Problems with modems

[Robert]

Whoops, I misremembered the command.

You just want hdparm /dev/hda not hdparm -i /dev/hda.

That output does show however that DMA is on. Which is a good thing.
And tends to make unmask IRQ less of a problem.

Anyway to set hdparm on (and a few other things)
try

hdparm -c1 -d1 -u1 -m16 /dev/hdb

Its the redhat disk thats the main issue. But you probably mounting the
win98 disk as well so it could also be issue.

Given that you appear to be using DMA on the disk, unmask IRQ is not
particularly likely to be the problem. I mentioned it because its the
main thing that Ive come across that produces that particular symptom. 
I can't think of much else that does.

Most causes of modem problems are either external to the computer ie
phone line issues or modem issues. Or are repeatable and regular. Not at
a random time.

I presume that when you say you don't have any problems under Win98, you
mean on that computer, with that modem and phone line.

Peter Anderson wrote:
> 
> Robert,
> I have tried the commands you suggested and the results are as follows:
> 
> hda is the Windows 98SE disk drive
> ----------------------------------
> 
> [root at localhost root]# hdparm -i /dev/hda
> 
> /dev/hda:
> 
> Model=WDC WD200BB-00AUA1, FwRev=18.20D18, SerialNo=WD-WMA6Y3240951
> Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec SpinMotCtl Fixed DTR>5Mbs FmtGapReq }
> RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=57600, SectSize=600, ECCbytes=40
> BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=2048kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
> CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=39102336
> IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
> PIO modes:  pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
> DMA modes:  mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
> UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
> AdvancedPM=no WriteCache=enabled
> Drive conforms to: device does not report version:  1 2 3 4 5
> 
> hdb is the Linux (RD8.0) disk drive
> -----------------------------------
> 
> [root at localhost root]# hdparm -i /dev/hdb
> 
> /dev/hdb:
> 
> Model=WDC WD400BB-00DEA0, FwRev=05.03E05, SerialNo=WD-WCAD13896036
> Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec SpinMotCtl Fixed DTR>5Mbs FmtGapReq }
> RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=57600, SectSize=600, ECCbytes=40
> BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=2048kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
> CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=78165360
> IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
> PIO modes:  pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
> DMA modes:  mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
> UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
> AdvancedPM=no WriteCache=enabled
> Drive conforms to: device does not report version:  1 2 3 4 5
> 
> I am not sure that the above results tell me whether the unmask IRQ is set.
> If its not could you please advise how it could be set.
> 
> Regards,
> Peter
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Robert [mailto:robert at apex.net.au]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 10:26 PM
> > To: Peter Anderson
> > Cc: Canberra Linux Users Group
> > Subject: Re: Problems with modems
> >
> > Check that you have unmask IRQ set for your harddrives.
> > You can check using hdparm -i /dev/hda etc.
> >
> > If you don't have unmask IRQ set, any disk access tends to block IRQ's
> > for a second which stops serial access to the modem which tends to make
> > it hang up.
> >
> > --
> > Robert Cohen
> >
> > Peter Anderson wrote:
> ...
> > > I am a new user of Linux (but not new to computing).  I have RH8
> installed
> > > on a second hard drive (Win98 on the first).  I have an internal
> Winmodem
> > > (Netcomm IN5692 I think) but have not bothered to try and use it for
> Linux
> > > it just looks too hard at this stage.  I have been trying to connect to
> > > the
> > > Internet from Linux via one of two external modems: a Hayes Accura 56K
> and
> > > an old Maestro Executive (36K).
> > >
> > > The problem is that I can configure PPP and get onto the Internet but
> the
> > > time I stay connected is random from several seconds to quarter of an
> hour
> > > at very best (mostly it is several minutes).  This is very frustrating
> and
> > > my Canberra based ISP does not provide support for Linux (surprise!
> > > surprise!).
> > >