New Debian user struggling to connect to wireless access point

BGM · 10-28-2009, 04:20 AM

Hi,

I am a new debian user.. have decided to give it a go after playing with ubuntu alot and wanting a bit more flexibility. however am strugging with my wireless network adapter (i'm sure it's quite common).

my laptop has a core duo centrino, and is around 3.5 years old.. and am fairly confident that i have a Intel PRO/Wireless 3945, as the debian install was moaning that it didnt have the iwlwifi drivers necessary.

So, i added a non-free source to my /etc/apt/sources.list and did

Quote:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install firmware-iwlwifi

and that seemed to work fine, after a reboot, iwconfig shows a wlan0 interface so, i guess it should now just be a matter of plugging in the correct settings?

and this is where i have a problem, i am using WPA2-PSK TKIP, and am just not sure if i'm plugging in the settings correctly.. or even if i'm doing it in the right place..

i have modified some settings in my interfaces file.. something like..

Quote:

# wlan
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-ssid AP-Name
wpa-psk pass_key_goes_here
wpa-key-mgmt WPA-PSK

but i'm really just stabbing in the dark..

so, how/where do i stick the settings to connect up to my AP?

* perhaps the driver i am suing does not support WPA2-PSK?
* perhaps i have entered in incorrect settings into interface
* perhaps i need to manually 'bring the interface up'
* perhaps there is a graphical tool i can use to scan for access points! (this would be amazing!!

)

any help would be very much appreciated, i am a bit fed up of sitting in my cupboard (the only place with a wired connection in my apartment!)

thanks!

Chris

repo · 10-28-2009, 04:28 AM

You need to install
wpa_supplicant

Code:

apt-get install wpasupplicant

see
http://wiki.debian.org/WPA
http://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse

BGM · 10-28-2009, 05:08 AM

aha... looks good!

i am at work right now, (thought about bringing my laptop in with me, but knew no work would get done if i did!!

), so will try this as soon as i get home

thanks!

BGM · 10-29-2009, 04:14 AM

righto, it turned out that wpasupplicant was actually already installed.. and after much fiddling around i did manage to my wireless to connect with dhcp

all i did was place speech marks around the wpa-psk, removed the key-mgmt section and after taking down and bringing up the wlan0 interface it all connects!

Code:

# wlan
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-ssid AP-Name
wpa-psk "pass_key_goes_here"

i set it to auto connect on boot, but it keeps attempting to get a dhcp lease for eth0 first.. and taking ages to timeout! is there any way to fix this?

in addition, i still need an access point scan tool.. going to give wifi wiz a go tonight

cheers