SMP kernel - modem support

[jb701@uku.co.uk]

I have a dual processor system running sarge with an SMP kernel.  It cannot 
find my modem. 

When I run the system with a uniprocessor kernel, the modem works fine. 

The SMP kernel I am using is 2.6.8-2-686-smp. 

What I would like to know is: does this mean I need to compile a kernel with 
modem support [if that makes sense] or are SMP kernels inherently unable to 
work with modems? 

Or, if this is not the right place to ask these questions, where should I 
try? 

Regards 

- Joe