[ILUG] Re: Netopia ADSL modem

[Marcus Furlong]

Aine Douglas wrote:

> On 8/27/06, Robert Sweetnam <linux at sweetnam.eu> wrote:
>> Timothy Murphy wrote:
>> > Have there been any problems with Eircom's Netopia ADSL modems?
> 
> Its the only model of DSL router that I've failed to get port
> forwarding working with, but that could be me and not the router.

Works fine for me here. Maybe stick the firmware update on it?

http://www.netopia.com/equipment/purchase/fmw_update_intl.html

> 
>> > I was sent one a couple of years ago by Eircom without any explanation,
>> > but as the Alcatel modem they supplied me with originally
>> > was (and is) still working perfectly, I didn't do anything with it.
> 
> I believe the alcatel was unable to properly take advantage of the
> speed upgrades at the exchange, and anyone who complained was sent the
> netopia. That could have been resolved with a new driver for the
> alcatel but since Eircom made a decision to discontinue support for
> the alcatel, they just didn't go there and upgraded the modem to the
> router instead.
> 
>> > Anyway, I found it in a cupboard today,
>> > and tried substituting it for the Alcatel modem,
>> > but it didn't seem to work under Linux,
>> > although it did work under Windows XP.
> 
> Probably better off using it through the ethernet interface instead of
> the USB, you should have no issues there.

Yep, did the same thing and it works. The only issue I've had is that I had
to disable every ipv6 setting on my linux boxen to speed up DNS lookups. It
was suggested that this isn't the netopia's problem, rather eircoms, but
either way it's handy to know.
 
>> > Are any ILUGgers using this modem under Linux?
>> > (My modem is a Netopia Cayman model 3341-EIR.)
>> >
>> Apologies in advance for the obvious but:
>>
>> "If it ain't broke don't fix it!",
>> "Why change for changes' sake?"
> 
> Because if you switch from a USB modem to an ethernet router, you do
> get an extra layer of firewall, and because those netopias appear to
> never require a powercycle unlike other brands in the marketplace.
> 
>> No problems with the Netopias. At leatst that I have come across.
>> Irregardless of client OS.
> 
> Plus, used in ethernet mode they don't require drivers unlike the alcatel.
> 
>> Also, pretty much anyone using eircom broadband will have one.
> 
> And Eircom don't actually support the Alcatel one anymore and haven't
> done for a long time, so you're on your own in terms of support unless
> you switch to the netopia.
> 
> Aine.