Need a source for a dialup\dsl. Win\Linux compatable modem at a sensable price. what I have are configured for MS only (salvaged stuff!) Thanks all!

Dialup and DSL modems are two different things. If you want a compatible dialup modem (ex. 56kbps), check your favorite distro's hardware support list for recommendations. For a DSL modem, just use an external one and you should be fine.

Thank you anonproxy, having always been dialup I was not aware there was a difference. Now I have an idea of what to get.

Heh! anonproxy - don't you mean that the other way around? - any external 56k dialup modem will work fine but if you've got a pci modem, check out www.linmodems.org. As for DSL modems, it is not true that any external modem will work.

"As for DSL modems, it is not true that any external modem will work." I haven't discovered one that does not. Most are taken from generic product lines and flashed with specific firmware, including a kernel with a TCP/IP stack and a small webserver. This elimintates the need for a driver (the modem complies as a network host), which eliminates a large number of possible support problems altogether. Yes, you could develope one which required a driver, but that would be pointless if you have a fully capable chipset in the modem.

Until recently, the Voyager 100 USB modem was unusable - which is why I had to send mine back to my adsl provider and replace it with another. I'm pretty sure that modems with the Analog Devices chipset are also unusable - if eciadsl.flashtux.org is as reliable as usual (it usually has a link to a working driver if one exists in it's unsupported modem list) but I admit I didn't google for an alternative. I also remember discovering that one of the speedtouch range was a no-no too but that was some time ago now. I'm sure you're right about the great majority of 'em but I have had (possibly no longer relevant) problems in the past and we're talking cheapo stuff here, one end plugged in the telephone socket, the other in the usb port (I've even seen a PCI card adsl modem)- not ethernet routers. The chipset in my current device sure isn't fully capable even though I got it from ebay ;)

If you're going DSL get one that can connect via RJ45/cat5 rather than USB...then you can just plug it into your switch/hub. Again when it comes to external dialup modems, stay away from USB and stick to serial. Old ISA ones are generally easy to get going, especially if they have jumpers on the set the IRQ, port number etc....