Setting up wireless with DSL

skullkid2424 · 05-23-2010, 10:15 PM

Hey, I'm very very new to linux, and I'm booting DSL off of a USB key on a used laptop I just got. I need help figuring out wireless, starting with what the wireless card is, then which driver is needed, and then I think I can use ndiswrapper to install the driver and go from there. I was told to do 'lspci -knn' to figure out what I'm looking for, and ill post (some) of the results here and hopefully someone can help me out (not all because I'm retyping the output on my computer that has internet working)

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller hub [8086:27a0] (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port [8086:27a1] (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporatoin 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporatoin 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d4] (rev 02)
04:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection  [8086:4222] (rev 02)
05:05.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconducto Co., Ltd. RTL-8169 Gigabit Ethernet [10ec:8169] (rev 10)
              Kernel modules: r8169

If anyone could guide me through figuring this out, it would be much appreciated. (I left out a lot, let me know if the results of any of these might help: Audio Device, USB Controller, ISA bridge, IDE interface, SMBus, VGA compatible controller, Firewire)

Thanks!

onebuck · 05-24-2010, 07:12 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Since you are aware of the 'cli'. You should now be able to look at the logs to aid in diagnosis. The logs are a means to show potential errors or details to allow one to find useful information that may trail to potential solutions. Look within '/var/log' with the use of 'ls /var/log' to see the various logs. The 'dmesg' is one log you should look at since it is your communication from the kernel;

Quote:

excerpt 'man dmesg';
NAME
dmesg - print or control the kernel ring buffer

SYNOPSIS
dmesg [ -c ] [ -n level ] [ -s bufsize ]

DESCRIPTION
dmesg is used to examine or control the kernel ring buffer.

The program helps users to print out their bootup messages. Instead of copying the messages by
hand, the user need only:
dmesg > boot.messages
and mail the boot.messages file to whoever can debug their problem.

Instead of typing everything you can do redirection: 'dmesg >my_dmesg' from the 'cli' would output to the file 'my_dmesg' which could be placed within the content of your post via the vbcode tags # or quote. When using extremely long lists the # will place a scroll bar on the text window thus making your post cleaner & easier to read. Long quotes just make things harder to read within the thread.

You can also use 'lspci -vv| grep -i wireless' to;

Code:

~# lspci -vv |grep -i wireless
        Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1490 Dual Band WLAN Mini-Card

Please note that '|' is the pipe which on most keyboards will be a 'shift \' which if you are going to be on the 'cli' then a very valuable tool.

'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' would be one link you should look at to help us to help you in the future. This will also help you to understand formulation & thought in diagnosis.

The links below should be useful throughout your GNU/Linux experience;

Linux Documentation Project
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Linux Command Guide
Bash Reference Manual
Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux Newbie Admin Guide
LinuxSelfHelp
Getting Started with Linux

The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

skullkid2424 · 05-24-2010, 05:18 PM

Alright - I now know which wireless card I have, and (I think...) I have the right driver. I've been attempting to use ndiswrapper to install the driver (link to guide: ndiswrapper guide). I am under the section "Using Ndiswrapper to Install the Driver", and having trouble. After using 'sudo ndiswrapper -i filename.txt' to install the driver, it appears to have installed. However the next instructions are where I am stuck.

I believe I am supposed to edit the module configuration (located at /etc/modules) and add "ndiswrapper" to the last line and save it. Then I should reboot my computer and I should be able to use wireless. I copied the modules file to home, edited it there, then used sudo to remove the modules in /etc and replaced it with my edited version. I am using backup for persistence in DSL , although it appears that the /etc/modules doesn't back up and is an invalid option to add to the filetool.

Without rebooting, 'wlcardconfig' still claims there is no wireless card detected, and if i reboot, modules will lose the line containing 'ndiswrapper'. Also after rebooting ndiswrapper -l shows no drivers installed...

Anyone see a way to get thie working? Or know an easier way altogether?

random relevant information
wireless card: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
dsl (i believe 4.4) booting from USB
kernal 2.4.31
driver file contains : NETw5x32.INF and NETw5x32.sys

onebuck · 05-25-2010, 09:11 AM

Hi,

Quote:

excerpt http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/f/topic-3-7-18938-0.html
NETw4x32.INF
NETw4x32.CAT
NETw4x32.sys

Use ndiswrapper as follows:

ndiswrapper -i NETw4x32.INF
modprobe ndiswrapper
iwconfig wlan0 essid <sid name> key <hexadecimal wep key>

I couldn't get dhcp to work, so I had to edit /etc/resolv.conf and set up the route by hand. But I now have internet access!!