Re: [SLUG] Netcomm Nb9W - any problems with Linux?

[Ben Stanley <Ben.Stanley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi there,

I'm writing this to you from an Ubuntu 7.10 system running kernel
2.6.22-14-generic via a Netcomm NB9W. I've not experienced any network
connectivity problems other than getting the modem to connect to the
outside (which usually has more to do with the ISP than me).

I can't comment on the SPI stuff. I can say that the NB9W uses linux
inside, and appears from the logs to be
Linux version 2.6.8.1 (root@rd2-linux) (gcc version 3.4.2) #1 Tue Mar 20
19:14:41 CST 2007

I did have a lot of problems with the telephony section of the device,
with dropping audio, and then with a lack of echo cancellation. These
issues seem to have been resolved with the last firmware I installed,
which is NB9W_C201-S300NCM-C09_R10.bin . I have been running this
firmware for nine months now and I only have to re-boot the device every
month or two.

I have the wireless part turned off.

I hope this helps you to make a decision regarding this modem.

Ben.

On Fri, 2008-02-01 at 14:38 +1100, elliott-brennan wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm with TPG and thinking of using their VOIP 
> service. To do so I'll need to get an NB9W - my 
> current modem only has one port and no phone port.
> 
> Apparently the NB9w uses an SPI firewall.
> 
> Wikipedia lists the following pitfall:
> 
> "Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 
> Vista, uses TCP window scaling for non-http (web) 
> connections. So do Linux kernels from versions 
> 2.6.8 on. This behavior is incompatible with some 
> firewalls that use SPI (Stateful Packet 
> Inspection) as found in routers like the 
> Checkpoint NG R55, Cisco PIX and IOS, NetApp Cache 
> Appliances, SonicWall, D-Link DI-724U, Netgear 
> WGR614, and Linksys WRT54GS. [1] This may be 
> related to previous failures to work properly. 
> Pre-released (beta) versions of Vista allegedly 
> had more problems, including failed http (web) 
> connections through SPI firewalls.[2]"
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stateful_firewall#Pitfalls
> 
> I've searched the Ubuntu forum and searched a 
> little further, but come up with nothing specific.
> 
> Does anyone know if this information is accurate, 
> or out-of-date?
> 
> Thanks for any information or referral.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Patrick
> 
> 
> -- 
> Registered GNU/Linux User 368634