Linux WiFi Manual

[Dotan Cohen]

On 19/07/07, Karl Larsen <k5di at zianet.com> wrote:
>     Here is the final version of this short manual. I think it will help
> those trying to get WiFi working. At least that was the goal.
>
>
>
>                 How to get WiFi working on your lap-top
>
>     It has been hard to get the wifi that works so well on your Windows
> XP to work when you select Linux at boot time.This paper will show a
> step by step process that will get the modern laptop working.
>
> I:    First, in this example, I must learn the name of my WiFi hardware.
> This can be done by opening a Terminal, becoming root, and entering
> 'lspci'.
>
> 00:09.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5212
> 802.11abg NIC (rev 01)
> 00:0a.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI7420 CardBus Controller
> 00:0f.0 IDE interface: ALi Corporation M5229 IDE (rev c4)
> 00:12.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
> RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
>
> Notice there are two items called Ethernet controller. But notice the
> Atheros says it handles 802.11abg which is what WiFi is, So now we know
> this laptop has hardware made by Atheros Communications, Inc.
>
> II:    The second step is to find out what Linux software is written for
> our hardware. I used a great web page at:
>
> http://linux-wless.passys.nl/
>
> I went to this web page and at the first choice selected Sony. I then
> hit Show and in the green band was Atheros and it says I need the
> MadWiFi package and directs me to their web page. There you look at the
> HowTo page and learn the actual kernel module is called "ath_pci" and
> that call will get it working and it will call all the other needed
> modules. The next step is to find a kernel with this software in it that
> will make my laptop work.
>
> III:    Either find a kernel that has the drivers in module form, or
> find a kernel modification that has the MadWiFi package. When done test
> the kernel. This can be done by opening a Terminal, becoming root, and
> entering 'modprobe ath_pci'.
>
>     I used "service network reboot" and it came back up with two
> Internet sources, eth0 and ath0 listed. It showed no eth0 and ath0 was
> not turned on. I told it to turn on ath0 and it did and the WiFi
> Internet started working.
>
> IV:
>
>     Listed next is four laptop hardware systems I know about.
>
>   Hardware              Software        modprobe
>
>   Atheros Comm           madwifi        ath_pci
>
>   Intel old              IEEE80211      ipw2200
>
>   IntelPro 3945          IEEE80211      ipw3945
>
>   Broadcom BCM 4318      MAC80211       bcm43xx
>
>
> V:    There is a network system available in at least Fedora Core 6 and
> Fedora 7 called NetworkManager. You will want to set that up at least on
> your laptop. I have it on both computers. Caution! Turn off network if
> your using NetworkManager. Be aware that not everyone likes this
> software and some say that it will not work well with some WiFi systems.
> I can only say it works just fine for me.
>
>     Open a Terminal, become root, and enter cd /etc/rc.d/init.d/ and you
> will see a lot of applications listed. Now do:
> chkconfig network off
> chkconfig NetworkManager on
> chkconfig NetworkManagerDispatcher on.
>
>     Look at the two tiny computers near your name on the top edge near
> your name and click on them. It will tell you what it is doing. There is
> a good way to check overall performance with 'nm-tool'. This can be done
> by opening a Terminal, becoming root, and entering 'nm-tool'.
>
> VI:    Follow the same steps I did with my laptop and replace mine with
> yours. I hope your laptop is using one of the about 50 hardware packages
> in the the web page above. And you wind up quickly with a working Linux
> laptop. If your laptop is quite old it is possible this method will not
> work.
>
> Karl Larsen
> Chris Mohler
>

Karl, would you mind if I republish your final draft on
http://dotancohen.com? I have a few Linux howtos, and this seems like
something that I will certain want to reference.

Dotan Cohen

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