Topic: USB ADSL for ETH1

[p-jones]

I ahve an Alcatel USB ADSL device (frog) which I am considering using as the ETH1 device in a server-gateway configuration. I have used it satisfactoriily with IPCOP & Smoothwall. I am uncertain if this will work with SME. I have never seen any references to it nor can I find any in the archives.

Can this be used ? Has anyoned used one ? Any "gotcha's with it ?

Thanks
Peter

[CharlieBrady]

I ahve an Alcatel USB ADSL device (frog) which I am considering using as the ETH1 device in a server-gateway configuration.

I'm assuming that you don't really mean ETH1, since it's a USB device.

Nobody has developed support for such devices for SME. The last time I looked (a couple of years ago) it wasn't possible to support "out of the box" because proprietary drivers were required, and Alcatel didn't allow their drivers to be redistributed.

How do Smoothwall/IPCOP deal with that issue?

[dsemuk]

Peter having used Alcatel "Frog" USB modem with the commercial version of Smoothwall I would suggest if you can that you try to get a modem which offers ethernet presentation to your SME box.

I know this isn't the cheapest option, but I think you may find it the reliable way to get onto the net.

We had good reliable service using Alcatel Speedtouch modem/routers but that was a couple of years ago, so you will have many more options now.

Dave

PS I don't think the Frog will ever be a price amongst modems

[p-jones]

Charlie, I know it not an ethernet device but when configured correctly it behaves like one. There is an open source (I think) driver available and readily downloadable from legit sources that works just fine with the 2.4 kernel.

Dave, I do have an ethernet router. Given the first thing I do with them when I use them with SME is to turn them into a ppp half-bridge (DHCP Spoof), I figured using the frog I have on the shelf gathering dust may be an otherwise good use for it.

Thanks for the input guys.

[Numbergod]

Hi Peter,

I've just discovered SME server, and it looks like just what I need for my home network.

Like you, I've got an Alcatel USB adsl box.

I've managed to track this down, not sure if it's of any use to you or not.

http://web.archive.org/web/20041103124049/http://www.hgs.co.uk/sme/alcatel/

http://no.longer.valid/phpwiki/index.php/Comment%20installer%20le%20modem%20SpeedTouch%20USB%20sous%20SME%205.6

http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/*checkout*/speedtouch/speedtouch/doc-linux/howto/SpeedTouch-HOWTO-en.html?rev=HEAD

I'd be interested in hearing from you, and if you had any success.

Might just have to get a $100 ethernet modem.  Might be cheaper in the long run?

Don.
in Christchurch

[p-jones]

Hi Numbergood,

I didnt persue this any further. I am quite keen to keep my SME's as close to "production" as possible and only use addons that have some sort of "higher power" knowledge attached to them. I can certainly find my way round SME for the greater part but I am NOT a linux guru and very much on a learning curve for the intracacies. To hack the distro to incorporate this in my situation would be suicide. If I ever find enough time I might try it for the hell of it but that doesnt seem likely in the near future.

As was pointed out, ADSL ethernet device are very readily available and also very cheap. In NZ, many ISP are giving away these devices and they are very respectible and fully featured at that. (full port forwarding, DHCP spoofing etc)

My "frog" is back on the shelf and at some point I know I will need to build an ADSL firewall only so I will revisit at that time and integrate into an IPCop setup where I have already used it and am very comfortable.

Rgds
Peter

[CharlieBrady]

There is an open source (I think) driver available and readily downloadable from legit sources that works just fine with the 2.4 kernel.

The driver requires proprietary firmware, which is not redistributable. Hence there's still no legal way to support this "out of the box".

[p-jones]

I'm not sure if thats orrect Charlie.

At the time I got it working, I got everything I needed to make it work fom the the CD's that came with it and and an update from the public download area on the web.

[CharlieBrady]

I'm not sure if thats orrect Charlie.

At the time I got it working, I got everything I needed to make it work fom the the CD's that came with it and and an update from the public download area on the web.

Notice that I said "out of the box". It's non trivial to pull in stuff from third party CDs of software in order to make stuff work, and even harder than that to pull stuff down from websites when it is the WAN link which we are trying to make work.

If someone steps forward and develops this stuff, great, but I don't see that happening.

[Numbergod]

Hi Peter,

I've decided not to go down this route anymore.

It's a lot less grief to buy a cheap ethernet dsl modem.

Don.