I have a client who wants to set up a fax server in their office. I'd like to use HylaFAX under Ubuntu, but I'm a little shy to spend money on hardware for Linux, particularly a modem given the whole Winmodem issue. So to ask two different questions in the same post:
First, what are the most reliable ways to tell if a modem is supported in modern releases of Linux? It's nice when a manufacturer specifically mentions Linux support. Failing that, do you check the kernel docs? Chipset type? Other keywords on the modem's spec sheet?
Second, what specific modem would you recommend?
Best Answer
The HylaFAX Handbook has some documentation about making sure you have a compatible fax device. According to that document, external serial modems will work almost without exception, but some external USB modems may be softmodems and require a driver. Regarding internal modems, that document references some chipsets and model numbers that are known to work.
Once you find a device that you intend to use, it probably wouldn't hurt to search for it in the hylafax-users mailing list archive to see if another user has encountered a problem with it.
The HylaFAX website also has Hardware Compatibility List.