LinuxQuestions.org - Installing Minitar Wireless Network Card

I have installed few Linux distros (Mandrake, Red Hat, Fedora, Xandros) and currently I have Ubuntu installed on my PC as dual boot with Windows XP.

I always stuck with installing my MN54GPC-R Minitar wireless networkcard. The card comes with linux driver and installation instruction but I just have never been successful in installing it.

Below I put the instruction and hopefully there is someone can give me an "IDIOT" guide to get my network card running. Please don't assume that I understand what make install, etc... also that I know where is the folder for this and that.

Quote:

* README
*
* Ralink Tech Inc.
================================================== =====================
ModelName:
===========
RT2500 b/g

================================================== =====================
Description:
=============
This is a linux device driver for Ralink RT2500 b/g WLAN Card.

================================================== =====================
Supporting Kernel:
===================
linux kernel 2.4 and 2.6 series.
Tested in Redhat 7.3 or later, Fedora Core 1, Suse 8.0,8.1,9.0,
Mandrake 9.0->10.0, Slackware 9.0,9.1, LinEX-r1, gnuLinEX2004

================================================== =====================
Contents:
=============
./2.4.x : Makefile for kernel 2.4 series
./2.6.x : Makefile for kernel 2.6 series
./suse : boot script for suse
*.c : c files
*.h : header files

================================================== =====================
Build Instructions:
====================
For 2.4 series kernel:
1) $tar -xvzf RT2500-Linux-STA-x.x.x.x.tar.gz
go to "./RT2500-Linux-STA-x.x.x.x/Module" directory.
2) cp ./2.4.x/Makefile .
3) Use 'chmod' command to change access right of following script files :
'load', 'unload', 'Configure'
4) $make config # config build linux os version
5) $make all # compile driver source code
6) $load # load/insmod module(rt2500.o)
7) make install #
Note: Script functionality:
load load module to kernel
unload unload module from kernel
Configure retrive linux version

For 2.6 series kernel:
1) cp ./2.6.x/Makefile
2) $make -C /path/to/source SUBDIRS=$PWD modules
Where /path/to/source is the path to the source directory for the (configured and built) target kernel.
3) run '/sbin/insmod rt2500.ko' (as root)
'/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet YOUR_IP up'
4) uncomment the line include ./config.mk in Makefile
5) make install

================================================== =====================
Features:
==========
This driver implements basic IEEE802.11. Infrastructure and adhoc mode with open or shared or WPA
authentication method. WEP-40 and WEP-104, TKIP and AES encryption,

================================================== =====================
To BUILD UTILITY
====================

1) go to the "./Utility" directory
2) run 'qmake -o Makefile raconfig2500.pro'
If qmake command is not found in your system, you can download the QT tool
'qt-x11-free-3.2.1' or trolltech

(qmake comes with RedHat 7.3 or later QT Package)

3) run 'make" to compile the utility source code.
4) After all, an execution file would be generated "RaConfig2500"
run "RaConfig2500" to config the driver as you want

================================================== =====================
CONFIGURATION:
====================
RT2500 driver can be configured via following interfaces,
i.e. 1)partial wireless extension command, 2)"iwpriv" command, 3) RaConfig2500

1) iwconfig, and iwlist scanning.
2) iwpriv usage, please refer to file "iwpriv_usage.txt" for details.
3) RT2500 provides API : RaConfig2500, please go to directory ./Utility and refer to how-to-compile.txt

================================================== =====================
MORE INFORMATION:
====================
1) Though we allow a configuratino file for ra0 when initializing our modules,
reading a file when installing a modules in linux is not recommended.
If you want to enable this function, umcomment the line " RTMPReadParametersFromFile(pAd);"
in rtmp_main.c

NOTE:
if you use dhcp, add this line in boot script according to your linux distribution.
BOOTPROTO='dhcp'
To ease the Default Gateway setting, add the line
GATEWAY=x.x.x.x

This is what I've done:

I assume that the kernel on my Ubuntu system is 2.6

Copy RT2500-Linux-STA-x.x.x.x.tar.gz file to Home folder
$tar -xvzf RT2500-Linux-STA-x.x.x.x.tar.gz
go to "./RT2500-Linux-STA-x.x.x.x/Module" directory.
cp ./2.6.x/Makefile .
Then I am lost. I did not now the path to source directory for the targeted kernel.

I have posted a message in Ubuntu Forums and have not got a working answer. Please someone help.