UsbAdslModem

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USB is far from the ideal medium for network access, if you can get your hands on an ethernet modem you may save yourself some trouble. If you have a modem that can connect both via USB and ethernet you should use the ethernet connection. The number of disadvantages and problems using USB modems compared using ethernet based solutions have led some to state that USB could stand for Un Suitable for Broadband. USB is far from the ideal medium for network access, there are so many problems using USB modems compared using ethernet based solutions that some claim that USB could stand for ''Un Suitable for Broadband''.

If you have a modem that can connect both via USB and ethernet, you should use the ethernet connection. If you can get your hands on an ethernet modem or a router you will save yourself some trouble.

It is possible however to get USB ADSL modems to work with Ubuntu, athough getting some models to work can be quite demanding. By following this guide you should be able to get most common USB ADSL modems working, but some still have slight problems and others do not currantly work at all.

Often parts of ADSL USB modem drivers are propriatary, closed source software, with a restrictive licence, and so the whole driver cannot be supplied with Ubuntu. To get a modem to work with these drivers, you will need to download files from Internet with a computer having a working connexion, then transfer the downloaded files to you Ubuntu installation.
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For general understanding, we will first try to explain why most USB ADSL modems don't work in a new installation of Ubuntu. For those it would surprise that getting a simple modem to work can be so compliacted, we will try to explain why most USB ADSL modems don't work out of the box with Ubuntu. If you want to start installing your modem streight away, you can jump to the next section.
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a. Ubuntu, and probably all other Linux operating systems assume that the network connection runs over an ethernet card in the computer. This is based on very old, tried and tested technology, which tends to be very stable. Most home computers and business PC's have an ethernet card, which provides easy, reliable connection to the network. a. Ubuntu, and probably all other Linux based operating systems, assume that the network connection runs over an ethernet card (or other standard network card) in the computer. This is based on very old, tried and tested, standards based technology, which tends to be very reliable and easy to set up. Most home computers and business PC's have an ethernet card, as one is usualy supplied on the motherboard nowadays, otherwise one can easily be picked up and installed very cheaply. An ethernet port is an allmost universal way to provide network access, and apart from the advent of wifi, has been for decades.
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b. When you choose an interner provider, normally you also get the hardware to set up the internet connection. Half the time you will get an ethernet modem, and maybe even an ethernet card, in the other cases (often the more economic contracts) you get an USB ADSL modem. b. When you choose an Interner provider, normally you also get the hardware to set up the internet connection. Half the time you will get an ethernet modem, and maybe even an ethernet card, in the other cases (often the more economic contracts) you get an USB ADSL modem.
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 * [:UsbAdslModem/SpeedTouchHowto] - Speedtouch
 * [:UsbAdslModem/ueagle-atm] - Sagem Fast 800, Comtrend ct 350 etc. All modems that use the eagle-usb I, II or III
 * [:UsbAdslModem/EciAdsl] - ECI HiFocus and Globespan based modems etc.		  * [:UsbAdslModem/SpeedTouchHowto] - Speedtouch modems.
 * [:UsbAdslModem/ueagle-atm] - Sagem Fast 800, Comtrend ct 350 etc. Modems that use the Analog Devices Inc. eagle-usb I, II or III chipset.
 * [:UsbAdslModem/EciAdsl] - ECI HiFocus, Globespan etc. odems that use the Globespan GS7070 (Titanium) chipset.
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Other modems, no howto yet available :
 * http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=69106 - ELSA Microlink USB ADSL Modem.
 * http://co800.sourceforge.net/ - Allied Data Copperjet 800 (Spanish).

Notes on installation of USB ADSL modems under Ubuntu.

Intro

USB is far from the ideal medium for network access, there are so many problems using USB modems compared using ethernet based solutions that some claim that USB could stand for Un Suitable for Broadband.

If you have a modem that can connect both via USB and ethernet, you should use the ethernet connection. If you can get your hands on an ethernet modem or a router you will save yourself some trouble.

It is possible however to get USB ADSL modems to work with Ubuntu, athough getting some models to work can be quite demanding. By following this guide you should be able to get most common USB ADSL modems working, but some still have slight problems and others do not currantly work at all.

Often parts of ADSL USB modem drivers are propriatary, closed source software, with a restrictive licence, and so the whole driver cannot be supplied with Ubuntu. To get a modem to work with these drivers, you will need to download files from Internet with a computer having a working connexion, then transfer the downloaded files to you Ubuntu installation.

Why USB modems are not ideal

For those it would surprise that getting a simple modem to work can be so compliacted, we will try to explain why most USB ADSL modems don't work out of the box with Ubuntu. If you want to start installing your modem streight away, you can jump to the next section.

a. Ubuntu, and probably all other Linux based operating systems, assume that the network connection runs over an ethernet card (or other standard network card) in the computer. This is based on very old, tried and tested, standards based technology, which tends to be very reliable and easy to set up. Most home computers and business PC's have an ethernet card, as one is usualy supplied on the motherboard nowadays, otherwise one can easily be picked up and installed very cheaply. An ethernet port is an allmost universal way to provide network access, and apart from the advent of wifi, has been for decades.

b. When you choose an Interner provider, normally you also get the hardware to set up the internet connection. Half the time you will get an ethernet modem, and maybe even an ethernet card, in the other cases (often the more economic contracts) you get an USB ADSL modem.

c. All hardware that you connect with your PC through USB needs hardware-specific software. Most (frequent) drivers that are free and not licensed are in the standard Ubuntu installation. E.g. the Alcatel speedtouch USB modem driver is preinstalled. However, the driver for many USB DSL modems are not installed. For example if a modem contains a 'conexant' chip, whose driver is 'commercial' and licensed it is not installed in Ubuntu.

To get the USB modem working, two things need to be achieved:

  1. Linux must be extended with software to control the modem, you need to get so-called drivers.
  2. The ethernet 'talk' of Linux needs to be bridged to the modem and its connection to the network

Installing your USB ADSL modem

Consult the page that concerns your specific type of modem :

Other modems, no howto yet available :

See also

More support for installing a USB modem can be found at:

UsbAdslModem (last edited 2008-08-06 16:34:58 by localhost)