Do not have "Wireless Connection" listed in "Devices"

Jason267 · 07-23-2002, 08:14 PM

Hi,

I'm new in Linux world. I need someone's help to resolve this issue.

I installed RH7.3 with WPC11 NIC. According to the doc in Red Hat website, I should be able to go to "Network Configuration/Devices/Add" and select "Wireless Connection" from the device type list:

Ethernet
ISDN
Modem
xDSL
Token Ring
CIPE
Wireless Devices (Wireless Connection?)

But, in my device type, there is no "Wireless Devices" listed there. How can I install it in order to set up my WPC11?

Thank you.

trickykid · 07-23-2002, 08:27 PM

Check out this thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=21982

Its all about the wireless card you have and getting it to work. And Finegan will probably jump on this as he's the expert for wireless in Linux..

finegan · 07-23-2002, 09:42 PM

Yeah that thread Trick linked to covers a ton... I think there are 3-4 more floating around too. As it stands, the distros as well as the kernel haven't got to the point where making a wizard for wireless configuration is really feasible just yet. If that thread doesn't help you much, just post your question there, we might as well try to keep all of the wpc11 befuddlements in one place. Also, what version is your card? 2/2.5/3?

Cheers,

Finegan

Hey Tricky, guess what? That was your 5000th post!

Jason267 · 07-24-2002, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by finegan
Yeah that thread Trick linked to covers a ton... I think there are 3-4 more floating around too. As it stands, the distros as well as the kernel haven't got to the point where making a wizard for wireless configuration is really feasible just yet. If that thread doesn't help you much, just post your question there, we might as well try to keep all of the wpc11 befuddlements in one place. Also, what version is your card? 2/2.5/3?

Cheers,

Finegan

Hey Tricky, guess what? That was your 5000th post!

Jason267 · 07-24-2002, 11:55 AM

I use WPC11 with WDT11 in my PC. WPC has v.1. Thank you.

finegan · 07-24-2002, 04:32 PM

Oh... Okay, I've got the same gear, its a PLX adapter... okay, I've never actually covered this before here, but I've done it myself. So... tada, yet a new wireless thread!

Normally I don't go line by line, but I'm going to sort of newbie-ize this one.

From the command line, and this may seem a headache, but its easiest (as root):

/sbin/modprobe hermes
/sbin/modprobe orinoco
/sbin/modprobe orinoco_plx (the driver for that pcmcia+PCI card combo. There are 3 driver types that cover this card, I just prefer this one. Its the easiest, and the least beta).

dmesg (this is the kernel's record of detecting devices.)

At the end of dmesg should be a whole bunch of information about orinoco finding and binding to the card. If you don't see any errors, tentatively, you're doing well. Take note of what eth device it is, probably eth1. You'll need that in a second.

Now let's bring the card up so we can fiddle with the wireless settings:

/sbin/ifconfig eth1 up

Next you'll have to find and install the wireless_tools RPM from the RedHat install CDs. RedHat will not have installed them by default unless you chose them in an expert install or installed as "Laptop" or "Everything". RH still assumes wireless=laptop. Goofballs. Next up, configure the wireless settings of the card:

/sbin/iwconfig eth1 essid NAMEOFNETWORK
/sbin/iwconfig eth1 mode managed
/sbin/iwconfig eth1 rate auto
/sbin/iwconfig eth1 enc 1234567890

That all assumes that you are running encryption, if you're not its off by default so no worries, just leave that line off; that you want the card to automagically determine the rate at which it talks to the router (cuts down on overhead if the distance is great or the dog walks in front of the router), and sets the card to talk to the router in Infrastructure mode... almost definately what you are using. Also, it sets the name of the network it should be talking to.

Lastly, grab an ip address for your machine from the router:

dhcpcd eth1

Now, ping yahoo.com, and if all that works, post back and I'll show you how to automate it from startup. If it broke, post back with what didn't work.

Cheers,

Finegan

trickykid · 07-24-2002, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by finegan
Hey Tricky, guess what? That was your 5000th post!

I know, isn't it sad..

chosmer · 07-24-2002, 10:06 PM

Ive been following this thread...

Can I do this with a D-Link Card? (802.11b)?

My distro is RH7.2 (on a laptop)

finegan · 07-24-2002, 10:39 PM

This thread... no, you have a pcmcia card, I'm assuming the dwl-650, and would be better served by:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...light=wireless

the big one.

If its a DWL-650H, and that doesn't work, let me know so we can come up with a hacked up hermes.conf file for it. That card makes me curious...

Mainly its a matter of getting the hermes.conf file from here, sticking that in /etc/pcmcia, calling a restart with /etc/rc.d/init.d/pcmcia restart, and praying for 2 high pitched beeps, then puttering about with the command "iwconfig" to get rate, essid, mode and whatnot right. Then snagging an IP off of you router (assuming dhcp) with dhcpcd ethX (X depending on which eth device).

Cheers,

Finegan