Setting BCM4318 802.11g WLAN Controller with Fedora Core 6 in AcerTravelmate 2434

achmadsultoni · 04-10-2007, 05:04 AM

I had trouble to set my wlan adapter with fedora core 6 in AcerTravelmate 2434. My Adapter is Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller. Im using ndiswrapper to install driver. I'm checking with this command.
[root@edp-4 80211g]# ndiswrapper -l
bcmwl5 : driver installed
device (14E4:4318) present

I'm check with iwconfig command and the result is this
[root@edp-4 80211g]# iwconfig wlan0
wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID

ff/any
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s Tx-Power:25 dBm
RTS thr:2347 B Fragment thr:2346 B
Encryption key:1211-1021-14 Security mode:restricted
Power Management

ff
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

Access Point in my Office using this setting
network name (ssid) : "default"
network authentication : open
data encryption : wep
key : 1211102114

In my office doesn't have dhcp server, so i'm give address using ifconfig. When i'm using Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, my adapter can connet to my Access Point, but when i'm using Fedora Core 6, it can't. I try with wpa_gui, but the adapter not found.

Please help me how to setting my WLAN Adapter, sorry if my english so poor.

Lenard · 04-10-2007, 05:52 AM

You do not need any GUI tool, as root or equivalent using you choice of text editor create/edit the following /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts files;

Code:

TYPE=Wireless
DEVICE=wlan0
HWADDR=
BOOTPROTO=
IPADDR=XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=routers IP address here
DHCP_HOSTNAME=Your desired computer name here
DOMAIN=
ONBOOT=yes
ONHOTPLUG=yes
USERCTL=yes
IPV6INIT=no
PEERDNS=no
ESSID=
CHANNEL=X

Use the typed command 'iwlist wlan0 scan' minus the single quotemarks to find out which CHANNEL to replace the 'X' value above.

Code:

cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/keys-wlan0
KEY=s:1211102114

If the KEY value is really a hex number (example: 1234ACD7F) then remove the 's:' portion.

Make sure your /etc/modprobe.conf file has a line entry like;

alias wlan0 ndiswrapper

Then restart the network service; service network restart

.

kilgoretrout · 04-10-2007, 06:20 AM

As root, try running:

# iwconfig wlan0 essid <insert essid name>
# iwconfig wlan0 key <insert WEP hex key>
# ifconfig <insert static ip> netmask 255.255.255.0 up

See if that brings up the wireless network.

Lenard · 04-10-2007, 09:03 AM

To: kilgoretrout

Please try what I wrote in my reply, it works well for me. The ifcfg-wlan0 file is direct from my laptop, I did make changes to the file so the OP can use the office IP settings.

kilgoretrout · 04-10-2007, 10:17 AM

Leonard,

I didn't see your post before posting my own as I had the reply window open for a while and got distracted. My method should work if the driver is working properly but won't make any permanent changes to the underlying config files. Your original post isn't entirely clear but you are obviously giving a setup for a /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0 file.

My original post also has an error. The last command should be:

# ifconfig wlan0 <insert static ip> netmask 255.255.255.0 up

instead of:

# ifconfig <insert static ip> netmask 255.255.255.0 up

Lenard · 04-10-2007, 12:08 PM

Yes, and it is what I use. When the laptop power up my wireless network connection gets loaded, no need to use iwconfig and/or ipconfig from the console or xterm session. One can use iwconfig instead of ipconfig if desired BTW.

FYI: I did notice the mistake but I figured you would correct the mistake (which you did).

achmadsultoni · 04-10-2007, 08:45 PM

Thanks, Lenard. But i still had a problem. Now, i can scan my access point from my wlan adapter
when i'm using this command "iwlist wlan0 scan".
And the result is
wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:13:46:78:E1

2
ESSID:"default"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:25/100 Signal level:-80 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key

n
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0

cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0
DEVICE=wlan0
BOOTPROTO=none
BROADCAST=133.137.255.255
HWADDR=
IPADDR=133.137.73.44
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
NETWORK=133.137.0.0
ONBOOT=yes
GATEWAY=133.137.0.4
TYPE=Wireless
USERCTL=no
IPV6INIT=no
PEERDNS=yes

and also /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/keys-wlan0
KEY=s:1211102114

Then, i'm restart my network and get this message
Bringing up interface wlan0: Error for wireless request "Set Encode" (8B2A) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.
[ OK ]

I try to ping other computer in my office and still can't connnet.
So, i still had a problem.

Lenard · 04-11-2007, 06:27 AM

Hmmm........... not really sure you need a couple of the line entries in the ifcfg-wlan0 file. But you may want to add the CHANNEL line entry, see the example;

Code:

DEVICE=wlan0
BOOTPROTO=none
# BROADCAST=133.137.255.255
HWADDR=
IPADDR=133.137.73.44
NETMASK=255.255.0.0
# NETWORK=133.137.0.0
ONBOOT=yes
GATEWAY=133.137.0.4
TYPE=Wireless
USERCTL=no
IPV6INIT=no
PEERDNS=no
CHANNEL=6
MODE=Managed

The CHANNEL and MODE values or from your post (#7).

Edit the keys-wlan0 file as root;

KEY=1211-1021-14
or;
KEY=1211102114
(use only one)
Got this 'hex' value from your original posting;

Quote:

Encryption key:1211-1021-14 Security mode:restricted

Try just editing the keys-wlan0 file first, then if needed try the example ifcfg-wlan0 file above. You may not want to comment out (#) the two lines I did in the example.

achmadsultoni · 04-11-2007, 08:59 PM

i'm follow you're suggestion, but still the same. It doesn't work.
i try to check with this command "iwlist wlan0 key" and the result is this.

Code:

wlan0     2 key sizes : 40, 104bits
          4 keys available :
                [1]: 1211-1021-14(40 bits)
                [2]: off
                [3]: off
                [4]: off
          Current Transmit Key: [1]          Security mode:restricted
          Authentication capabilities :
                WPA
                WPA2
                CIPHER TKIP
                CIPHER CCMP
          Current key_mgmt:0x0
          Current cipher_pairwise:0x0
          Current cipher_group:0x0

The key size in my Access Point is 64 bit and key type is Hex, but the result with iwlist is 40 bits.

I'm also try add essid in my adapter with this command, but don't work. Essid doesn't changed.

Code:

[root@edp-4 network-scripts]# iwconfig wlan0 essid "default"
[root@edp-4 network-scripts]# iwconfig wlan0
wlan0     IEEE 802.11g  ESSID:off/any  Nickname:"edp-4"
          Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.462 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated   
          Bit Rate=54 Mb/s   Tx-Power:25 dBm   
          RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr=2346 B   
          Encryption key:1211-1021-14   Security mode:restricted
          Power Management:off
          Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0

achmadsultoni · 04-12-2007, 04:17 AM

when im using dmesg, i get this message

Code:

ndiswrapper: using IRQ 217
wlan0: ethernet device 00:16:ce:43:fa:33 using NDIS driver: bcmwl5, version: 0x3642e00, NDIS version: 0x501, vendor: '', 14E4:4318.5.conf
wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK
usbcore: registered new driver ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper (add_wep_key:819): adding encryption key 1 failed (C0010015)
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

I don't understand why ndiswrapper has error in adding encryption key. when i'm compile ndiswrapper, i don't get error message, just warning about kernel.

Lenard · 04-12-2007, 04:39 AM

What is the kernel warning?? Something about 4k stacks???

You might be better off installing the dkms rpm package for FC6 and the dkms-ndiswapper rpm package from freshrpms. Visit the freshrpms site and install the freshrpms-release package;

http://zod.freshrpms.net/rpm.html?id=118

rpm -Uvh freshrpms*.rpm

Then;
yum install dkms dkm-ndiswrapper

This is a wireless access points configuration issue (40/64) ;

Code:

wlan0     2 key sizes : 40, 104bits
          4 keys available :
                [1]: 1211-1021-14(40 bits)

If the wireless access point is configured for 104/128 encryption then one would see something like;

Code:

wlan0     2 key sizes : 40, 104bits
          4 keys available :
                [1]: 455C-5F1F-694E-0921-FDD8-3067-35 (104 bits)

achmadsultoni · 04-13-2007, 04:30 AM

Yes, the kernel warning is something about 4STACK.
Thanks for a wireless access points configuration issue.

And then, i'm install dkms and dkms-ndiswapper like you're suggestion.
After reboot, i don't have any message error when using dmesg or restart a network (/etc/rc.d/init.d/network restart)

Quote:

[root@edp-4 ~]# dmesg | grep wlan0
wlan0: ethernet device 00:16:ce:43:fa:33 using NDIS driver: bcmwl5, version: 0x3642e00, NDIS version: 0x501, vendor: '', 14E4:4318.5.conf
wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

But, when i'm trying to set essid and access point, it doesn't changed.

Quote:

[root@edp-4 ~]# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:13:46:78:E1

2
ESSID:"default"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:25/

100 Signal level:-80 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key

n
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0

[root@edp-4 ~]# iwconfig wlan0 essid "default"
[root@edp-4 ~]# iwconfig wlan0 ap 00:13:46:78:E1

2
[root@edp-4 ~]# iwconfig wlan0
wlan0 802.11g ESSID

ff//any Nickname:"edp-4"
Mode:Auto Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate=54 Mb//s Tx-Power:25 dBm
RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr=2346 B
Encryption key:1211-1021-14 Security mode:restricted
Power Management

ff
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

I don't understand what error again, cause i don't get any messages.
Please, solve my problem

achmadsultoni · 04-16-2007, 04:48 AM

I get a new message from using command "dmesg".

Quote:

ndiswrapper (iw_set_bitrate:513): setting bit rate failed (C00000BB)
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

I'm still can't connect to my office using fedora

Lenard · 04-16-2007, 06:45 AM

Try this;

iwconfig wlan0 essid "default"
iwconfig wlan0 mode Managed
iwconfig wlan0 key 1211102114
iwconfig wlan0 channel auto
iwconfig wlan0 commit
ipconfig wlan0 133.137.73.44 netmask 255.255.0.0 up

It is also possible that the office ap is set to allow only certain wireless cards access via the wireless interface's MAC address. Your wireless device MAC address (00:16:ce:43:fa:33) may not be in the allowed list.

achmadsultoni · 04-16-2007, 08:22 PM

It doesn't work. i had an error when using this command

Quote:

iwconfig wlan0 channel auto
Error for wireless request "Set Frequency" (8B04)
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument

My office ap allowed my wireless interface. When i'm using Windows XP Service Pack 2, it's work. But, i don't want using Windows, cause so many virus. And i love linux cause free