How to get my Wireless card to work
Forum: Networking
Topic: How to get my Wireless card to work
started by: Gemini
Posted by Gemini on Oct. 01 2005,17:42
Im not sure if its compatible(Netgear WG111v2),but most of the Netgear cards are compatible.Ok,so I know nothing(almost) on using Linux,can someone please tell me how I can get my Wireless card to work in DSL?
Posted by tempestuous on Oct. 02 2005,02:58
Compatibility is dependent upon chipset ... I think yours is PrismGT ... you should confirm this yourself.If so, DSL has the right driver for you - prism54, but the firmware and firmware.agent files are missing.
You can get the latest firmware at < http://prism54.org/fullmac.html > ver 1.0.4.3 (edited, Dec05)
Rename it "isl3890" and put it in /usr/lib/hotplug/firmware/
And you can get firmware.agent as part of the hotplug source .gz from < http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=17679 >
Extract this in a temporary directory, then just move (or copy) firmware.agent into /etc/hotplug/
Posted by Gemini on Oct. 02 2005,05:34
Thank You 
Posted by NettoBr on Oct. 10 2005,02:07
Hello All,I am trying to do this cause I´m using a Netgear Pcmcia too. But DSL-Live System says that File system is read only.
I´m using DSL-1.5 Live CD.
Thanks,
NettoBr
Posted by tempestuous on Oct. 10 2005,14:01
I think you just need to run /etc/init.d/mkwriteable first.Be careful, Netgear uses chipsets from several different manufacturers, and the drivers are different for each.
Check your chipset here - < http://linux-wless.passys.nl/ >
Posted by NettoBr on Oct. 11 2005,09:55
Thanks Tempestuous,What do I do now?
I have run mkwriteable, copied both files to dirs... have tried many button from DSL menu...
My Wlan Pcmcia is recognized by Linux, cardbus is activated, but not eth0...
But the worst Idea is next boot I have to do it all again and again...
Is there a way to rewrite a new image of DSL with that file there?
Thanks again,
NettoBr
Brazil, land of beatiful places and women...
Posted by tempestuous on Oct. 11 2005,13:32
To make new files "permanent" in DSL, you need to Backup/Restore. Open /home/dsl/filetool.lst in a text editor, add the following files (don't include the leading /), and save -usr/lib/hotplug/firmware/isl3890
etc/hotplug/firmware.agent
Now in the DSLpanel, press Backup/Restore, and Backup the files to your chosen device.
Use the boot option "restore=xxx"
To load the driver and configure your wireless network, run these commands -
modprobe prism54
## there should now be a network interface created, eth0
## can check this by running "ifconfig -a"
## now set up the wireless network
iwconfig eth0 essid MY_ESSID key 1234567890 mode Managed
## for automatic IP
pump -i eth0
## or for static IP
## modify /etc/resolv.conf to include your nameservers, then -
ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.xx broadcast 192.168.0.255 netmask 255.255.255.0
route add default gw 192.168.0.1 eth0 # or whatever your router's IP is
You could save these commands as a script.
Posted by neonuke on Nov. 02 2005,08:58
| Quote (tempestuous @ Oct. 11 2005,09:32) |
| ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.xx broadcast 192.168.0.255 netmask 255.255.255.0 route add default gw 192.168.0.1 eth0 # or whatever your router's IP is |
I get this error:
SIOCSIFFLAGS: No such file or directory
I'm using DSL 1.5 Live CD.
Posted by neonuke on Nov. 03 2005,05:01
OK, sorry but I'm a noob. Forgot to copy the firmware.agent file
Posted by TravMan1963 on Dec. 01 2005,23:24
Were you successful in making the WG111 work?my SN starts with WG7214... which, according to netgear - is version 1. On the other side of the nic - it has wg111V2....
I have successfully completed all the steps as listed - the files are saved for reboots with the (.) filetool.lst (I didn't see the "." - it's all good now... files saved ok)...
I've also tried the ndiswrapper approach - (v1.1 of ndiswrapper 2.01 of DSL)... with different versions of the inf file (all give the error of invalid driver).
using modprobe54 gives this error:
/lib/modules/2.4.31/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/prism54/prism54.o:
init_module: No such device
and errors with same directory tree insmod /(directory)/prism54.o failed
and
(directory): insmod prism54 failed
I've searched and searched - but have found nothing that WORKS... yet...
?ideas?
additionally - when entering the wep key - is that in binary(!) or hex - or decimal?
TIA...TM
Posted by tempestuous on Dec. 02 2005,01:27
According to the ndiswrapper compatibility webpage < http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/ListItoP >WMP111v1 0846:4220 has Prism54 chipset
WMP111v2 0846:4240 has Prism54 chipset
WMP111v2 0846:6a00 has Realtek chipset
You can run "lsusb" to see your manuf/id numbers.
So you may have a Realtek chipset, or you may have a newer "softmac" type of Prism54 chipset which is not supported by DSL's version of the Prism54 driver.
In any case, all versions are reported as working with ndiswrapper, so I suggest you refer to the specific instructions on that site.
Regarding WEP keys, iwconfig accepts the key as hex ... no hyphens or colons.
Posted by TravMan1963 on Dec. 02 2005,22:20
I have the WMP111v2 0846:4240 which has the Prism54 chipset... (from lsusb - ty!)The (2) files are copied over --- (which only appear after the mkwriteable is performed - I don't have to recopy them... I've tried 2 versions of the isl3890 - 2.5.6.0 arm (29.47K) and 2.5.8.0 arm (29.35K)- name converted to isl3890)
A dmseg gives "USB device 2 (vend/prod 0x846/04240) is not claimed by any active driver"
"Loaded Prism54 Driver, version 1.2"
Are BOTH NDISwrapper and copying the agent and isl3890 steps needed - or am I doubling up on attempting to get this to work? Is NDISwrapper - using the old window driver, where the PRISM54 uses a linux driver?
The modprobe prism54 still gives the same errors:
"
/lib/modules/2.4.31/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/prism54/prism54.o:
init_module: No such device
and errors with same directory tree insmod /(directory)/prism54.o failed
and
(directory): insmod prism54 failed"
BTW - my usb - flash drive works fine (same and only port)
using the ndiswrapper -i always gives me an invalid driver error... (I've tried 2 inf files 6594 and 8138 bytes...)
Thanks for all your help.
TM
Posted by tempestuous on Dec. 03 2005,13:28
Oops. In all of this discussion, I overlooked that TravMan1963's adaptor is USB. The old prism54 driver does not support USB.Yes, the separate firmware and firmware.agent are only required for Prism54 driver, not ndiswrapper. But ndiswrapper is not working for you either, so it looks like you may have one of the new "softmac" WMP111's.
If you want to stick with this, we need to identify whether you have a first or second generation adaptor, by running "lsusb -vvv", as explained here - < http://jbnote.free.fr/prism54usb/IdentifyYourDevice.html >
Posted by TravMan1963 on Dec. 04 2005,04:42
Yes indeed --- it's a USB device..... (which makes the thought of booting from a flash drive - interesting (could use a hub) -- but - untill I get the wireless going... no point in installing it to anything -- or getting the extra ram....It appears to be a second generation prism54 devices
[0x0846:0x4240] (newer WG111) - checked out the link -- and the output looks much more like version two.
It appears here < http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/ListItoP >
that it is a PRISM54 .... but - that doesn't support USB?
(I"m guessing now - that there are TWO WG111's -PCMCIA and USB)
SO - 2nd Gen adaptor...
*scratching head* - now what?
many thanks for your assistance....
I COULD run a cable.... but I'm not sure what all that would entail... router.... *construction*....$$$$....just saw a port replicator for my laptop- and has a built in 10/100 lan card.... (Micron)...
many thanks for your input tempestous....
TM
Posted by nicker_equinian on Dec. 04 2005,12:21
Hey all i have a question.I wanted to start my adventure with Linux from those what you call minidistributions and I've chosen DSL 2.0
I have a Ralink RT2400 wireless card and DSL 2.0 doesn't recognize it. I can get the wireless card drivers that are working under Knoppix but how do I install or make them work on DSL? I have it on bootable CD-RW.
Or maybe there is some other way I can make it detect my wireless card?
Please help.
PS. I'm blue Linux so I'd all so use a step by step manual.
Posted by tempestuous on Dec. 04 2005,23:49
TravMan1963I think we're getting our model numbers wrong - it should be Netgear WG111, not WMP111, right?
Sadly, your driver is the new "islsm" branch of the prism54 driver, which is only in early stages of development. It officially only supports 2.6 kernels, so the makefile would have to be hacked. I just downloaded the source now, and the compile goes crazy. Sorry.
Posted by TravMan1963 on Dec. 05 2005,18:03
tempestuoushmmm - where did I cross my wires at?
WG111 is correct - it is a usb device - the sn starts with wg7214 ... which I believe is a v1 device..(according to NG's website) although the flipside of the device says v2.
The output of lsusb -vvv is
0846:4240 which has the Prism54 chipset...
but - as you stated - I'm understanding it is needing a newer islsm 'branch of the Prism54' driver...
All is not lost - the machine will run with the device in win98se - other tests I've performed on the machine usually show a quicker response with DSL... which is the main reason I'm wishing to switch over...
So - I'll just wait till that is updated...
Thanks for your help, tempestuous!