I just installed Redhat Linux 9.0. I tried to browse the supplied browsers but it seems that my modem is not connected to the internet. If I have to download a driver for my modem, can someone please send me a step by step instruction as to how I would go about installing it on Linux. I have a Lucent win Modem. If I need to compile it please also tell me how i go on about doing this

step1: google linux lucent win modem

1. Install the kernel source and kernel headers for your distro. 2. Download the latest lucent winmodem driver at: http://ltmodem.heby.de/ Download the source, not the binary. It is more apt to work if compiled for your machine. It's smarter (security-wise), too. 3. su to root 4. remove the existing modem device: rm -f /dev/modem 5. untar the source tarball. tar -zxvf ltmodem* 6. cd to the untarred ltmodem directory. 5. Start the compile: ./build_module The rest of the steps are presented clearly to you during the compile. Afterward, re-boot.

Hi unixhead thank you for your step by step response. I am not clear however on how I would go about installing the kernel source and header files. Do I use the installation cd to do that or is there another way? Also since i don't have any internet connection from Linux, is it possible that i can download the driver in windows and untar the file in Linux? or is there another way?

First, see if you have already installed the source. I'm not sure what you installed during the initial installation, but if you do a 'ls /usr/src' at a command prompt, you should see a directory named 'linux-2.4.20-6' or something like that if it is installed. If not, then you'll have to install it. INSTALL KERNEL SOURCE/HEADERS: Go to the main menu. Select 'System Settings' and then 'Add/Remove Applications'. You will be prompted to provide your root password. After it examines your system, and presents you with the Add/Remove Applications gui window, scroll down to the "Development Section". From there, check the box for "Kernel Development". This will select the necessary software you need. Next, click "update". You will be prompted for each cd to insert. DOWNLOADING THE DRIVER Yes, you can download the driver in windows. Just copy it to a floppy. When you re-boot into linux, insert that floppy, su to root, and mount it: # mount /mnt/floppy Next, change directory to that floppy, and copy the tar to your home file: # cd /mnt/floppy # cp -v ltmodem* /home/$LOGNAME ALTERNATIVE Some distros, such as Mandrake, set up a Windows mount point for you in the /mnt directory. It's been a while since I've shared Windows with Linux on a hard drive, or even used Windows at all, so I can't tell you if Redhat automatically does this, too. But, if it does, you can mount Windows from there, and copy the tar ball over to your Linux system. COMPILING Follow the steps I gave you previously. I didn't go into a whole step-by-step because it is documented very well during compiling. I'm using an external modem now, so it's been at least a year since I've used the ltmodem fix. But, back then there were 3 commands during the compile that activated the appropriate scripts: 1. ./build_module 2. ./ltinst2 3. ./autoload The rest involved just reading the instructions, and pressing "enter". Pretty simple actually, and I'm betting that it hasn't changed much, if any. I didn't refer you to the DOCs because they are confusing, and lead one to believe that the kernel has to be re-compiled. I never found that to be the case. WHY YOU SHOULD USE THE SOURCE AND NOT THE BINARY Normally, I don't suggest compiling source on an rpm-based system, but in this case it works with no problems. Plus, if you read the info on the ltmodem site, they don't guarantee them, and warn you that you use them at your own risk. They are submitted by others not directly tied to the project. Additionally, they are pre-compiled for certain flavors of kernels, so they may be aimed for a different version of kernel than you what you have on your system, anyway. By using the source, you can be assured it will tailored for your system, and confident that nothing malicious will be contained in the resulting binary. CONCLUSION The first time I compiled the ltmodem source, I had never compiled anything in Linux before. It compiled flawlessly. That should give you some indication as to how easy it is. I hope this helped.

Addtional note: If you find you can connect to the internet, but cannot connect to any web sites, it's the Redhat firewall. They fudged it up in 9.0. If you can connect to web sites, you should still check the efficiency of your firewall at: http://nanoprobe.grc.com Enter the nanoprobe page, scroll down, and select "All Service Ports". You'll probably find, as I did, the firewall in 9.0 is not stealthing all of your ports. As an alternative, I recommend disabling redhat's firewall in "Main Menu/System Settings/Security". Set "Security Level" for "No firewall". Then, boot into Windows and download the GUARDDOG firewall at: http://www.simonzone.com/software/guarddog/ They have an rpm for Redhat 9.0. It's an excellent firewall that's easy to configure (very easy). It's the best firewall for Linux that I've ever seen. I even use it for Slackware. Highly recommended. You'll need kde and qt installed if you did not install them already. Copy it to a floppy, boot back into Linux, and copy it to your home file. su to root, and type "rpm -ivh guarddog*". If you are not in KDE, you'll have to activate the configuration from a command prompt as root by typing "guarddog". Select the "Protocol" tab. Make sure "Internet" is highlighted under "Defined Network Zones". Click the "+" sign beside "File Transfer", and check the boxes labeled "FTP", "HTTPS", & "HTTP". Click the "+" sign beside "Network", and check the box labeled "DNS - Domain Name Server". This is a good minimum to allow. Anything else will depend on your unique circumstances. Finally, go back to http://nanoprobe.grc.com and check your firewall again. You should see all of the scanned ports in a stealth status. See ya.