How can i enable WPA pre-shared key, wireless?

spondootre · 06-23-2005, 12:47 PM

Hi all,

I have just had some great help to get my wireless connection up and running on Mandriva via my D-Link DWL-G630 PCMCIA card. However I have got the wireless security disabled on my router and this is no good for my area as there are several wireless networks close by and I don't want any opportunist leaching.

My questions are, how can I go back to using WPA Pre-Shared Key as I have set up on my windows systems?
Also, Can anyone tell me how to connect to other networks when I roam with my laptop? The current network is setup for auto DHCP and connects automatically when I plug the card in. When I use the GUI network tool and try to connect that way to my network it doesn't which leads me to think it won't work when I roam??

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give........

Cheers
Malc

Austin_KW · 06-24-2005, 07:01 AM

For roaming you can use iwlist to discover the SSID of any available networks eg (my interface is ra0)

Code:

bash-3.00# iwlist ra0 scan
ra0       Scan completed :
            Cell 01 - Address: 00:30:F1:FF:6D:49
                    Mode:Managed
                    ESSID:"foundEssid"
                    Encryption key: on
                    Channel:11
                    Quality:64/100  Signal level:-195 dBm  Noise level:-256 dBm

Then you can connect to foundEssid

Code:

iwconfig ra0 channel 0 
iwconfig ra0 mode managed 
iwconfig ra0 rate auto
iwconfig ra0 essid foundEssid

You will then want to use DHCP to get an IP address on the new network

Code:

dhcpcd  -k ra0             # Kill old 
dhcpcd  -d -h $(hostname) ra0

I think WPA support depends on the hardware and driver combination. I use a native driver. My wireless card suports WPA in hardware and is configured using the private interface iwpriv.

Code:

iwpriv ra0 set AuthMode=WPAPSK
iwpriv ra0 set EncrypType=TKIP
iwpriv ra0 set WPAPSK="password"

If you are using the ndiswrapper or you hardware does not support WPA, you will need to configure the wpa_supplicant

spondootre · 06-24-2005, 10:46 AM

Thanks for that info on roaming, i'll give it a go next time.

I am using MADWIFI drive for the card and I was given this link -

http://hostap.epitest.fi/wpa_supplicant/

i've downloaded the wpa_suppliment and have yet to make the commitment to give it a go!! It seems a bit daunting for a newb, i'll try it later and see how I get on.

Thanks for your help
Malc

Austin_KW · 06-24-2005, 11:10 AM

If it seems a bit daunting, why not try WEP. For me it was as simple as

Code:

iwconfig ra0 enc xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xx

replace ra0 with you inteface & XXs with your key

Not as good as WPA, but better than leaving you network open until you get WPA going.

spondootre · 06-24-2005, 11:41 AM

Brilliant!! That's better than nothing!! I've just done that and it works fine. Just a couple of questions :

How do I automate that process? I think I can do it through the GUI tool but what would I need to do manually? Can I add that command to a config file?

How do I turn off the encoding for when I am roaming?? is it just "iwconfig ath0 off"

Thanks
Malc

Austin_KW · 06-24-2005, 01:12 PM

To turn encryption off

Code:

  iwconfig <interface> enc off

There is a number of ways to do config automatically on boot[list=1] Your GUI may let you define a profile that is loaded on boot.[/list=1][list=2] You may be able to put the config in rc.wireless.conf to be loaded by rc.wireless[/list=2] [list=3] As I play about with configurations,
I simply just add the commands to my rc.local

Code:

# Setup Wireless Network interface
echo "Configuring Wireless ra0"

echo "/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet down"
/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet down

iwconfig ra0 channel 0 
iwconfig ra0 mode managed 
iwconfig ra0 rate auto
iwconfig ra0 rts 2312
iwconfig ra0 frag 2312
iwconfig ra0 enc xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xx
iwconfig ra0 essid yourESSID

if [ -r /etc/dhcpc/dhcpcd-ra0.pid ]; then
    echo "dhcpcd -k ra0"
    dhcpcd  -k ra0
    sleep 3
fi
echo "dhcpcd -d -h $(hostname) ra0"
dhcpcd  -d -h $(hostname) ra0

echo "/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet up"
/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet up

Having these commands in rc.local reminds me of the necessary steps to config to a new network[/list=3]