Connecting to the Internet via a USB broadband modem

A friend of mine wants to upgrade his computer from Windows XP to Ubuntu. He
is having problems getting onto the Internet from Ubuntu, but Windows XP
connects just fine on the same machine. The modem supplied by his Internet
Service Provider connects to the USB port at the back of his machine.

I read somewhere that USB devices have integral drivers, and do not require
any computer side driver, other than the USB bus driver. Is that true?

I guess there will be no problems with compatibility of the USB Modem
on Ubuntu.

How do we configure the computer to connect using a USB modem?

How do we configure all network service ports to not be visible (no-reply)
from the Internet side of a USB modem connection?

Please advise.

Mark.

--
Mark Hobley
393 Quinton Road West
QUINTON
Birmingham
B32 1QE

Telephone: (0121) 247 1596
International: 0044 121 247 1596

Email: markhobley at hotpop dot donottypethisbit com

http://markhobley.yi.org/

Mark Hobley wrote:

> A friend of mine wants to upgrade his computer from Windows XP to Ubuntu.
> He is having problems getting onto the Internet from Ubuntu, but Windows
> XP connects just fine on the same machine. The modem supplied by his
> Internet Service Provider connects to the USB port at the back of his
> machine.
>
> I read somewhere that USB devices have integral drivers, and do not
> require any computer side driver, other than the USB bus driver. Is that
> true?
>
> I guess there will be no problems with compatibility of the USB Modem
> on Ubuntu.
>
> How do we configure the computer to connect using a USB modem?
>
> How do we configure all network service ports to not be visible (no-reply)
> from the Internet side of a USB modem connection?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Mark.
>
No, you have it the wrong way around. USB modems require drivers, and
many are not supported. On the otherhand Ethernet modems do not require
drivers (other than for the ethernet port you already have on your
computer).

David