[SOLVED] Confused about linux.

bendib · 05-01-2010, 09:21 AM

Yes. I could not get ath (from the compat-wireless tarball) to build independently, but it turned out the newest kernel 2.6.33.3 included it, but had it disabled. I also saw some unchecked broadcom drivers as well, which is why I brought this to the table.

bendib · 05-01-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XavierP

I have the 4306 card and "sudo aptitude install b43-fwcutter" works without any problems for me. No need to recompile or to use Ndiswrapper.

Good, because I awlays get mad at the thought of NDISwrapper and it's love of kernel-panicking Fedora.

kamon · 05-01-2010, 01:52 PM

I know you all probably think I'm pretty stupid already but... what's ndiswrapper?

sycamorex · 05-01-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamon

I know you all probably think I'm pretty stupid already but... what's ndiswrapper?

Believe or not, we were not born knowing what ndiswrapper is. At some point we didn't know it either

It's a driver wrapper which will make it possible to use Windows drivers on linux. For that reason it's only recommended when one cannot get native linux drivers working.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDISwrapper

EricTRA · 05-01-2010, 01:58 PM

Hello kamon,

Nobody will think you're stupid. You are learning after all!

This is a quote from Wikipedia:

Quote:

NDISwrapper is a free software driver wrapper that enables the use of Windows XP drivers for network devices (cards, USB modems, and routers), on Unix-like operating systems, for devices sharing the same architecture only, namely either IA-32 or x86-64. NDISwrapper works by implementing the Windows kernel and NDIS APIs, and dynamically linking the driver to this implementation.
Native drivers for Unix and Linux are not available for some network adapters, as manufacturers supply neither drivers nor the information required to write them. NDISwrapper allows Windows drivers available for virtually all adapters to be used under Unix and Linux.

So, basically you can use the Windows driver for your network card under Linux, by using NDISwrapper.

Kind regards,

Eric

bendib · 05-01-2010, 01:59 PM

OK Kamon. It's a program that lets you use wifi card drivers from windows under Linux. It does not always work, but it might help you. You'll have to find the windows driver for your card. It's actually how I have an old PC at the other end of the house chugging along running Slitaz Linux. NDISWrapper is the ONLY thing that I have found that will make Linux recognize this card.

EricTRA · 05-01-2010, 01:59 PM

Beaten by sycamorex by seconds!!

bendib · 05-01-2010, 01:59 PM

And then I see everyone else beat me to it. Dammit.

kamon · 05-01-2010, 02:04 PM

Well I think I'm out of options because I've tried pretty much everything else, can anyone please give me step by step instructions on how to use ndiswrapper?

bendib · 05-01-2010, 02:08 PM

You use Ubuntu? sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper. I forget how to configure it, but if I remember, it's not too hard. I gotta head out for a bit, but I'll be back with cheap and untested instructions later. Better yet, maybe someone else can fill in for me with expensive and rigorously tested instructions.

sycamorex · 05-01-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Beaten by sycamorex by seconds!!

Quote:

And then I see everyone else beat me to it. Dammit.

Out of London, /dev/null and Barcelona - London is closest to Manchester (where OP lives)

sycamorex · 05-01-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamon

Well I think I'm out of options because I've tried pretty much everything else, can anyone please give me step by step instructions on how to use ndiswrapper?

kamon, I posted the link to instructions in one of my previous posts in this thread. Try it. If in doubt, ask.

EricTRA · 05-01-2010, 02:15 PM

Hello,

Have a look a this documentation on the Ubuntu Help site. It has step by step instruction for Ubuntu, from installation to configuration. Although the latest version mentioned is 9.10 it should also be applicable to the latest version.

Kind regards,

Eric

sycamorex · 05-01-2010, 02:15 PM

Better still, if you are not comfortable with the command line, you could use ndisgtk (available in ubuntu repositories), which is a graphical frontend for ndiswrapper.

EricTRA · 05-01-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamorex

Better still, if you are not comfortable with the command line, you could use ndisgtk (available in ubuntu repositories), which is a graphical frontend for ndiswrapper.

And which is referred to in the documentation link I posted in previous post.

Kind regards,

Eric