Cannot get wireless network working on ubuntu

diananewuser · 06-27-2009, 07:13 PM

Hi
I installed Ubuntu on a fujistu siemens laptop yesterday. The laptop has a wireless controller pre-installed, and the light is on that it is working. However, I can't get a wireless connection. On network manager the enable wireless option is blanked out. I am not technical at all! Please can you help?

Simon Bridge · 06-28-2009, 01:42 AM

We need to know what sort of wireless you have ...

go to applications > accessories > terminal - this will produce the infamous unix commandline, called a "shell".
In ubuntu it is a white-on-black thing that will accept keyboard input.

maximise the window, then enter

lspci

copy and paste the result to your reply and we will see

To learn more in a short time, there is a crash course in Ubuntu here [334kB pdf].

diananewuser · 06-28-2009, 05:08 AM

Hi Simon
Thanks for the link!

Here is the output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 02)
00:00.1 System peripheral: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 02)
00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 02)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 83)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801DBM (ICH4-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801DBM (ICH4-M) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 03)
02:03.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW323 (rev 61)
02:05.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401 100Base-T (rev 01)
02:06.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter (rev 04)
02:09.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1510 PC card Cardbus Controller

Angry_Tommy · 06-28-2009, 06:21 AM

i have Intel's wifi as well, but different model

Code:

Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)

what i can tell you is that you need proper kernel module to make your wifi usable. Just download recent verson from kernel.org or recompile your ubuntu kernel (/usr/src) with below modules:

Code:

Devide Drivers -->
Network device suport -->
Wireless LAN -->[*] Intel Wireless Wifi Core[*] Iwlwifi RF kill support[*] Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 Network Connection[*] Enable promiscous mode

that should do it.
after reboot just type

Code:

 
ifconfig wlan0 up
dhcpcd wlan0

etc.

diananewuser · 06-28-2009, 08:39 AM

Hello Angry Tommy

Thanks for your message, that was way too technical for me though. I downloaded a patch from kernel.org, which seemed to be a text document - what do I do with it?

How do I run that code about "devide drivers" etc?

Thanks
Diana

Rescuetheperishing · 06-28-2009, 10:51 AM

diananewuser

One thing that I note is that you did not say which version you were using. the latest is 9.04 which reportedly is good with wireless.

If you have not loaded 9.04 please try that as it will hopefully work out of the box. Jaunty worked perfectly for me.

It is always preferable if you advise which version you are using as it can greatly assist others when replying

Hope this assists

pixellany · 06-28-2009, 11:16 AM

Angry*;
Please do not try to help a newcomer by telling them to re-compile their kernel!!! That is a bit of a leap for a Linux Newbie and--in this case--is almost certainly not necessary.

diana*;
A recent version of Ubuntu should have detected that card---it is a very common type. If you don't already have the latest version--or you don't want to try it just yet---use the package manager to search for the Intel 2100 driver. (Just searching on "Intel" will probably find it.)

Also---the Intel website has pretty comprehensive instructions for how to set this up. (Yes, Intel supports Linux!!)

Angry_Tommy · 06-28-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

Angry*;
Please do not try to help a newcomer by telling them to re-compile their kernel!!! That is a bit of a leap for a Linux Newbie and--in this case--is almost certainly not necessary.

diana*;
A recent version of Ubuntu should have detected that card---it is a very common type. If you don't already have the latest version--or you don't want to try it just yet---use the package manager to search for the Intel 2100 driver. (Just searching on "Intel" will probably find it.)

Also---the Intel website has pretty comprehensive instructions for how to set this up. (Yes, Intel supports Linux!!)

yeah you are right :/ sorry

i never used ubuntu before. do they provide you with kernel source or something? if yes, then thats piece of cake - no need to configure entire hardware tree - just add few modules, build kernel, add it to lilo or grub and thats it. i think we could show Diana how and where to add those modules.

Simon Bridge · 06-28-2009, 08:14 PM

The card you have is supported by free software drivers - which means they are in the kernel already.
I see reports that it "just works" in the latest ubuntu - if you do not have that, then you are urged to upgrade.

There are some reports of this card failing to be properly configured, so we'll need to hear back.

Note:
The patch from kernel.org is unlikely to be helpful - a patch is a text file which contains a description of the differences between an old version of a program and the new one. In this case, the old version is one of the kernels on kernel.org and not the ubuntu precompiled kernel. In any case, you need the kernel source code, which is not installed by default. Patch files are handled with the "patch" utility, enter "man patch" for more detail - though I urge you to work through the exercizes in the tutorial pdf I directed you to: it includes a section on how to read the man pages and will generally help your understanding of how linux and ubuntu do things.

diananewuser · 06-29-2009, 05:05 AM

Hi

Thanks for the comments, I am on 9.04 - which I think is the latest. I will have a look at the intel site and see if I can sort it out from there,

Thanks
Diana

diananewuser · 06-29-2009, 05:54 AM

Hi,
I have been to the intel site and got a driver, but nothing has changed. I am sure i must be missing something very simple. Does anyone have any ideas?
Cheers
Diana

Angry_Tommy · 06-30-2009, 01:53 PM

Diana - do you have got kernel sources in your ubuntu?
check in folder

Code:

/usr/src

the filder name inside /usr/src should be something like

Code:

linux
linux-2.6.something

etc.

Simon Bridge · 06-30-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diananewuser

Hi,
I have been to the intel site and got a driver, but nothing has changed. I am sure i must be missing something very simple. Does anyone have any ideas?
Cheers
Diana

This is a bad idea - the reason is twofold: 1. you already have the driver and 2. it will break when ubuntu updates.

In linux, you try to avoid getting the drivers from the vendor. This is counter-intuitive - and it works like this because of the open-source nature of linux: any free software drivers can be included in the kernel for free.

What we have to figure out is why the driver is not being used

Please bear with me -
9.04 is the latest - have you installed all the updates? (shouldn't matter)

how are you trying to use the wireless card?
(please go into detail - what do you do to activate the card and make a connection, how is the access point configured?)

what is the output of iwconfig ?
what is the output of lsmod | grep ipw ?
what is the output of dmesg | grep ipw ?

Here in another user with your card, but an early ubuntu.

There are a number of outstanding bugs in the driver which may be affecting this issue. I need to diagnose which one this, if any, is before I can advise you. This problem is also associated with some bios configurations and power management.

Rescuetheperishing · 07-01-2009, 01:48 AM

diananewuser

Excuse me if I ask a daft question. How are you expecting to connect to the wireless network. Are you using for example Virgin Media where they provide you with a Netgear router. If this is the case have you contacted Virgin to effect the connection.

I had to work through an install with Virgin and provide a password for the wireless connection before everything worked well.

Again it would be helpful if you could advise information on who and what you have done with your supplier to effect a connection.

diananewuser · 07-03-2009, 07:33 PM

Hello

I have 4 files in the usr/src

linux headers 2.6.28-11
linux headers 2.6.28-11 generic
linux headers 2.6.28-13
linux headers 2.6.28-13

When it boots up it refers to the "13" file.

Yes, I have a internet connection with Optus in Australia with a netgear router. This laptop still has windows installed and works fine connecting to the wireless network, as does the other windows laptop in the house. So there is no issue with the set up of the ISP.

Many thanks, any further help would be great.
Diana