Mandrake Linux and 54Mbps Wlan

[nTropy]

OK day 4 have started in my survival game with linux, everything seems to work well except my pci wlan card. Reading other topics about this I can say that my card is based on Atheros chip (according to Mandrake control center). In this topic Frogger says that Atheros has a good linux support and I need madwifi drivers, but I am new with linux and even Installing madwifi drivers seems complicated.

[mvent2]

Hi ntropy! Welcome to the forum!According to their website, the only way to obtain the MadWifi drivers is through CVS. I don't like the sound of that because CVS is only used by developers to download testing versions which likely have bugs. But, its the only way. Type this in a console (new command for new line):

sucd /usr/local/srccvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/madwifi co madwificd madwifimakemake install

This sets up the driver. Please note since I don't have an Atheros-compatible card Im only reading a README on the MadWifi site. Now do:

modprobe ath_pci

which will load the module. Note you'll have to do this every time you reboot, unless Bruno knows the way to add modprobing every startup?

ifconfig ath0 up

Make sure you've probed the modules with the command above before doing this! ifconfig up sets up the Atheros card in "station mode" ie. as a client, and scans for access points. Now you can use a command to get some info from your Atheros card.

athstats 1

This will print info about the card every 1 second. Running athstats without any options will display a summary of all non-zero statistics from the time the driver was loaded. By default the ath0 device is used; to override this use the -i option.

Edited March 10, 2005 by mvent2

[Bruno]

Hi nTropyWelcome to the forum ! Maybe the madwifi drivers are already installed and loaded ? Could you open a terminal and give the following commands to see if it is in the list ? ( Please post the output on the forum )

su< root-password >lsmod

See if the card is recognized and the driver is loaded it is only a question of configuring it . . . and Julia ( aka teacher ) is our resident widi specialist and can surely help you with that :thumbsup:If after all you still do have to install the driver the info that mvent2 gave you would be usefull Bruno

[teacher]

NDISWRAPPER( Installing Windows Wireless Drivers in Linux )Here is the second Wireless Networking Tip from Julia aka Teacher. If you have a card that is not supported under Linux, this is one way you can get it working with the Windows drivers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The quote above is to the tip where I got my Atheros to work. I had zero luck with madwifi (it is in Mandrake without going to CVS). However, by pulling the driver over from the Windows that came on my laptop I was able to get it going. ;)Since you are using Mandrake be sure and download your NDISwrapper right through the Mandrake Control Center.

[nTropy]

I am losing my patience with my computer (not os), I have problems with my harddrive in the morning it worked well, but now I can't get it work. I return when I get new harddrive or miracle happens and my hd rise from ashes. Thanks for help! I really appreciate it even though I can't test your advices now, but hopefully I am back in business soon.

[nTropy]

Ok I am back.Here's what lsmod gives:Module Size Used byrfcomm 32348 0l2cap 19876 5 rfcommbluetooth 39076 4 rfcomm,l2capsnd-seq-oss 31232 0snd-seq-midi-event 6080 1 snd-seq-osssnd-seq 47440 4 snd-seq-oss,snd-seq-midi-eventsnd-pcm-oss 49480 0snd-mixer-oss 17376 1 snd-pcm-osssnd-via82xx 22372 1snd-ac97-codec 69392 1 snd-via82xxsnd-pcm 81800 2 snd-pcm-oss,snd-via82xxsnd-timer 20356 2 snd-seq,snd-pcmsnd-page-alloc 7400 2 snd-via82xx,snd-pcmgameport 3328 1 snd-via82xxsnd-mpu401-uart 5856 1 snd-via82xxsnd-rawmidi 19300 1 snd-mpu401-uartsnd-seq-device 6344 3 snd-seq-oss,snd-seq,snd-rawmidisnd 45988 13 snd-seq-oss,snd-seq,snd-pcm-oss,snd-mixer-oss,snd-via82xx,snd-ac97-codec,snd-pcm,snd-timer,snd-mpu401-uart,snd-rawmidi,snd-seq-deviceaf_packet 16072 0floppy 55088 0usbhid 41088 0md5 3584 1ipv6 230916 8ide-cd 37280 0cdrom 37724 1 ide-cdloop 12520 0nls_iso8859-15 4224 1nls_cp850 4480 1vfat 11168 1fat 39776 1 vfatsupermount 34804 2via-agp 7360 1agpgart 27752 1 via-agptuner 18320 0tvaudio 20588 0bttv 145676 0video-buf 16868 1 bttvi2c-algo-bit 8712 1 bttvv4l2-common 4896 1 bttvbtcx-risc 3816 1 bttvi2c-core 19060 4 tuner,tvaudio,bttv,i2c-algo-bitvideodev 7168 1 bttvsoundcore 7008 2 snd,bttvuhci-hcd 28752 0usbcore 103172 4 usbhid,uhci-hcdext3 120680 2jbd 49080 1 ext3

Since you are using Mandrake be sure and download your NDISwrapper right through the Mandrake Control Center. smile.gif

I don't have internet connection in linux computer so I can't download from it. I can use CD's or floppy to transfer drivers from other computer. If I must get something directly from linux I must buy longer ethernet cable or setup dial-up connection.

[nTropy]

I installed ndiswrapper from MCC, but I can't find .inf file for my wlan card. I installed drivers in win but from device properties XP tells me that driver used is ar511.ini. I even tried ndiswrapper with that ini file, but no help.Here's setup program that came with my wlan device. http://www.telewell.fi/tuotteet/wlan_pci_5...tw-wlan_pci.exe

Edited March 11, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

That exe file is worthless in Linux. Thank goodness Linux does not know what to do with it. You will have to run that in Windows to install it. Then you will have to locate the file and copy it over to your home directory so you can use it with the ndiswrapper. I had to go to Windows and look under the Hardware Properties under System in the Control Panel to find the driver.Mine is an atheros as well.Here is how I drilled down to mine:

$ su<password># cd /mnt# mount /dev/hda2 /mnt/windows  (My windows is on my second partition.  If yours is on the first then                                                           you would want to change the 2 to a 1).# cd Drivers lsAtheros Wireless LAN/  LCD/                  SmartMC 3S/       version.txtAudio Driver/          Memory Stick Driver/  Touchpad/driver.EXE             Notebook Control/     USB Mouse/Ethernet/              Radeon 9200_IGP 345/  VAIO USB Camera/# cd ..# cd Atheros\ Wireless\ LAN/# lsdata1.cab  EXPASAG.sys  layout.bin   NETASAG.PNF  setup.inxdata1.hdr  ikernel.ex_  NETASAG.CAT  Setup.exedata2.cab  INFCACHE.1   NETASAG.INF  Setup.ini  <--NETASAG was mine!# cp NETASAG.INF /home/julia

Then I was ready to use it with the NDISwrapper.

[nTropy]

I find the inf file and installed it with ndiswrapper, but I cant find wlan0 or something equvalent with iwconfig. Here's what I did and what I have now. Thanks for help so far.[root@localhost windows]# ndiswrapper -i net5211.infInstalling net5211[root@localhost windows]# ndiswrapper -lInstalled ndis drivers:net5211 hardware present[root@localhost windows]# modprobe ndiswrapper[root@localhost windows]# iwconfiglo no wireless extensions.sit0 no wireless extensions.

[teacher]

You have a problem there. You should have a message that you have the hardware present and drivers present . Without the drivers being recognized, you will not be able to go anywhere. Are you sure that is the correct driver for your device? Where did you find it? In Windows? Or did you download it from somewhere.

[nTropy]

Windows control panel says that driver used is ar5211.sys so I searched allover the windows files and find net5211.inf. In start of net5211.inf there are following lines.;/*++;;Copyright © 2003 WLAN Communications, Incorporated All Rights Reserved;;Module Name:;; net5211.inf;;Abstract:; INF file for installing AR5001 Wireless Network Adapter;; Installs ar5211.sys (NDIS 5/5.1 driver) on NT platforms (2000, XP and greater); Installs ar52119x.sys (NDIS 5 driver) on 9x platforms ;;--*/This is how I founded this inf file. There reads "installs ar5211.sys..." so is it necessary to put the inf file and ar5211.sys to same directory or something like that when using ndiswrapper?

[teacher]

This is how I founded this inf file. There reads "installs ar5211.sys..." so is it necessary to put  the inf file and ar5211.sys to same directory or something like that when using ndiswrapper?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes! Everything I have read indicates that if both files exist you then need to put them both in the same place for ndiswrapper to work correctly,Let's hope this is the magic touch your computer needs.

[nTropy]

No it wasn't the magic touch. It didn't have any effect. Ndiswrapper -l still showed only hardware present.I found this thread. It looks little same as mine problem, but I cant understand much from there.http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/sh...threadid=298887Should I install new version of ndiswrapper? How can I see what version I am currently running?

[nTropy]

If you don't see these messages, it usually means that there are no (usable) drivers installed in /etc/ndiswrapper directory. Check if the /etc/ndiswrapper directory has one sub-directory for each driver and if in each driver's directory there are inf, sys and conf files. Otherwise, you may need to repeat step 2.

This was in ndiswrapper installing guide. Ndiswrapper creates net5211 directory, but there are only net5211.inf and bunch of conf files no .sys files. I think this is problem, but I don't know how to fix it.Is this important? Should I remove something?http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki/index.php/Mandrake 10.1://http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/...p/Mandrake 10.1://http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/...p/Mandrake 10.1 Edited March 28, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

I am happy that you have a file in there labeled net5211. That is promising because the numbers are appropriate for your driver. I would not worry about the missing files if they are not in Windows either. If you had the net5211.sys in Windows then I would copy it over.I would not reinstall ndiswrapper with a different version yet. I am going to play with this a bit here as soon as I get my new Mandrake installed tonight to see what kind of messages I get. Have you tried to go on to the next step?I am also going to look at the ACX sourceforge file you referenced. I think if it is not a module you have active then you are fine. Look in your Mandrake Control Center under Services and see if you have a file that looks like the same name running. If not, then don't worry about it.Don't get frustrated. Wireless is rarely nice and neat. We might have to go in and look at linking to the kernel but let's not do that yet.I don't know if I will be back on the forum tomorrow or not. My schedule this week is at my husband's whim as I have promised to take off and go with him a few places. Keep trying and we might even try to continue on without the drivers listed as being present to see if it works.

[nTropy]

I think I don't need net5211.sys becouse I downloaded some atheros drivers and there were net5211.inf, ar5211.sys, and some other files wich I am now going to find and try with all those files at same place.Here's list where I found those other atheros drivers. I used my card pci ID to search correct file.http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki...d8b530390e177d3

[nTropy]

I played with different drivers. I mixed my drivers and drivers from web and so on, only difference I could make was this.

----AT&T 6500G Driver for WinXP -------------------------------------[root@LinuxDuron WinXP]# ls  ar5211.sys*  ar52119x.sys*  net5211.cat*  net5211.inf*[root@LinuxDuron WinXP]# ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf  Installing net5211[root@LinuxDuron WinXP]# ndiswrapper -l  Installed ndis drivers:  net5211 hardward present,fuzzy[root@LinuxDuron WinXP]# cd /etc/ndiswrapper/net5211/[root@LinuxDuron net5211]# ls  ar5211.sys       168C:0013:16AB:7101.conf  168C:0013:16AB:7202.conf  net5211.inf*     168C:0013:16AB:7102.conf  168C:0013:18A3:0427.conf  168C:0013.conf@  168C:0013:16AB:7201.conf  168C:0013:18A3:3001.conf----My own drivers picked from windows-------------------------------------[root@LinuxDuron wlan]# ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf  Installing net5211[root@LinuxDuron wlan]# ndiswrapper -l  Installed ndis drivers:  net5211 hardware present[root@LinuxDuron wlan]# cd /etc/ndiswrapper/net5211/[root@LinuxDuron net5211]# ls  net5211.inf*              168C:0012:168C:2022.conf  168C:0016.conf  168C:0012.conf            168C:0013.conf            168C:0017.conf  168C:0012:144F:7005.conf  168C:0013:144F:7005.conf  168C:0018.conf  168C:0012:168C:1021.conf  168C:0014.conf            168C:0019.conf  168C:0012:168C:1022.conf  168C:0015.conf

When I used atheros drivers I found from web ndiswrapper created ar5211.sys file to ndiswrapper folder, but with my own drivers it didin't happen. Still there's not driver present status and I think "fuzzy" ain't better

[teacher]

nTrophyI would take that ar5211.sys and copy it over to your folder for the ndiswrapper. Let's see what that does. The fact that it uses ar and the other one uses net as a prefix is probably confusing the ndiswrapper.

[nTropy]

Ok have to try It. I am back with results soon.

Edited March 29, 2005 by nTropy

[nTropy]

No it didn't work. I run ndiswrapper with net5211.inf and then copied ar5211.sys to /etc/ndiswrapper/net5211. After that i tried with renaming ar5211.sys to net5211.sys, but no result there wasn't any sys file in ndiswrapper folder.

[nTropy]

Playing again with drivers this time I used atheros v24 drivers I found from web. With these drivers I got ar5211.sys to ndiswrapper folder. Ndiswrapper -l showed only "hardware present" it wasn't "fuzzy" this time.I find out that problem copying .sys file to ndiswrapper folder is in my .inf file, becouse when I replace my original net5211.inf with net5211.inf file I got from web it installs .sys file to ndiswrapper folder.Hopefully you can use this information somehow.

Edited March 29, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

What happens now when you run

 #modprobe ndiswrapper# iwconfig

??

[nTropy]

Excelent it works![root@LinuxDuron lasse]# modprobe ndiswrapper[root@LinuxDuron lasse]# iwconfiglo no wireless extensions.eth0 no wireless extensions.sit0 no wireless extensions.wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"" Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412GHz Access Point: FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF Bit Rate:54Mb/s Encryption key:off Link Quality:0/100 Signal level:-95 dBm Noise level:-256 dBm Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0 Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0Now we only need to configure it. Rigth?

Edited March 29, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

Your next step:

 lwlist wlan0 scan

I will be right here waiting for the results. It should show your ESSID (Are you using default or something else?) and if you are running "Managed - without encryption - or Open. If these things are not right we will go in and change some settings.

[nTropy]

I started to follow instruction on ndiswrappers sitehttp://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki...hp/Installationand I have now set mode to Managed and give rigth essid.

[teacher]

It sounds like you have done everything but the last step. There are three variations that can work. For me the one that works is dhcpcd wlan0. try them and see which works.

#  ifconfig wlan0 up# dhclient wlan0#dhcpcd wlan0 [/c0de]Once you have that done then you are ready to set it so it will boot running each time:[code] # ndiswrapper -m

[nTropy]

It was ifconfig that worked for me, but how I start using wlan instead of my lan.Is there some kind of gui control program for wlan in linux/mandrake?

Edited March 29, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

All you have to do is unplug your cat cable and you should be connected with your wifi. If it goes down just type

#  ifconfig wlan0 up

again. Then simply type in

# ndiswrapper -m

You should be in business.

[nTropy]

Hey it's working now! Now I am writing over wlan. Next thing I need to do is to configure WEP. It shouldn't be hard after this. If I now think this wasn't so hard either only 16 messages to this forum and wlan is up. Thank you so much that it doesn't fit in this text box.I add here specs of my card so that some one else can found this informationTelewell 54Mbps pci carddriver used: atherosv24driver found from ndiswrappers driver listhttp://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/phpwiki...05891ec7144afd9I am not sure anymore if I used this driver or only inf file from this driver and rest of the files from my windows.

Edited March 29, 2005 by nTropy

[teacher]

nTropyThat is great! Congrats!