Scanmodi

ScanModem, often written as scanmodem or scanmodi, is an open-source Linux utility designed to help users identify dial-up modems and determine suitable drivers or firmware. It focuses on PCI, USB, and ISA modems, with particular attention to software (Winmodem) or hybrid modems that may require vendor-provided drivers.

The tool operates by inspecting the system for modem-related hardware and collecting information such as PCI IDs, USB IDs, and related logs. It uses an internal knowledge base to map detected devices to recommended driver packages or firmware sets (for example, ltmodem or other kernel-based drivers). When a match is found, scanModem can generate a diagnostic report and, in many cases, a ready-to-run installation script to fetch and install the appropriate driver and configure the modem.

Availability and history: scanModem has been distributed as open-source software since the early days of widespread dial-up usage. It has been mirrored on various repositories and project hosting sites, with community contributions helping to maintain its database of supported devices.

Usage and requirements: The program is typically run with root privileges and may require internet access to obtain drivers. It relies on standard Linux utilities and system information sources (such as lspci and lsusb) to detect hardware. Users should review the generated report and installation script before proceeding, as driver availability and compatibility can vary by kernel version and distribution.

Limitations: The effectiveness of scanModem depends on the currency of its hardware database and compatibility with newer kernel subsystems. Some devices may remain unsupported, and manual driver installation or alternative modem management tools may be necessary.

See also: LTmodem, Conexant modems, ModemManager.