I have just installed Fedora 16 with the latest kernel build and am trying to connect with my wireless wrt160n by Linksys. I have tried with a cable between my laptop and the router and it works just fine, but when I disconnect it and attempt wireless, it fails miserable. I've gone into the router's internal menu via 192.168.1.1 and made changes which should direct it correctly, however they don't work. At this point I'm just wandering around seeking any and all help coming my way.

Thanks


Johnny

Is your system detecting the wireless card/dongle? If you don't know, use the command ifconfig and look for wlan0

What wireless unit do you have in your system? If you don't know, use the command lspci -v if it's an internal card, lsusb -v if it's a USB dongle

Is the appropriate kernel module loaded? If you don't know, use the command lsmod and search the list

Is wireless enabled in your router? (From what you've written, you've apparently checked this, but just asking to be sure)

Are you trying to get the connection via dhcp? If so, is your router set up properly for this?

Is NetworkManager running?

The following has worked for me in the past when Network Manager fails to connect but everything else is set up properly:
HTH

lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h Processor Root Complex
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Device 9647 (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc62
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
I/O ports at f000 [size=256]
Memory at feb00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel modules: radeon

00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1714
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc62
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 45
Memory at feb44000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:02.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h Processor Root Port (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00001000-00001fff
Memory behind bridge: d0100000-d02fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000d0300000-00000000d04fffff
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [b0] Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 1234
Capabilities: [b8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 40) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 44
I/O ports at f190 [size=8]
I/O ports at f180 [size=4]
I/O ports at f170 [size=8]
I/O ports at f160 [size=4]
I/O ports at f150 [size=16]
Memory at feb4e000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/4 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] SATA HBA v1.0
Kernel driver in use: ahci

00:12.0 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at feb4d000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Kernel driver in use: ohci_hcd

00:12.2 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 17
Memory at feb4c000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00e0
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:13.0 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at feb4b000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Kernel driver in use: ohci_hcd

00:13.2 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 17
Memory at feb4a000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00e0
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson SMBus Controller (rev 13)
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: 66MHz, medium devsel
Kernel modules: i2c-piix4

00:14.1 IDE interface: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson IDE Controller (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 17
I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
I/O ports at f100 [size=16]
Kernel driver in use: pata_atiixp
Kernel modules: pata_atiixp

00:14.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson Azalia Controller (rev 01)
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc65
Flags: bus master, slow devsel, latency 32, IRQ 16
Memory at feb40000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson LPC Bridge (rev 11)
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0

00:14.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson PCI Bridge (rev 40) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=64

00:15.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 43a0 (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot-), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [b0] Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 0000
Capabilities: [b8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:15.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 43a1 (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000e000-0000efff
Memory behind bridge: fea00000-feafffff
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot-), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [b0] Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 0000
Capabilities: [b8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:15.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 43a2 (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=05, subordinate=05, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000d0000000-00000000d00fffff
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot-), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [b0] Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Device 0000
Capabilities: [b8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:16.0 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB OHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at feb49000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Kernel driver in use: ohci_hcd

00:16.2 USB Controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Hudson USB EHCI Controller (rev 11) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 17
Memory at feb48000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00e0
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 0 (rev 43)
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 1
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 2
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 3
Flags: fast devsel
Capabilities: [f0] Secure device <?>
Kernel driver in use: k10temp
Kernel modules: k10temp

00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 4
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 6
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 5
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 7
Flags: fast devsel

04:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (rev 01)
Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device 8181
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at e000 [size=256]
Memory at fea00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 01-91-81-fe-ff-4c-e0-00
Kernel driver in use: rtl8192ce
Kernel modules: rtl8192ce

05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems Device fc67
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 46
I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
Memory at d0004000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 01
Capabilities: [b0] MSI-X: Enable- Count=4 Masked-
Capabilities: [d0] Vital Product Data
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 7d-00-00-00-36-4c-e0-00
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

[root@jeades1 johnny]# lsmod
Module Size Used by
tcp_lp 12583 0
be2iscsi 62844 0
iscsi_boot_sysfs 15121 1 be2iscsi
bnx2i 49424 0
cnic 53516 1 bnx2i
uio 14405 1 cnic
cxgb4i 32063 0
cxgb4 96233 1 cxgb4i
lockd 73368 0
cxgb3i 28014 0
libcxgbi 50487 2 cxgb4i,cxgb3i
cxgb3 130809 1 cxgb3i
mdio 13214 1 cxgb3
8021q 23310 0
garp 13744 1 8021q
stp 12719 1 garp
llc 13770 2 garp,stp
ib_iser 32863 0
fcoe 22702 0
rdma_cm 36864 1 ib_iser
ib_cm 36679 1 rdma_cm
iw_cm 13715 1 rdma_cm
ib_sa 23615 2 rdma_cm,ib_cm
ib_mad 37189 2 ib_cm,ib_sa
ib_core 61888 6 ib_iser,rdma_cm,ib_cm,iw_cm,ib_sa,ib_mad
ib_addr 13476 1 rdma_cm
iscsi_tcp 18015 0
libiscsi_tcp 19333 4 cxgb4i,cxgb3i,libcxgbi,iscsi_tcp
libiscsi 44809 8 be2iscsi,bnx2i,cxgb4i,cxgb3i,libcxgbi,ib_iser,iscsi_tcp,libiscsi_tcp
scsi_transport_iscsi 45276 8 be2iscsi,bnx2i,libcxgbi,ib_iser,iscsi_tcp,libiscsi
libfcoe 41950 1 fcoe
libfc 97829 2 fcoe,libfcoe
scsi_transport_fc 47165 2 fcoe,libfc
scsi_tgt 18993 1 scsi_transport_fc
ip6t_REJECT 12782 2
nf_conntrack_ipv6 13885 1
nf_defrag_ipv6 13678 1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
ip6table_filter 12711 1
nf_conntrack_ipv4 14182 1
nf_defrag_ipv4 12601 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
ip6_tables 17844 1 ip6table_filter
xt_state 12514 2
nf_conntrack 70556 3 nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_conntrack_ipv4,xt_state
arc4 12473 2
uvcvideo 66269 0
videodev 82713 1 uvcvideo
media 19691 2 uvcvideo,videodev
joydev 17124 0
microcode 18550 0
serio_raw 13155 0
rtl8192ce 74359 0
rtl8192c_common 66124 1 rtl8192ce
rtlwifi 93596 1 rtl8192ce
mac80211 380494 3 rtl8192ce,rtl8192c_common,rtlwifi
r8169 51125 0
cfg80211 164741 2 rtlwifi,mac80211
k10temp 12951 0
snd_hda_codec_realtek 182158 1
mii 13311 1 r8169
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 31544 1
toshiba_acpi 17828 0
sparse_keymap 13342 1 toshiba_acpi
rfkill 20448 2 cfg80211,toshiba_acpi
snd_hda_intel 32323 2
snd_hda_codec 101856 3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13236 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_seq 54637 0
snd_seq_device 13817 1 snd_seq
snd_pcm 81170 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
i2c_piix4 13406 0
snd_timer 23896 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 62530 13 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_seq,snd_seq_devic e,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 14116 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 13709 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
sunrpc 196717 2 lockd
uinput 17246 0
ata_generic 12779 0
pata_acpi 12875 0
ums_realtek 17688 0
usb_storage 42717 1 ums_realtek
pata_atiixp 12992 0
video 18500 0
wmi 18273 0
radeon 718970 0
ttm 57696 1 radeon
drm_kms_helper 30800 1 radeon
drm 179187 3 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit 12980 1 radeon
i2c_core 28123 6 videodev,i2c_piix4,radeon,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_algo_bit


[root@jeades1 johnny]# service NetworkManager stop
Redirecting to /bin/systemctl stop NetworkManager.service
[root@jeades1 johnny]# service network restart
Restarting network (via systemctl): Job failed. See system logs and 'systemctl status' for details.
[FAILED]
[root@jeades1 johnny]# dhclient wlan0
dhclient(2080) is already running - exiting.

This version of ISC DHCP is based on the release available
on ftp.isc.org. Features have been added and other changes
have been made to the base software release in order to make
it work better with this distribution.

Please report for this software via the Red Hat Bugzilla site:
http://bugzilla.redhat.com

exiting.
[root@jeades1 johnny]#

Well, your computer obviously recognizes both your ethernet and your wireless devices.

Is the NetworkManager applet displayed in the system tray at the top of your screen? If it is, and you right-click on it, is wireless enabled? If so, and you click on Edit Connections...- then the Wireless tab, , does your wireless router show up on the list? If so, when you click on it then click the Edit button, is Connect automatically checked? Is Available to all users checked? When you click on the Wireless Security tab, is the proper option selected? Is your passphrase properly entered?

I'm using KDE Fedora setup and don't have an application bar at the top. The icons I do have at the bottom don't seem to contain the network manager though. Being a newbie I feel as I'm imposing on the generousity of others to help me here. What do I do next?

Johnny

When you boot from a live cd (or usb flash drive) with the wired connection unplugged, does the system offer to connect you wirelessly?

I just booted a live Fedora 16 KDE USB stick so that I'd know what I'm writing about. The network manager icon looks like a V with a couple of arcs across it - it's just to the left of the the clock. Left-clicking on it brought up a list of available wireless networks (11 in my case). I selected mine and enabled it.

I found the network manager and it did show the wireless. I chose it and entered all the needed information but it failed also. How do I boot from a live cd without it going through the installation process.

Since your network shows up, the problem would appear to be with the wireless settings on your router, not with NetworkManager. Do other computers connect wirelessly to your router without problems?

If you installed from the live cd, you booted it, and should see the networking icon in the panel at the bottom of the screen. I'm not sure if the DVD will let you run the system from it - I don't know that I've ever installed Fedora from a DVD.

Thanks for such a prompt reply. I have two other laptops connected wirelessly to the internet. It's only this one that I am having difficulty connecting. It's also the only one running Fedora 16 Linux by Red Hat. the others are on Windows 7. It wasn't exactly cut and dried installation with them either, but once I configured the router correctly, it worked fine. That seems to eliminate the router configuration at this point. I did boot on a live iso with Gnome3 desktop and couldn't configure it for wireless from there either.

Johnny

This is where I'd give up on Fedora 16. First thing I'd try (because I like Fedora) is the latest nightly compose of Fedora 17. Go to this page, click on the Task info link for the version you want, scroll down on the linked page to the output section, download the iso file, create your live cd or USB flash drive, and give it a try. If that didn't work, I'd try another a live CD ofering from another distro.