kernel tainted

[joshua]

I am trying to get a winmodem working in Mandriva, have found the necessary tar etc and done all the make, make install etc and got to the modprobe slamr bit and it came back tainted kernel, what exactly does this mean have I mucked up the kernel or didn't it like what i was trying to do and rejected it. needless to say the modem didn't work. Not to worried though as we get broadband in a month or so (according to BT) and am I right in thinking that the modem supplied with most isp's will work under linux?

[Rhakios]

All tainted kernel means is that you have introduced a module that isn't covered by the GPL or a compatible license.
I have a slamr modem working under SuSE 9.3, but then it just worked out of the box, no efforts were required on my part.

[towy71]

Joshua do not assume that the modem supplied will work they usually supply cheapo USB modems and your mileage will vary

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. Joshua

[davecs]

If you get ADSL you may have to buy an alternate modem which is a proper hardware one and Linux-compatible.

If you get Cable-Ethernet you should be OK. The superior Ethernet connection will depend on the ethernet driver in your computer. The other alternative, USB, can be more difficult, but the one supplied typically by NTL will work using the CDCether driver. But use the Ethernet if you can.

[smita034]

iirc BT will give you a Voyager 105 USB modem - which is supported.

http://eciadsl.flashtux.org/modems.php?modem=71

Though, you would be much better off with a small ADSL router