Re: [hylafax-users] Solaris and USB modems

[Dagobert Michelsen <dagobert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Marcello,

Am 08.01.2009 um 18:06 schrieb Marcello Golfieri:

I'm renewing some servers and their related services.  I'm also planning to move our hylafax instance from a linux box (w/ serial modem) to a solaris server and a usb modem.

That is a good idea ;-)

I tried searching around the net and this ML, without luck.  What I'm wondering is whether usb modems under solaris would work, and - in that case - which ones (on the field experience anyone?).  And obviously, if that would work with hylafax.

From <http://www.sun.com/io_technologies/usb/USB-Faq.php>:

32. Can I use a USB modem?

Support for USB modems and ISDN terminal adapters that conform to the Universal Serial Bus Communication Device Class Abstract Control Model (USB CDC ACM) specification was introduced in OpenSolaris. It is also available in Solaris 10 Update 4. See the usbsacm(7D) man page.

Basically, this means you can use modems that present themselves as

serial devices. Most USB modems nowadays DO NOT do that, but implement

some other class as they are essentially "soft modems" which require a

special driver to decode the incoming signals. Solaris does not have any

soft modem drivers.

If you look for modems search for "industrial modems" which have serial

connectors. We connected a few of them to Digi terminalconcentrators

which have something called "realport". You connect the modems to

the concentrator and acccess it via a Solaris driver that tunnels the

access via ethernet to the serial ports. The advantage for us was

that we were able to put Hylafax into a zone which could be migrated

between hosts in case of system failure and still access all modems

without manual replugging of USB-devices. However, I don't know

if this is a viable solution for you as you asked for USB modems

specifically.

Hylafax is not a problem at all itself, what I'm worried about is how to handle the usb modem devices under Solaris:  are these devices seen as straight ttys? or is it possible to use a usbToSerial for it... and so on...

You can of course connect serial modems via usbToSerial. This is

basically the same as the terninal concentrator solution outlined

above.

Best regards

  -- Dago