Ralink Wireless LAN card v2 not working in Fedora 7

gotmilk · 08-30-2007, 07:36 PM

I have recently installed Fedora 7 on the second partition of my Packard Bell EasyNote MZ36-U-001 (1,60 GHz, Intel® Pentium® dual-core Processor T2060, 533 MHz, 1 GB DDR2, 120 GB )

Two things I havent been able to fix:

Not recognizing my Ralink Wireless LAN card v2 hardware (although it does recognize the Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC)

My Realtek HD audio isnt working at sll when I test it.

Im not concerned about the audio as much as I am about my wireless connectivity.

Can someone please guide me through what I need to do?

I couldnt find a code for the Ralink Wireless LAN card v2. Other sites have things like "rt2400" devices but in windows I cant find anything like that.

Any help would be great

rjwilmsi · 08-31-2007, 02:28 PM

You need to find out what chipset the wireless card has (rt2400 is an example of one). After booting up the laptop, post the output of the command dmesg (must be run as root / superuser). There should be some info on the card there.

gotmilk · 08-31-2007, 06:45 PM

Firstly this code repeats itself quite a bit

Code:

hda_codec: invalid dep_range_val 0:7fff

then the following...

Code:

hda_codec: invalid dep_range_val 0:7fff
SELinux: initialized (dev ramfs, type ramfs), uses genfs_contexts
NET: Registered protocol family 10
lo: Disabled Privacy Extensions
Mobile IPv6
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:01:05.0[A] -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 19
floppy0: no floppy controllers found
mtrr: no more MTRRs available
BUG: warning at kernel/softirq.c:138/local_bh_enable() (Not tainted)
 [<c042b0cf>] local_bh_enable+0x45/0x92
 [<c06002bd>] cond_resched_softirq+0x2c/0x42
 [<c059adf3>] release_sock+0x4f/0x9d
 [<c05c670d>] tcp_sendmsg+0x90b/0x9f9
 [<c05dec95>] inet_sendmsg+0x3b/0x45
 [<c0598731>] sock_aio_write+0xf6/0x102
 [<c04754ee>] do_sync_write+0xc7/0x10a
 [<c0436e71>] autoremove_wake_function+0x0/0x35
 [<c0475d47>] vfs_write+0xbc/0x154
 [<c0476342>] sys_write+0x41/0x67
 [<c0404f70>] syscall_call+0x7/0xb
 [<c0600000>] __sched_text_start+0x6e8/0x89e
 =======================
ACPI: AC Adapter [ACAD] (on-line)
ACPI: Battery Slot [BAT1] (battery present)
No dock devices found.
input: Power Button (FF) as /class/input/input4
ACPI: Power Button (FF) [PWRF]
input: Lid Switch as /class/input/input5
ACPI: Lid Switch [LID]
input: Power Button (CM) as /class/input/input6
ACPI: Power Button (CM) [PWRB]
ibm_acpi: ec object not found
set_level status: 0
ACPI: Video Device [VGA] (multi-head: yes  rom: no  post: no)
device-mapper: multipath: version 1.0.5 loaded
EXT3 FS on dm-0, internal journal
kjournald starting.  Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sda3, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
SELinux: initialized (dev sda3, type ext3), uses xattr
SELinux: initialized (dev tmpfs, type tmpfs), uses transition SIDs
Adding 1835000k swap on /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01.  Priority:-1 extents:1 across:1835000k
SELinux: initialized (dev binfmt_misc, type binfmt_misc), uses genfs_contexts
IA-32 Microcode Update Driver: v1.14a <tigran@aivazian.fsnet.co.uk>
ip6_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
ip_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
Netfilter messages via NETLINK v0.30.
nf_conntrack version 0.5.0 (7156 buckets, 57248 max)
eth0: link up, 100Mbps, full-duplex, lpa 0x45E1
audit(1188599958.963:4): audit_pid=1774 old=0 by auid=4294967295 subj=system_u:system_r:auditd_t:s0
SELinux: initialized (dev rpc_pipefs, type rpc_pipefs), uses genfs_contexts
Bluetooth: Core ver 2.11
NET: Registered protocol family 31
Bluetooth: HCI device and connection manager initialized
Bluetooth: HCI socket layer initialized
Bluetooth: L2CAP ver 2.8
Bluetooth: L2CAP socket layer initialized
Bluetooth: RFCOMM socket layer initialized
Bluetooth: RFCOMM TTY layer initialized
Bluetooth: RFCOMM ver 1.8
Bluetooth: HIDP (Human Interface Emulation) ver 1.2
SELinux: initialized (dev autofs, type autofs), uses genfs_contexts
SELinux: initialized (dev autofs, type autofs), uses genfs_contexts
SELinux: initialized (dev autofs, type autofs), uses genfs_contexts
eth0: no IPv6 routers present
Bridge firewalling registered
virbr0: no IPv6 routers present
mtrr: no more MTRRs available
hda-intel: Invalid position buffer, using LPIB read method instead.

gotmilk · 08-31-2007, 09:56 PM

ok it says its a "RaLink RT2561/RT61 rev B 802.11g"

Hopefully there is a driver out there for it... Its making me go crazy...

I installed th RutilT WLAN Manager as well

rjwilmsi · 09-01-2007, 02:36 AM

Yes there's a driver module out there - see http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php/Downloads or http://web.ralinktech.com/ralink/Hom...ort/Linux.html
As a minimum I think you'll need the kernel-devel package matching your kernel. If you have problems with the installation you might be better off posting at the specific forum http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/phpBB...23f776fd6522b9
Maybe you could post back here if it all works, so other users can benefit.

pellicle · 07-10-2008, 12:25 PM

Hi

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjwilmsi

Yes there's a driver module out there - see
...
Maybe you could post back here if it all works, so other users can benefit.

if I ever get this thing going on my machine I'll be adding details of how to my blog too, that's for sure!

farslayer · 07-10-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pellicle

Hi
if I ever get this thing going on my machine I'll be adding details of how to my blog too, that's for sure!

What distribution ? in Debian it was drop dead simple.. (ubuntu should be the same)

aptitude install module-assistant build-essential
m-a update
m-a prepare
m-a a-i rt2500

Then edit the /etc/network/interfaces file to add the entry for the wireless adapter..

It may be just as easy on your distro, but without knowing what you are running there is no easy way to tell.

Have you looked at the how-to's section for distribution specific help ?
http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/...p?title=HOWTOS

pellicle · 07-11-2008, 02:50 AM

please note, if I come across as annoyed or frustrated, it because this whole affair has been nothing but that

Quote:

Originally Posted by farslayer

What distribution ?

well, so far I've tried on:

redhat 4 (2.6.9)
ubuntu 8.04.1
fedora 9

all with no success at being able to get either my Motherboard NIC going, or indeed the card I subsequently bought (and posted this comment about) going.

I've spend whole working days at this no just some evenings at home with the TV on in the background. Also, I did not take lightly the move from redhat 4 as I'm needing that to then install Oracle 10g which requires the redhat 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by farslayer

in Debian it was drop dead simple.. (ubuntu should be the same)

yes, well that's the thing that Linux people keep telling me. However Since 1994 I've made 3 attempts to get a usable system operating at home using Linux (of various flavours) going and at no time have I ever been able to get my underlying hardware (lets not even start with peripherals like printers or scanners) going properly. I started playing on Apple IIe, BBC's, Amiga, IBM compatible since the 80's. Now, while I'm not claiming to be an expert on Linux systems if I can't do this then how is the ordinary mum and dad out there supposed to?

right now as it happens I'm looking at an error message in Fedora telling me to enable IOMMU in my bios (nothing like that seems to be there). Of course I then can't do much with Fedora as while the installer seems to be happy with my system (well, it crashes if I ask it to detect my network card) and seems to display X, when booting it just leaves my screen black. I assume that its starting in some video mode that my system can't utilize.

hmmm

Quote:

Originally Posted by farslayer

aptitude install module-assistant build-essential
m-a update
m-a prepare
m-a a-i rt2500

Then edit the /etc/network/interfaces file to add the entry for the wireless adapter..

sorry, but I have no idea what what that command does (and didn't even know of its existence till you mentioned it and I googled it).

if you think that's drop dead easy, why don't you try working with a windows platform some day? Over there I've found everything simply works, and if its not on the 'list' when installing then it gives me a "have disk" option to provide it and put it where it needs to go.

Linux may be many things, but simple - straight forward - anyone can do it are not among the lists.

10 years later I'm finding that its still the nightmare of frustration that it ever was.

reddazz · 07-11-2008, 04:30 AM

Can't make sense of what exactly you are trying to put across, but you can save yourself headaches by buying Linux compatible hardware (just like you would do with Windows) if you want to save yourself frustration. I personally use ralink based wireless cards (the drivers are included in new kernels, so you don't need to install them on your own) and basic realtek or via rhine wired cards and things just work out of the box on most distros.

pellicle · 07-11-2008, 05:19 AM

Hi

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddazz

Can't make sense of what exactly you are trying to put across

that its not helpful when people say "its simple" when its not always simple.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddazz

if you want to save yourself frustration. I personally use ralink based wireless cards (the drivers are included in new kernels, so you don't need to install them on your own) and basic realtek or via rhine wired cards and things just work out of the box on most distros.

ok, which is why I then went and bought a card which I understood was compatible (specifically the RT-2561T card mentioned), which then seems not to be supported in the latest distro's which I mentioned (Fedora 9 and Ubuntu 8.04.1

if there is a wireless card that you can recommend will work please feel free to recommend it as quite frankly a server with no network card isn't much of a server.

if on the other hand you (or anyone else) would be so kind as to make some suggestions on how to:

assist in debuging the problem
get the drivers to install

I would be more than grateful

thanks in advance

pellicle · 07-11-2008, 06:31 AM

update:

after re-installing redhat (over my non usable fedora) I now find that when compiling things from the serialmonkey driver set, that stuff seems to be working better now.

compile warnings:

Code:

  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST
  CC      /tmp/rt61-cvs-2008071005/Module/rt61.mod.o
  LD [M]  /tmp/rt61-cvs-2008071005/Module/rt61.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686'
!!! WARNING: Module file much too big (>1MB)
!!! Check your kernel settings or use 'strip'
*** Module rt61.ko built successfully
[root@localhost Module]#

-- now, after doing step 4 modprobe returns nothing

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# modprobe rt61
[root@localhost Module]#

-- I don't know if this is significant
-- so I then installed ...

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# make install
*** Install module in /lib/modules/2.6.9-22.ELsmp/extra ...
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686'
  INSTALL /tmp/rt61-cvs-2008071005/Module/rt61.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686'
/sbin/depmod -a
*** Update /etc/modprobe.d/ralink alias for wlan*
*** Config dir /etc/modprobe.d not found
*** Install firmware in /lib/firmware ...
*** Check old config ...

-- checking with modprobe still gives nothing

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# modprobe rt61

-- but when just typing in the commands (with fingers crossed)

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# ifconfig wlan0 up
[root@localhost Module]# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:18:F8:7B:4A:87
                    ESSID:"karistonkaiku"
                    Mode:Managed
                    Channel:11
                    Encryption key:off
                    Bit Rate:132Mb/s
                    Quality:43/100  Signal level:-80 dBm  Noise level:-256 dBm
          Cell 02 - Address: 00:13:64:27:55:0E
                    ESSID:"anitan"
                    Mode:Managed
                    Channel:2
                    Encryption key:off
                    Bit Rate:6Mb/s
                    Quality:0/100  Signal level:-62 dBm  Noise level:-256 dBm

-- woo hoo something is happening here, however after issuing the command:

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# iwconfig wlan0 essid anitan

nothing seems to happen ... when I connect my router does register that
this mac is connected but there is no DHCP request.

I guess that this is enough for this thread, I'll perhaps transfer the further discussion of this to a more pertinent location

farslayer · 07-11-2008, 10:03 AM

Granted what I called simple, is only simple if you know the commands. as for working with Windows, yes that's what I do for a living. I find it relaxing and fun to work with a stable Linux platform after dealing with Windows issues all day.

I can take two identical PC's install Linux on one and have everything work immediately after the install with actual applications to use, install Windows on the other and have no sound, no network, crappy video, etc.. until I locate and manually install drivers for everything on the windows box, rebooting a dozen times or so.

Yes if you are very familiar with windows it seems easier, but if you have no experience in either OS then I would say they are equally as difficult to use.

Glad you finally got something working there on your wireless.

fedoralinuxjunkie · 07-12-2008, 01:13 AM

Have you tried using NDISWrapper? that's how I got my RaLink RT2561/RT61 working in all my distros...

pellicle · 07-12-2008, 07:48 AM

Hi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fedoralinuxjunkie

Have you tried using NDISWrapper? that's how I got my RaLink RT2561/RT61 working in all my distros...

not yet, but now that I know of such a beastie (looks like a good idea) I'll give it a whirl and report back.

Another route I'm trying now is to get openSUSE and see if that works.

from now all follow up will be placed into this thread. Thanks everyone for suggestions and pointers so far. I really AM at a wits end on this one.

pellicle · 07-13-2008, 01:06 PM

Hi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fedoralinuxjunkie

Have you tried using NDISWrapper? that's how I got my RaLink RT2561/RT61 working in all my distros...

well, I'm not sure if I've done something wrong, of if there is a lack of source code with my distro. Well, anyway the first stage of make failed. I've bolded a few areas which I can't change or don't know if I could / should change.

Here is the output of [root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.53]# make

Code:

make -C driver
make[1]: Entering directory `/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver'


*** WARNING: This kernel uses 4K stack size option
(CONFIG_4KSTACKS); many Windows drivers will not work
with this option enabled. Disable CONFIG_4KSTACKS
in kernel's .config file, recompile and install kernel


make -C /usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686 M=/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver
make[2]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686'
  LD      /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/built-in.o
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/crt_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/hal_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ndis_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel_io_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/rtl_exports.h
  MKEXPORT /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/usb_exports.h
  CC [M]  /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/crt.o
In file included from /tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/crt.c:16:
/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel.h:649: error: field `lock' has incomplete type
/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel.h: In function `raise_irql':
/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel.h:686: warning: implicit declaration of function `mutex_lock'
/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel.h: In function `lower_irql':
/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/ntoskernel.h:708: warning: implicit declaration of function `mutex_unlock'
make[3]: *** [/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver/crt.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** [_module_/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-22.EL-smp-i686'
make[1]: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/tmp/ndiswrapper-1.53/driver'
make: *** [all] Error 2
[root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.53]#

I don't know if I can just comment out things ... either way this is (again) not a straight forward solution.

Thanks anyway.