Long time listener first time caller!

Hardware problem with Netgear MA401 wireless NIC for my Fujitsu Lifebook. Please help me

Summary:

Running Debian Woody, just compiled kernel 2.4.21
- included PCMCIA and Wireless Support
- included support for Prism 2.5 chipset (MA401 uses it)

-Have a RealTek integrated nic in my laptop that configured like a charm during installation.
-I just bought a Netgear ma401 and I cannot get it to show for the life of me.


I also downloaded and installed pcmcia_cs, hostap_pci and linux_wlan.ng modules (each with more spectacular failure than the last). After hours and hours of running around in circles, I realized that I am such a newbie that I don't understand even the most basic steps like what it means to "install support in the kernel" and "intall drivers" and "configure a device".

If someone will be so kind I desperately need the following:

- an explanation for why I don't see my MA401 under eth1 or wlan0

- a step by step (i actually am a six year old at this point believe me) procedure for how to install the proper driver and bring up my MA401.

- if possible an explanation for why i don't hear any beeps at all when i insert the NIC and why the green led lights up but i get device not found when I try ifup eth1 or ifup wlan0.



Thank you thank you

Hello again!

I muddled through to a solution by myself and I thought I'd post my finds here. Might help someone like me down the line:

- First do NOT compile support for PCMCIA in the kernel. Same goes for any specific drivers for network cards (wireless too). Just enable support for networking and wireless but leave the specific cards off.

- Then download pcmcia-cs and untar into /usr/src. This next part is what messed me up. You have to download hostap (drivers for Prism 2.5 chipset), copy the drivers directory into the pcmcia directory and make the pcmcia module with the drivers from hostap.

- And That will do it!! All you need to do then is reboot and modprobe hostap, yenta_socket and ds (i find order does matter). Run cardmgr last (it installs when you make pcmcia) and it will immediately pick up the MA401 plugged in)

Last thing to do is run ifconfig wlan0 up. And then i run pump -i wlan0 to have my router assign it an IP. And yippie we have wireless.

iwconfig shows you link strength and if you're connected to an AP. I'm using kismet to have it hop on to any open wireless net (only one in my house so it works).

.