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Internal DSL Modems and Linux Drivers?

Posted by Cliff on from the oh-no!-not-another-winmodem! dept.

xipe asks: "Has anyone made a driver for the internal (pci) DSL modems that have come out in the last few months? (Cisco, Alcatel and others have started marketing them online.) I have used the external with great success ( with Linux BTW), but since I moved outside of Bellsouths ADSL service area, I have yet to get a good connection again. I noticed that these modems have drivers for MS and Mac, but no Linux-- is someone working on these or are they going to go the way of the winmodem? I certainly hope not..... " Neither do I.

3 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Still too new by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 2

    Even the external DSL equipment isn't fully standardized yet. The upcoming standard is called g.Lite, but not every DSL equipment manufacturer is compliant yet. Give it some time.

    Once that happens, I really see no reason why a DSL card couldn't be treated like an Ethernet card by the kernel. It doesn't need all the weird circuit-switch code that ISDN does ... just initialize the card, download the configuration from the DSLAM, and bind an IP address.

    Unfortunately, I think internal DSL cards aren't really going to make a big splash. All of the manufacturers are going to want to do USB instead; it's easier than trying to provide tech support to a bunch of home users who would otherwise have to open up their computers to plug in an internal DSL card, or even an internal Ethernet card to connect to an external DSL router.

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  2. Re:DSL Is good stuff, but.. by Phexro · · Score: 2

    Whoa! Rain in your doubt for a bit. I have DSL through USWest. I did not have to sign any contract or agree to use their service for any period of time. In my experience, there is plenty of bandwidth. I have not run into any sort of bottlenecks with USWest's equipment or service. Indeed, I usually get 50 to 60 kb/sec, which is over twice my rated 256kbit connection. For the record: Standard phone line == $30 / month Deluxe DSL == $30 / month DSL net service == $20 / month Grand total: $80 / month The deluxe DSL it a 24/7 connection which allows you to use your voice telephone at the same time. YMMV depending on area and line quality, but I am more than satisfied.

  3. PCI DSL cards are not equivalent to a network card by Ayatola · · Score: 2

    My company has developped a PCI DSL card.
    The PCI DSL card can't be compared to the external box (ADSL in - Ethernet Out): the most popular ADSL chipset (DynaMiTe from Alcatel) has only an ATM output. The external box must add a compilated (and thus, expensive) ATM to Ethernet convertor.
    On a PCI DSL card, this hardware convertor is not present and ATM cells are delivered to the PC. It is then up to the driver software to extract Ethernet frame out of the ATM cells. (An alternative solution that is also on the market is PPP-over-ATM).
    Porting the complex drivers from Windows to Linux is a fairly complex undertaking, though I expect that this will be done in the not-so-distant future.

    I think what we are experiencing here, is an evolution of the WinModem debate: while it is possible to make a full-hardware standard modem, you cannot avoid a whole bunch of control firmware for more advanced technologies a la ADSL. As a result, every piece of hardware could be classified as a 'WinSomething' because you will need dedicated drivers to get it to work.

    The only hope is that Linux will be strong enough to persuade companies to invest in dedicated drivers...