[SOLVED] Warning: Dumb Question Here: SlackWare Wireless Setup for Dummies.

Bull3t · 08-25-2010, 07:30 PM

Ok, maybe I am not a dummy, but configuring SlackWare to boot up with wireless is seeming to be a problem. Now I'll know what your say, "Bull3t go look at this page"
http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:network
But, uh.. yeah that is spanglish to me. And while I would love to sit down and figure out how everything works (I seriously do want to) I need to be on-line ASAP. So instead of learning now and fixing later, I'd like to , well uh, fix now and learn later.

So if anyone knows of a easier guide to follow, or has any tips for me they would be appreciated. By the way, I tried using the wpa_gui program, (which I guess is default?) with no luck. It failed to scan for me. I have heard of the program Wicd, which is a gui but it didn't come pre-installed, and I wasn't sure if that would help much since the other didn't.

Ok, thanks =]

Peacedog · 08-25-2010, 07:42 PM

Hi Bull3t, Welcome to LQ. Go look at this...Just kidding. Is the wireless interface up and functioning? Please post the output from the following:

Code:

$ /sbin/lspci -v | grep Network
$ /sbin/lsmod
$ /sbin/ifconfig -a
$ /sbin/iwconfig

I'd recommend wicd as it should make your life easier. You can find it in /extra.

Good luck. ;-)

patostevens · 08-25-2010, 08:04 PM

Since I am terminally ADD, I have always used WICD. It works great for me and is very easy to configure. As Peacedog pointed out, it is located in the /extra directory of your install DVD. Wicd has just worked on both laptops and desktops for me. Good luck.

Richard Cranium · 08-26-2010, 12:26 AM

The drawback to wicd is that you won't be able to automatically mount NFS shares or any other remote mounts found in /etc/fstab.

powerball · 08-26-2010, 03:45 AM

Hi Bull3t this is what I do to get my wireless working, hope it helps somebody.

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 up
iwlist wlan0 scan

Then find and enter the login info of your router:

Code:

iwconfig wlan0 essid <Router Name>
iwconfig wlan0 mode Managed
iwconfig wlan0 enc <Router Password>
dhcpcd wlan0

You can then add that to '/etc/rc.d/rc.local' to connect at startup.

Bruce Hill · 08-26-2010, 04:58 AM

It is much easier to use the scripts that are made for Slackware;
specifically /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf for the configuration and
/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf for the WPA settings.

The wicd software is good if all you want to do is join open wireless
access points like Windows with a little popup box.

onebuck · 08-26-2010, 08:07 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

It doesn't get any plainer or easier than the http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:network link.

It's is not cryptic but plainly written for a general audience.

If you are having difficulty then present your question or problems clearly so we can help.

Slackware is not a hold your hand distribution. Things are clear and not hidden so once you know your way then things can be setup rather easily.

Just a few useful links;
Slackware® Essentials
Slackware® Basics
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!

tronayne · 08-26-2010, 08:46 AM

One other little thing that may be worth noting -- if you're running, say, a Dell laptop the transceiver (the actual wi-fi radio) may not come up at boot (at least mine did not and it took a whole lot of screwing around to figure that out). You may need to press the appropriate function key to turn it on (and a second press turns it off). As other have urged, WICD makes your life easier, it's simple to install and you really don't have to do much if any fiddling with it; just install, reboot, and away you go. When you start WICD, you should see one or more available wi-fi sites displayed -- if you don't, try the transceiver function key and refresh WICD and see what happens.

Hope this helps some.

brooko · 08-26-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Cranium

The drawback to wicd is that you won't be able to automatically mount NFS shares or any other remote mounts found in /etc/fstab.

True, but it does allow you to run a script on connection & disconnection, which can mount/unmount any shares as required.

I still prefer the /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 way of doing things though.

On my box i have wireless configure through the rc.inet1 scripts and have wicd installed to merely give me a wireless link up/down/strength visual status. Which seems to work ok for me. I know it can be problematic with both running together but i've not found this.

Bull3t · 08-26-2010, 08:24 PM

Wow! Thanks for the responses everyone.

I got it working fairly easily. It was just my lame skills at using the shell holding me back. =]

Thanks!