Hello,

I'm very new to this. I recently had Linux/Ubuntu installed on my Dell
XPS laptop. I could get to the internet hard wired, but once I tried to go wireless at home, I kept getting Wireless Passphrase needed. What is this? I have an Actiontec router/modem. Previously I had no problems with windows & getting online with my laptop wirelessly. I've called my internet provider (QWest DSL) and they couldn't figure it out. Do anyone of you have any suggestions?? If I've posted in the wrong place, please forgive. Thanks, Denice

A passphrase is basically a password which is needed to connect to an encrypted wireless access point. If you didn't need a passphrase before, possibly you are trying to connect to the wrong access point, maybe your neighbor?

Thanks for the info. I live in a house where one room (another person) has a desk top and uses Windows and now I use the Linux/Ubuntu so maybe that is the problem. I think I may need to go to my laptop and try again and then get the exact wording if it doesn't work this time. I think it said it was searching for network access and found the router I use which is Actiontec and then asked for the wireless networking passphrase. I think I can probably get help here, once I get the exact wording correct. thanks again!

I could also be possible that you or someone else had already setup and stored the pass phrase information on your windows machine at an earlier time and since then you did not notice it since then.
I would suggest connecting to the router on a wired connection and check the wireless settings and determine if it has wireless security setup. If it does you should be able to get the pass phrase depending on what encryption is being used.

Thanks for your help. Everyone seems so helpful here. I'll work on it tonight when I get home.