Below is part on the installation instructions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. INSTALLATION

Prerequisites:
   1. root access
   2. bash shell to run install scripts
   3. a 536EP modem
   4. KERNEL SOURCE HEADERS FOR THE KERNEL YOU ARE RUNNING
      (found on your distribution's CD)

6 steps to install
   1. login as ROOT
   2. extract the archive into a directory with "tar -zxvf <archivename>.tgz"
   3. cd into the directory it created.
   4. Type: make clean
   5. Type: make 536ep
   6. Type: make install

The installation script has been designed for the following distributions
release versions

   mandrake-release
   SuSE-release
   redhat-release
   debian_version (including Corel)
   slackware-version
   conectiva-version
   bluepoint-release
   Unknown distributions install modules and utilities but
   will not install boot scripts!.

Please examine the 536ep-inst script if you have a different distribution.

The driver is split in two. A serial driver and core driver.
The core driver must be loaded first since the serial driver depends on it.
The serial driver registers itself as character device
   major number 240, minor number 1.
The serial driver takes one argument right now, which is a number to
   override the default major number if you need to.

ATTENTION: if the driver compiles but the script just wont work for you.
   Here are the bare minimum steps to get your modem to work.

   0. log in as root.
   1. insmod -f 536epcore.o
   2. insmod -f 536ep.o
   2a. you can start "hamregistry" at this point if you wish.
   3. rm /dev/536ep
   4. mknod /dev/536ep c 240 1 (note "240" is the default, if it does not
       work see what /proc/devices says 536ep's major number is)
   5. ln -s /dev/536ep /dev/modem
   6. start a comm application like minicom and use the modem.
   7. see section 3 (International Users) for info on setting the correct
       country settings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. FILE DESCRIPTIONS

536ep-inst installation script to install 536ep modules and supporting files

files copied to /lib/modules/(kernel-version)/misc
   536epcore.o driver core code module
   536ep.o pseudo serial driver for 536ep, depends on 536epcore.o

files copied to /etc/rc.d/... (path differes per distribution)
   536ep-boot boot scrip to start and stop 536ep modules

files copied to /usr/sbin
   hamregistry hamregistry is the "registry" like tool that the modem uses to
   get and store persistant data such as county info and profile strings.

files copied to /etc
   hamregistry.bin file that stores the initial persistant data for modem.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. INTERNATIONAL USERS

hamregistry will store the last country setting you
set in the modem.

in minicom (or equivalent comm application)
the commmand to change country setting is "AT+GCI="
the command takes a t.35 country code in hexadecimal.
below is a list of currently supported t.35 country codes.
you can also put this "AT" command in the init string of
the comm application you are using.

if you are a CTR-21 country I think you should be able to
choose a CTR-21 country on the list and be ok. but
that's no guarantee.
The same goes for countries that are "USA" compatable.
(this table also exist in the source file wwh_dflt.c that
ships with the 536epcore driver)
_____________________________________________________________

I know this is a lot of text but I don't understand half of it and I am hoping you can help me.
When it says "log in as root". What does that mean??
Then where do I type all the instructions.
As I say, I do not know linux. I have found a Terminal icon under "Accessories". Is this what I use and how.

Sorry for answering so late

Login as root: The root user is the superuser with all Rights on the local PC. Under Ubuntu we prefer the sudo-Solution (that means that we doesnt open an root account at the Install). You can use each command with root rights by typing sudo <command>.

In this case i think the best choice you can take is:

sudo tar xvzf <archivename>.tgz -C /opt
cd /opt/archivename
sudo make clean
sudo make 536ep
sudo make install

hope that helps you

Thank you for all your help. I am sorry to sound so dumb but I do not know anything about these commands in Linux. I am used to using a PC with XP and stay right away from Dos as much as possible.
You sill have to explain it step by step. First how do I log in as root and where do I get into the page to type commands. I have been going to accessoried and clicking on 'terminal'.There I get an entry
"allan@dell:~$". Is this correct? Then I type "sudo tar xvzf intel-536ep.tgz C /opt" and it says 'file not found'.
What do you mean by "archive name". This file is on the manufacturers installation CD amongst many other files and in a folder called drivers for every operaring system . Each in its own folder. I have even tried moving the file to the home folder but I think there must be some other command to help the terminal to find where the file is.
I have tried double clicking on the file on the CD as I do in windows and clicking extract but it opens a dialog box that is headed "extract". This box shows my places on the left hand side and all the folders in the CD on the right hand side. Where do I extract the file to and how.
There are two files on the cd for each type of modem. this one and one called intel-536ep.tgz.sig.

You need to find and change the working directory, so open a terminal and type:

find $HOME -name intel-536ep.tgz

Copy and paste result here.

Thank you

hi,

"allan@dell:~$" is correct.

sudo tar xvzf intel-536ep.tgz C /opt is wrong, you forget one Dash (-). Correct is: sudo tar xvzf intel-536ep.tgz -C /opt
Then the next Step is: cd /opt/Intel-536ep-451
                                    sudo make clean
                                    sudo make 536ep
                                    sudo make install

Archive Name: Its the Name of the .tgz-File, these Files are Archives (compressed files).

I have found an Installguide in Spain. http://www.linuxdicas.com.br/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=163

thank you for all your help. I think the modem is installed now. It is listed under network settings. All I have to do now is figure out how to set it up to connect to my ISP.
If I click on the properties next to the modem, I get a box with three tabs.
General where I have the phone number and my user name etc. The modem tab lists the modem port as /dev/modem and options to set to the modem as the default route to the internet.
I think the host may be wrong. Should it be Dell or the name of my ISP and do I have to enter any dns addresses etc. In xp that is automatic.
Under the network shortcut at the top of the page, I have 'dial-up connection' and then manual configuration.

Hi,

you just have to fill in the Dialup-Number of your ISP, the prefix, Username (you got from your ISP) and the Password.

I am sorry but it still does not work. I have put in the necessary phone numbers and user names etc and have put a shortcut on the top bar for the modem but when I right click to connect, everything is grayed out. I can't get the difference between the LAN and the modem. They both show up in the save properties box but I do not have a LAN set up yet even though a network card is installed.

Now I think I have buggered the computer, I just tried to open my home page and a terminal this morning. Neither would work. It just showed the round circle and then just went back to the desktop. I am going away for a week and will have to think about this whole Linux question.
I may try again later.

Allan

I am back from holiday and still trying to install the modem.
It is from a local manufacturer with a 536ep Intel chipset. On further reading of the manufacturers web site, I think I may have the wrong driver on their installation CD and they don't know much about Linux either , which does not help.
The driver I have is a (Intel-531ep-451) but in the fine print it says this is for kernel version up to 2.4.18. The kernel in my Ubuntu is (2.6.20-15).
I have had a look on the Intel web site and they have many drivers for Linux but I do not know which one to download and I am still not sure if they are for Kernel 2.6.
They mention Red Hat; Mandrake and Suse but no Ubuntu.
Do you know if and where I can get a driver that will work in Ubuntu.

Another problem I had before I went away, is the desktop would close up to many very close lines and soon as it opened up so that I could not read anything. The only thing I did was to change the screen resolution to 800 X 600. I have had to re-install Ubuntu from scratch to get it working again. I don't want this to happen in the future when I have many files stored so can you tell me why this happened.

Thank you, Allan

Thank you for your reply. I will try this before I start using the computer properly in case anything goes wrong.
This still does not solve my modem problem so I will have to use an external modem until Intel or Ubuntu produce a newer driver.