How to set up network in suse 10.2
 

I installed Suse 10.2 from a DVD that came with Linux format magazine. It seemed to install Ok and boots up my Acer Aspire 5102 laptop.

I had to skip the section on network configuration because I didn't understand how to do it. I would like to get the laptop to connect to my home secure wireless network but don't know how. I can find the Yast configuration tools but are way beyond my skills and understanding of linux.

I have run some Linux Live CD's which detected everything and set up most things for me when I installed them (Kubuntu and Puppy) to an external hard drive and flash drive. I know I have an atho wireless connection, know name of home network, password for security protection but how do I figure out all the other things to get it set up.

You will need to install madwifi to make the wireless card work, then you can set it up in YaST. This is all quite easy, there is a guide at http://www.softwareinreview.com/cms/content/view/60

Thanks for the kind response and encouragement. I had found the guide before when searching for help but it appears to me to be a guide on what software to install once you have an internet connection to make Suse 10.2 functional. It also seems to be for people with a higher degree of experience and understanding of Linux than a novice user. Thus it didn't sound very easy to me. Some of it also seemed very confusing like why would you add things for graphics when graphics seem fine in Suse after it was installed, it was just internet connection that was lacking but then that is main purpose of running linux anyway.

I heard from another source that Suse 10.2 driver doesn't work for wireless connections. I know Kubuntu 6.10 had a similar problem but it worked fine in version 6.06. So will madwifi fix the wireless driver problem in Suse 10.2 software if that is the problem. I did find kwifimanager on the DVD and install that and it detected no networks of any kind so it not just a case of configuring the connection software to make it work. If it had detected my network kwifimanager seemed to have the option choices to establish a hook up just like knetwork manager does for me on Kubuntu. Generally other programs on my laptop detect three or four wireless networks from my office besides my own.

I couldn't find madwifi on the DVD but if I can find the madwifi program on the internet someplace and download it to a USB drive or some place else using another program, how does one import it to install it. I have only used the package installers to add programs but they require a working internet access first and right now that is lacking in Suse but it is available in other OS like now with Kubuntu. Otherwise i will have to try find a long cable to plug into my router to gain internet access for my laptop like I have done at some hotels when traveling. Thanks again for the response.

I found madwifi less that helpful with explanation, but I could be unclever. Goto the openSUSE hardware compatibility list, not the Novell one, and check for your wireless compatibility under acer aspire laptops. They say the wireless on your lappy is supported by ndiswrapper. I used ndiswrapper for my wireless NIC - easy to install! Just search for andrewd18 and ndiswrapper for the Suse HowTo. Here's the search I used. Top result! Good luck - it should be easy and it should work.
G-luck
Swerdna

You're right that the guide is not just about madwifi, but it does explain how to install madwifi on opensuse 10.2. If you add the madwifi mirror to yast as the guide says, and then follow the section "Atheros drivers" in the guide you will have no problems.

This is most helpful in explaining why i couldn't find any networks under Suse 10.2. It also holds the promise of actually getting my laptop to connect to the internet on a wireless network under Suse 10.2 but now i am wondering if it is really worth the effort to do so.

I am new to Linux but am thoroughly puzzled as to why a large program like Suse on a large install DVD makes it necessary to go through such a complex and time consuming procedure of installing a ndiswraper to run a widely selling laptop while a mini 85 mb distro like Puppy Linux can find the card and network and connect to the internet without any extra work. That suggests to me it must be pretty simple to include this capacity into a program if they really want lots of people to actually use it so why would they leave it out. I guess my assumption that the larger program would be more likely to have everything I want and need is in error. Now I am wondering what else did they leave out that is going to be important to me. Am I going to have to go through similar hassles every time I want to add some function or program I want to use? What did they include instead that is more important than connecting your computer to the internet? Who is there target audience since its not an average user on a laptop. Who uses it and why is it such a popular program when it omits very common basic things? Can anyone explain this to me? What about it is so good that makes it so popular?

It has something to do with the difference in price. openSUSE 10 series is a bit like vista premium, except for a $AUD875 price difference. All Linux distros are made up of software that is free, put together by people from the non-commercial arena. They all, including Puppy Linux, have their strengths and weaknesses. It just happens that Suse doesn't snap to attention for your particular card. Luckily, in the spirit of the Linux movement, there are people like me to help you save over $500 for windows, perhaps $300 for office, maybe $500 for paintshop pro, perhaps $200 for your web authoring software, maybe $200 for Syamantec virus stuff, $50 for Norton ghost, etc etc etc etc -- anyway, lots more than the notebook hardware cost you. And when you have a problem I won't charge you $100 per hour to help, which is what i charge in windowland. So if you can't see any benefit to you, stick with the monopoly that currently determines so much of the world's technological directions on commercial rather that human considerations. What's so good about Suse you ask? Well I've given you enough of my free time now, so I'll just give you a hint: ask yourself why anything gets to be right up amongst the leaders in it's field.

I am not ready to give up on Linux yet. I am just trying to figure out or find a good distro for my needs. I have tried enough different distros to they have different strengths and weaknesses and also recognize there is a pretty steep learning curve in aquiring the skills needed to use linux or any other new operating system. My question about Suse is whether is it really a good choice for home user like me or is it a Cadillac program geared more to the office enviroment of large corporations or maybe computer professionals in the IT business?

I just want something that will get me on to internet, do my email, read documents sent to me, watch videos like those on CNN and yahoo, listen to music, update my Dell Axim Pocket computer, upload my CD music to a Music player, work on a genealogy programs (currently use Legacy but am willing to switch), write some letters, edit and share digital pix with others, scan old pictures and slides, research topics of interests, read news, do online shopping and banking, book my travel flights and hotels, and at some time edit videos and record DVD movies and TV shows with possibility to transfer these to a pocket machine for later viewing. My preference of course is something that runs stable nand is fairly easy to use and learn. So far in my limit edexperience of trying out various linux distros it seems linux is generally more stable to run, quicker to install but harder for a beginner to configure things, but easier to use when you finally got a program working, for example to make an iso CD seems easier in linux.

I am willing to spend some time to learn a new system but don't want to invest a lot of time learning something that won't meet the needs I listed above. And it doesn't need to be free but I would prefer if possible to buy something from someone other than the richest man in the world.

I appreciate the very helpful response you gave me since you were the only person who identified my problem in trying to connect Suse 10.2 to the internet and also offer a way to fix it. I admire and respect such expertise and your willingness to share it. Do you offer or know of any kind of on line diagnostic and fix computer service where people can purchase support services for linux computers?

OK Linux does all that for me except I don't have a pocked computer (but I do have a slide rule instead) and my hobby isn't geneology. Regarding purchasing advice online - that's the wrong mindset IMHO. But anecdotally - Suse & Redhat do it at the "enterprise" level - and others. Then again the advice you can get frpom "good" forums for the "free" versions of these, openSUSE, Fedora and four or five other leading distros is excellent. But you do need to be careful what advice you accept - some of it can be rubbish, despite being generous and well meant. Just avoid threads with far too many answers or where the responder seems a bit defensive.

Is openSUSE too technical/special/cadillac-like. My view is "no" but of course I'm biased - I did seriously look around 18 months ago when I switched from XP and tried 4 other leaders - Look they're all pretty good. And in truth Windows is a great program too! - but with a sad philosophy. All I can say is watch out for paying "clubs" and the like.

It's a subjective thing too
Good luck

Greetings:

I am using a Netgear WG511T with openSUSE 10.2. Check out the following:
http://en.opensuse.org/HOWTOs and follow the instructions for MADWIFI setup. Took me about 15 minutes.

Also check out the link to adding additional repositories in YAST - specifically the one about MADWIFI.

Good Luck,
Randy3011