rt2860 in Slackware

MTK358 · 11-15-2009, 03:52 PM

I was trying a few distros and found that slackware with FVWM2 seems pretty nice. I connected to the internet with an ethernet cable and running netconfig, but I would like to use my wireless card (it has an rt2860 chipset). I am not sure how to do it. Could anyone give some advice?

MysticalGroovy · 11-15-2009, 04:53 PM

I guess you should install the card's driver

look what ive found with a google search:

grab you driver from here:
http://web.ralinktech.com/ralink/Hom...ort/Linux.html

you should find build instructions inside your selected drivers package, also check this How-To on the ubuntuForums:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1045703

MTK358 · 11-15-2009, 05:36 PM

For some reason all the download links on that page say 404 not found.

EDIT: the Ubuntu Forums link says you need a network manager applet, I am not sure that I have any because I have neither GNOME nor KDE.

MysticalGroovy · 11-16-2009, 12:55 AM

the driver link above works for me

for a network manager you can use the great WiCD for detecting and working with both ethernet and wireless connections.

http://wicd.sourceforge.net/download.php

you can get it in Slackware's extra/ directory

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 07:48 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

I was trying a few distros and found that slackware with FVWM2 seems pretty nice. I connected to the internet with an ethernet cable and running netconfig, but I would like to use my wireless card (it has an rt2860 chipset). I am not sure how to do it. Could anyone give some advice?

The 'rt2860' is supported via a module. What does 'ifconfig -a' show? If the device has been recognized then you can use 'wicd' as suggested but you will need to revert the '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf' file to the original state. 'wicd' is in the '/extra' directory of your install media.

MTK358 · 11-16-2009, 09:41 AM

Bash says there is no "ifconfig" command.

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 09:52 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

Bash says there is no "ifconfig" command.

You can run it as root via 'su -' or '/sbin/ifconfig -a'. You need to make system configurations as root.

Just a few links to aid you;

Slackware® Essentials
Slackware® Basics
Linux Documentation Project
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Linux Command Guide
Utimate Linux Newbie Guide
LinuxSelfHelp
Getting Started with Linux
Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
'Virtualiation- Top 10'

These links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

MTK358 · 11-16-2009, 10:21 AM

Here it is:

Code:

# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:26:18:35:fd:9b  
          inet addr:192.168.1.74  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::226:18ff:fe35:fd9b/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:27953 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:15457 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:15769929 (15.0 MiB)  TX bytes:2000581 (1.9 MiB)
          Interrupt:55 Base address:0x6000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:548 (548.0 B)  TX bytes:548 (548.0 B)

ra0       Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:08:54:86:b7:6f  
          inet6 addr: fe80::208:54ff:fe86:b76f/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:20002 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:196 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:1775748 (1.6 MiB)  TX bytes:332 (332.0 B)
          Interrupt:17

MTK358 · 11-16-2009, 10:36 AM

I also tried installing the rt2860 driver (there were 2 links for rt2860, one said firmware and the other did not, I chose the one that didn't say firmware) and wicd from the slackware DVD, and installed stalonetray because I understand it has a tray icon, but there is no icon in stalonetray when I run wicd.

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 10:41 AM

Hi,

What is the output of 'ifconfig -a'. 'man ifconfig' to get an understanding.

The '-a' will show all recognized devices;

Quote:

excerpt from 'man ifconfig';
-a display all interfaces which are currently available, even if down

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 10:42 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

I also tried installing the rt2860 driver (there were 2 links for rt2860, one said firmware and the other did not, I chose the one that didn't say firmware) and wicd from the slackware DVD, and installed stalonetray because I understand it has a tray icon, but there is no icon in stalonetray when I run wicd.

You need to confirm that the device is not recognized before attempting installation of another driver.

MTK358 · 11-16-2009, 11:41 AM

Code:

# ifconfig -a
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:26:18:35:fd:9b  
          inet addr:192.168.1.74  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::226:18ff:fe35:fd9b/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:43790 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:25880 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:27272225 (26.0 MiB)  TX bytes:3265882 (3.1 MiB)
          Interrupt:55 Base address:0x6000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:20 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:20 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:1444 (1.4 KiB)  TX bytes:1444 (1.4 KiB)

ra0       Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:08:54:86:b7:6f  
          inet6 addr: fe80::208:54ff:fe86:b76f/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:74029 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:711 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:6577376 (6.2 MiB)  TX bytes:332 (332.0 B)
          Interrupt:17

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 11:57 AM

Hi,

Your wireless is 'ra0'. Just edit the '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf' to reflect your device.

'Configuring your network in Slackware' should be a good aid for you.

Sorry, I missed the 'ra0' and rt association.

You should be able to configure your wireless via the above link with a little effort on your part.

MTK358 · 11-16-2009, 12:16 PM

I checked out the link but I hardly understand anything about networking.

onebuck · 11-16-2009, 12:31 PM

Hi,

As root you can use the below to configure a static IP;

Code:

#
~#ifconfig ra0 192.168.1.18    <<< available IP
~#route add default gw 192.168.1.1
~#iwlist ra0 scan << use information to fill in for essid & ap
~#iwconfig ra0 essid "Your Wireless"
~#iwconfig ra0 key your_key_here
~#iwconfig ra0 ap xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx <<Your _ap_from iwlist

This can be copied and paste to a script file. Be sure to 'chmod +x ra0.sh' where 'ra0.sh' is the name of the file;

Quote:

#!/bin/bash
#
#11-16-09 12:30 gws
#setup the rt2860 ar0 device
#
/sbin/ifconfig ra0 192.168.1.18
/sbin/route add default gw 192.168.1.1
/sbin/iwconfig ra0 essid "Your_Wireless"
/sbin/iwconfig ra0 key Your_key
/sbin/iwconfig ra0 ap xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx

Your DNS should be setup from the original 'netconfig'. If the above works then changes can be made to your configuration.