Wireless in Linux? Anyone succeeded?

801.11b Wireless cards do exists since 2 years. There is still no Linux distribution which is able to deliver proper drivers.

I found this site:
http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net

The driver installation seems to me like writing a Masters Thesis. I wish the Linux-world would make some better step by step guides in order to convince more Windows Users.

There is not only a need for a driver but also Firmware-packages. I have copied the Firmware to the right place, just to install the driver it self, seems to be even more complicated.

Does anyone know any step-by-step guide, how to make a 2 years old technology work on the mighty Linux?

Best Regards,
Houmie

Hi mjolnir,

Yes I was talking about ipw2100. But it is still bad enough not having the firmware in the distribution. The linux readme files are just for the pros. I mean even Windows readme files explain how to install a software, even it is just a dump doubleclick on a exe file.

Sorry, if I sound so negative. I just see the potential of Linux on the one hand and the incompetence of making things more easy or better understandable for noobs like me. So why are we then wondering, when not many people are ready to switch to Linux? I am working since two days on Linux (First Mandrake 10.1, which was a catastrophe and now Suse 9.2, which seems to be better) just to make basic stuff like making wireless and a damn ATI driver work for a better resolution. For this stuff you would need 10 min in Windows.

Ok anyways enough whining. I need Linux and have to refresh my Shell Script skills from school. I wanted to thank you all for your help.

The steps you mentioned were already done by myself. However after 'make' I get error messages. In that case 'make install' won't work neither.

I use Suse 9.2 with the newest kernel. I tried to figure out if the kernel has the #define CONFIG_NET_RADIO 1 or on null.

grep CONFIG_NET_RADIO /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build/include/linux/autoconf.h


This command doesn't work. It says the directory doesn't exist. I tried to figure out, if Suse has a slightly different directiory for its Kernel, but couldn't find it.

The firmwares are from beginning in the hotplug folder. Is that a problem?

I have the newest Kernel. SO it should work. But do I get the right stuff into te Kernel? Does it mean I have to compile it? Any guides somewhere?

BTW, the Readme says by using command the older versions of the wireless stuff should show up. These have to be removed from the disk.

for i in ieee80211 ipw2100; do find /lib/modules/`uname -r` -iname ${i}*; done

Well, I did so and moved the files to a safe place. Things like Crypto modules. The read me is also talking about the newest version of this Crupto stuff. But it doesn't say where to get them. How do I get or install them?

Dude, you do not need to make any advertisement for the mighty linux. I am already convinced. Go and try it for some Windows freaks. However I have the right to criticize stuff which could get some improvement.

BTW I have explained step by step whats wrong. It is not like I came here to whine about your mighty linux. So if you want to help me its fine, and if not, its fine with me too.

Cheers
Houmie

Hi mjolnir,

I ve done that and it worked fine. No error messages.

The Kernel I am using is 2.6.8.11. The crypto modules are in the Kernel as far as I could figure out.

I read something about IWCONFIG and SYSFS File system. You have also mentioned the second one.

iwconfig says:
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
sit0 no wireless extensions.

Where do I get Sysfs? Is that a package which I could install from the add/remove Software in Yast? What is the purpose of this software?

The drivers seem to be alright now. How do I manage to enter the network ID, WAP key and stuff.

Would be great, if you could give me some more tips.

Regards
Houmie

Ok Good news.

After 4 hours of trying to bind and compile the driver into the Kernel it failed. ;o) But I learned a lot though.

The big problem is Intel is providing an old version but includes also a very detailed README file.
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...inux_1_0_0.tgz

Intel supports an opensource community who are working on this driver. This driver in Version 1.05 however has a super tiny Readme file. I though first they would be identical, but they aren't.

So the Linux freaks ASSUME that everyone knows how it works and make the wonderful README file just shorter. If you never have downloaded version 1.0.0. you would never know of the existence of such a great Readme.

And here we are back to my bitching at the beginning. These "Assumptions" that everyone knows how it works, makes the community grow much slower.

However I managed to install the drivers Externaly. SO the network is up. Yeaaahhh.

Only problem, my connection is encrypted, so how do I enter the Security WEP/WAP information into the Network? Which tool does it? C'mon guys give me a hand, I am almost there.

Thanks
Houmie

Hi DimGR,

Thanks for your help. Everytime I need Internet I have to switch back to Windows right now. After rebooting back to Linux, I can't load the driver anymore. iwconfig don't find any wireless card anymore. (

I have to keep trying...

Houmie