PCI ADSL modem

mohshami · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 7:08 am Post subject: PCI ADSL modem

Hi guys,
Since ADSL prices here in jordan dropped to a level that I can afford, I want to get me a subscription. The modems they sell here are only ehternet or USB. I want to buy a PCI modem because I read it has better response time that the first 2. Is that true?? if it is, can you suggest a good quality PCI modem that works with Linux in general (I use gentoo). It it was not (I want to buy a ...), can you suggest a good ethernet modem because I want to share the connection over a lan and I heard that thernet modems are better than USB.

Please, any help would be great because I have to ask someone to buy the modem for me. Thanx in advance guys.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 7:58 am Post subject:

mohshami,

If you are a hard core internet gamer, than a PCI ADSL connection will save you one ethernet hop on your ping time. If not, you won't notice the difference.

In terms of ease of set up, Ethernet devices are way out in front.
ADSL chip sets are only made by a small number of suppliers, so the name on the box does not matter a great deal - they are much the same inside.

Choose an ethernet device that has the features you need at a price you are willing to pay. Many of them are provided with 4 ethernet ports, which can make sharing very simple. Do think about security and firewalling for your always on connection.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

mohshami · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 8:04 am Post subject: Thanx

NeddySeagoon,

Thanx a lot for your reply. If the issue is ease of setup, it would be the same because I need to install a new ethernet card. I'm totally familiar with installing stuff so its not a big deal for me to add a new card since I assembled the computer myself. I'm thinking about playing online games but thats not my main use. The more important reason I want an internal modem is because its less wires for me to see, since I don't have much space for it.

What are those features you talked about? And I heard that internal modems are cheaper that external ones, is that true as well?

I'm totally new to this so please bare with me.
Best regards

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 8:33 am Post subject:

mohshami,

I understand the wires problem. You will save two wires and mains plug by opting for a PCI device. Internal devices are always lower cost than external ones. There is no seperate case and power supply to pay for.

Some PCI ADSL cards are a bit like winmodems - much of the work is undertaken by the CPU. If you go this route, be sure to choose one that is supported by Linux.

Internal cards are not so easy to share. The PC containing the PCI ADSL modem needs to be switched on, even if its not being used.

External ADSL boxes provide things like a DHCP server, to automatically allocate network settings. A four port Ethernet switch, to make ADSL sharing easy. Network Address Translation, so that you have one public IP address and many private internal IP addresses. Elementary firewalling can be included. Port forwarding, so that you can sort incoming traffic to different internal IPs. They are beginning to appear with wireless access points included too.

All of these things (except the WAP and 4 port switch) can be provided in software by iptables and dhcpd.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

mohshami · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 1:30 pm Post subject:

NeddySeagoon
Thanx again, as a matter of fact I do leave my computer on all the time, and I already have an 8 port switch so I don't want to pay for something I wont be using.

I know that some pci modems are not supported by linux. thats why I posted the message so that someone who has used one would tell me about it.

so if someone knows any models that do work on linux please let me know

regards