Absolutely Zero access to the Internet

ComplexArtist · 09-13-2008, 08:07 PM

I'm currently dual booting Windows XP and Ubuntu (Hardy Heron).

I can only access the internet through the wireless card (Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card).

I have yet to succeed at connecting to a wireless internet connection because of my inability to connect to the internet some other way. I've read several guides, and all have require a previous connection (for lines of code with "wget", often to get drivers or ndiswrapper).

So, I need to know, without another access to the internet, am I doomed to an Internet-less Linux existence?

If not, please, any advice would be extremely appreciated.

MensaWater · 09-13-2008, 08:20 PM

I'm guessing you're saying you can get to the internet from the Windows boot?

If so just do the downloads while you're in Windows then boot into Linux and mount the Windows partition so you can copy the files into the Linux partition(s).

Alternatively you could see if there is LUG (Linux Users Group) in your area and ask them. Most LUG folks are more than happy to share to get others to use Linux.

ComplexArtist · 09-13-2008, 08:22 PM

I ought to specify.

When I boot Windows XP, I have clear access to the internet, and full use of my wireless card.

When I boot Ubuntu, the Network Manager proves useless to me in every way.

stress_junkie · 09-13-2008, 08:23 PM

How much experience do you have with Linux? For example do you know what ndiswrapper is?

If you already have ndiswrapper on your machine then you should be able to use the Windows wireless driver.

BTW here is a security notice about your hardware.

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...doclang=en&cs=

from this page

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...s+1390&cat=all

It looks like the first url didn't get completely copied.

Unfortunately for you I am using Kubuntu so I don't know what wireless network configuration applications are available on Ubuntu with Gnome. On Kubuntu you can use KNetworkManager to configure wireless connections. It's pretty easy to use.

ComplexArtist · 09-13-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stress_junkie

How much experience do you have with Linux? For example do you know what ndiswrapper is?

If you already have ndiswrapper on your machine then you should be able to use the Windows wireless driver.

I have enough experience with Linux to know basic installation, partitioning, etc.

I do know what ndiswrapper is, and have avoided using it, as per the advice pertaining to the success rate of it being compatible to my wireless card.

Thus, the previous attempts to connect I have cleaned the system, then proceeded to attempt to connect. Several times starting out I attempted to use it, to no avail.

Also, thank you for the security announcement.

Hangdog42 · 09-14-2008, 08:06 AM

Dell has a bit of a predilection for Broadcom wireless cards, which is unfortunate since Broadcom doesn't see fit to cooperate with the Linux world. However, before going off the deep end, lets get some data to be sure of what we're working with. Please post the output of lspci and lsmod and we'll go from there.

masonm · 09-14-2008, 08:58 AM

If the card is a Broadcom card ndiswrapper is probably going to be your best option.

As suggested, list your specifics and go from there.

ComplexArtist · 09-14-2008, 04:21 PM

lpsci:

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 Host Bridge (rev 10) 
00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 PCI Bridge 
00:05.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 PCI Bridge 
00:06.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc RS480 PCI Bridge 
00:12.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA 
00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI0) 
00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI1) 
00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI2) 
00:13.3 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI3) 
00:13.4 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI4) 
00:13.5 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB Controller (EHCI) 
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 13) 
00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 IDE 
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia 
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to LPC Bridge 
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge 
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration 
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map 
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller 
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control 
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RS485 [Radeon Xpress 1100 IGP] 
05:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM94311MCG wlan mini-PCI (rev 01) 
08:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02) 
08:01.0 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 19) 
08:01.1 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C843 MMC Host Controller (rev 01)

lsmod:

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by 
usblp                  15872  0 
ipv6                  267780  8 
rfcomm                 41744  2 
l2cap                  25728  13 rfcomm 
bluetooth              61156  4 rfcomm,l2cap 
rfkill_input            5504  0 
ppdev                  10372  0 
powernow_k8            16704  0 
cpufreq_userspace       5284  0 
cpufreq_powersave       2688  0 
cpufreq_conservative     8712  0 
cpufreq_ondemand        9740  1 
cpufreq_stats           7104  0 
freq_table              5536  3 powernow_k8,cpufreq_ondemand,cpufreq_stats 
container               5632  0 
sbs                    15112  0 
video                  19856  0 
output                  4736  1 video 
sbshc                   7680  1 sbs 
dock                   11280  0 
iptable_filter          3840  0 
ip_tables              14820  1 iptable_filter 
x_tables               16132  1 ip_tables 
parport_pc             36260  0 
lp                     12324  0 
parport                37832  3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp 
arc4                    2944  2 
ecb                     4480  2 
blkcipher               8324  1 ecb 
joydev                 13120  0 
b43                   144420  0 
rfkill                  8592  219 rfkill_input,b43 
mac80211              165652  1 b43 
cfg80211               15112  1 mac80211 
led_class               6020  1 b43 
input_polldev           5896  1 b43 
snd_hda_intel         344728  3 
ide_cd                 32544  0 
cdrom                  37408  1 ide_cd 
snd_pcm_oss            42144  0 
snd_mixer_oss          17920  1 snd_pcm_oss 
snd_pcm                78596  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss 
snd_page_alloc         11400  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm 
snd_hwdep              10500  1 snd_hda_intel 
snd_seq_dummy           4868  0 
snd_seq_oss            35584  0 
snd_seq_midi            9376  0 
snd_rawmidi            25760  1 snd_seq_midi 
snd_seq_midi_event      8320  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi 
psmouse                40336  0 
sdhci                  19076  0 
snd_seq                54224  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event 
snd_timer              24836  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq 
snd_seq_device          9612  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq 
serio_raw               7940  0 
ricoh_mmc               4352  0 
mmc_core               51460  1 sdhci 
battery                14212  0 
ac                      6916  0 
ati_agp                 9996  0 
i2c_piix4               9612  0 
snd                    56996  17 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device 
button                  9232  0 
pata_atiixp             8960  0 
ata_generic             8324  0 
pata_acpi               8320  0 
agpgart                34760  1 ati_agp 
k8temp                  6656  0 
shpchp                 34452  0 
pci_hotplug            30880  1 shpchp 
dcdbas                  9504  0 
i2c_core               24832  1 i2c_piix4 
soundcore               8800  1 snd 
evdev                  13056  29 
pcspkr                  4224  0 
ext3                  136712  1 
jbd                    48404  1 ext3 
mbcache                 9600  1 ext3 
loop                   18948  2 
usbhid                 31872  0 
hid                    38784  1 usbhid 
sg                     36880  0 
sd_mod                 30720  2 
b44                    28432  0 
mii                     6400  1 b44 
atiixp                  5648  0 [permanent] 
ehci_hcd               37900  0 
ohci_hcd               25348  0 
ide_core              113996  2 ide_cd,atiixp 
ahci                   28420  1 
usbcore               146028  5 usblp,usbhid,ehci_hcd,ohci_hcd 
libata                159344  4 pata_atiixp,ata_generic,pata_acpi,ahci 
scsi_mod              151436  3 sg,sd_mod,libata 
ssb                    34308  2 b43,b44 
thermal                16796  0 
processor              36872  3 powernow_k8,thermal 
fan                     5636  0 
fbcon                  42912  0 
tileblit                3456  1 fbcon 
font                    9472  1 fbcon 
bitblit                 6784  1 fbcon 
softcursor              3072  1 bitblit 
fuse                   50580  5

Hangdog42 · 09-14-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

05:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM94311MCG wlan mini-PCI (rev 01)

OK, that is you wireless card from your lspci, and from lsmod we see......

Quote:

b43 144420 0

Which is the native linux driver. What is almost certainly missing from this equation is the firmware. You might do some searching and see if someone has posted a firmware RPM for Broadcom wireless cards. CentOS can't distribute it because of licensing reasons, but someone else might. Otherwise, have a visit to the b43 site and have a read about how to install firmware.

Now do be aware that the b43 driver can be flaky since it was developed entirely by reverse engineering. A lot of people with Broadcom stuff prefer using ndiswrapper and the Windows driver. If you go that route, be sure to blacklist b43, and possibly ssb as well.