[SOLVED] How can I connect to a wireless network without GUI app?

ochi12 · 09-11-2014, 06:00 PM

I just installed i3wm(http://i3wm.org/) a minimalist window manager. I am getting used to it, but i still can't figure out how to connect to a wireless network.
I used to do it with the gnome environment, but i3 doesn't provide a way to do it automatically.

Is there an easy way to connect to a network(eg, a third party app) or should i do it from the terminal?(how do i do it from the terminal anyway)

frankbell · 09-11-2014, 08:34 PM

What distro/version and what network manager are you using?

I know the wicd has a ncurses interface. I think it's called wicd-curses.

This article explains how to do it with wpa_supplicant: http://substack.net/wireless_from_th..._line_in_linux

There are probably other ways.

ochi12 · 09-11-2014, 10:41 PM

I'm running on debian.How can i know my network manager? everything came installed by default on my laptop so i don't know my network manager.

erik2282 · 09-11-2014, 11:29 PM

onebuck · 09-12-2014, 10:40 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ochi12

I just installed i3wm(http://i3wm.org/) a minimalist window manager. I am getting used to it, but i still can't figure out how to connect to a wireless network.
I used to do it with the gnome environment, but i3 doesn't provide a way to do it automatically.

Is there an easy way to connect to a network(eg, a third party app) or should i do it from the terminal?(how do i do it from the terminal anyway)

You could use the following from console as root;

Quote:

You should have your '/etc/resolv.conf' setup with your 'ISP DNS' nameservers.

sample '/etc/resolv.conf';

Code:

 search 192.168.0.1 #if this happens to be your DNS 
 nameserver xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx   #ISP DSN 'replace xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
                              #with IP from your ISP
 nameserver 4.2.2.1           #Verizon third level DNS
 nameserver 4.2.2.2           #if needed
 nameserver 4.2.2.3
 nameserver 4.2.2.4

You could setup a static IP first, do as root from cli.

Code:

 ~#ifconfig wlan0 192.168.0.18    #<<< available IP
 ~#route add default gw 192.168.0.1 #<<your gateway
 ~#iwlist wlan0 scan #<< use information to fill in for essid & ap information
 ~#iwconfig wlan0 essid "Your Wireless"
 ~#iwconfig wlan0 key your_key_here
 ~#iwconfig wlan0 ap xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx #<<Your _ap_from iwlist

Test it;

Code:

 ~#route -n                         #show the route table
  ~#ifconfig wlan0 up                #should be up already
  ~#ping 192.168.0.1                 #ping your gateway
  ~#ping 208.69.32.130               #google.com IP
  ~#ping google.com                  #test DNS, if fail then
                                     #check /etc/resolv.conf

I use the script below to setup my wireless while experimenting.

Code:

   wlan.sh;
  #start here
#----------------------- cut-------------------
 #!/bin/bash
 #
 #10-26-09 13:30 gws
 #setup the wlan0 device
 #
 /sbin/ifconfig wlan0 192.168.0.18  #available IP
 /sbin/route add default gw 192.168.0.1
 /sbin/iwconfig wlan0 essid "Your_Wireless_Access"
 /sbin/iwconfig wlan0 key Place Your_key
 /sbin/iwconfig wlan0 ap 00:00:00:00:00:00 << your AP HW address from above iwlist scan
#-----------------------Cut------------------
 #end here

Be sure to include essid, key and AP for the above sample.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

ochi12 · 09-12-2014, 12:43 PM

I just installe wcid to make it easier. It's a nice app that allows you to connect to wireless and wired networks. Thanks