Wireless networking in CentOS 6.4 minimal

JMJ_coder · 04-20-2013, 10:41 AM

I've installed a version of CentOS 6.4 using the minimal installation, but I can't seem to figure out how to get it set up with my wireless network. In Fedora, I can easily use the graphical NetworkManager tool to set up and connect to my wireless network, but that isn't available in the minimal CentOS installation.

I'm not certain whether or not I will even install X11, so graphical tools are out of the question (I hope). What tools and programs do I need to install - or are they already there and I'm not seeing them?

The network card is an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, and the network uses a BSSID with WPA2 personal encryption.

ButterflyMelissa · 04-20-2013, 12:30 PM

Hi, you'll need ifconfig for that, hang on, I'm setting up a box now so I can guide you through...

Thor

ButterflyMelissa · 04-20-2013, 12:39 PM

Right...
I've set up a Knoppix box to type you tru this...
Let's see what's on board:

Quote:

lspci

see something like "ethernet controller" or so? If so, there's a network card, whooohoo!!

let's config that; here's how:

Quote:

ifconfig card [IP address] netmqsk [IP qddress] broqdcqsr [IP qddress] up

example

Quote:

ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.15 broadcast 192.168.1.255 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

next, set the default gateway, typically that's the modem:

Quote:

route add default gw 192.168.1.1

(your IP address may differ)
test

Quote:

ping www.google.com

Let's see where we end up here

Thor

gdizzle · 04-23-2013, 07:23 PM

Hi In Centos 6.4 to setup a static wireless connection without X,

Code:

iwlist wlan0 scan

: see what AP's are around.

Here is a quick example if you want it static: for dynamic, modify this below.

Code:

vim /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0

DEVICE="wlan0"
HWADDR="00:00:00:00:00:00"
#NM_CONTROLLED="no" 
ONBOOT=yes
PEERDNS=no
#BOOTPROTO=dhcp
IPADDR=192.168.1.119
MASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
TYPE=Wireless
USERCTL=yes
NETWORKING_IPV6=no
ESSID=Awesome
CHANNEL=11
MODE=Managed
RATE=Auto

service network restart

ifconfig wlan0

WPA Supplicant:

Good link for Wpa setup: http://www.pantz.org/software/wpa_su...2andlinux.html

wpa_passphrase Awesome wpasharedpskey

This gives your pre shared key in a secure hash.

Code:

vim /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

network={

  ssid="Awesome"
  scan_ssid=1
  key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
  psk=79678787897897878hjjbjkbjg6678678678678678678678678678686786

}

Code:

wpa_supplicant -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf -iwlan0 &

: Add -dd on the end of this to Debug, make sure you check it connects.

Make sure you have your ISP / Wireless DNS setup in /etc/resolv.conf as this is a static setup.

Code:

iwconfig wlan0

: confirm you are all good and ping out to google.com for example as confirmation.

From CLI WEP only:

iwconfig wlan0 essid "My Network" : join the ssid "My Network" this only works with WEP, and not with WPA.

An easier quick solution, would be Install Centos with X, which would have Network Manager, enable it on your wireless device , click the connection enter your password whcih wpa_supplicant would handle and presto you are connected.