help with WiFi Debian on 2.6.x kernel

Lleb_KCir · 04-28-2005, 09:50 PM

i am trying to get the Linksys WKPC54G running on my Debian 2.6.x kernel laptop. i have done the following as per a howto site, but no luv for me atm.:

Code:

laptop:~# apt-get install ndiswrapper-source ndiswrapper-utils
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  bzip2 module-assistant
Suggested packages:
  build-essential dialog kernel-package
Recommended packages:
  libterm-size-perl
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  bzip2 module-assistant ndiswrapper-source ndiswrapper-utils
0 upgraded, 4 newly installed, 0 to remove and 23 not upgraded.
Need to get 410kB of archives.
After unpacking 1040kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://ftp.au.debian.org testing/main bzip2 1.0.2-5 [233kB]
Get:2 http://ftp.au.debian.org testing/main module-assistant 0.8.10 [67.6kB]
Get:3 http://ftp.au.debian.org testing/main ndiswrapper-source 0.12+1.0rc2-1 [87.9kB]
Get:4 http://ftp.au.debian.org testing/main ndiswrapper-utils 0.12+1.0rc2-1 [21.2kB]
Fetched 410kB in 4s (87.6kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package bzip2.
(Reading database ... 71778 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking bzip2 (from .../bzip2_1.0.2-5_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package module-assistant.
Unpacking module-assistant (from .../module-assistant_0.8.10_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package ndiswrapper-source.
Unpacking ndiswrapper-source (from .../ndiswrapper-source_0.12+1.0rc2-1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package ndiswrapper-utils.
Unpacking ndiswrapper-utils (from .../ndiswrapper-utils_0.12+1.0rc2-1_i386.deb)...
Setting up bzip2 (1.0.2-5) ...

Setting up module-assistant (0.8.10) ...
Setting up ndiswrapper-source (0.12+1.0rc2-1) ...
Setting up ndiswrapper-utils (0.12+1.0rc2-1) ...
laptop:~# ndiswrapper -l
ls: /etc/ndiswrapper: No such file or directory
No drivers installed
laptop:~#

so i have installed 2 of the 3 sujested packages for the ndiswrapper, the 3rd is not found from the sources list i added to my list... ndiswrapper-bcm94306 upon doing an apt-cache search ndiswrapper only the above 2 returned to be found.

what is my next step?

Lleb_KCir · 04-28-2005, 10:53 PM

ok ive tried a few more things still no luv...

Code:

laptop:/usr/src# wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...2.6.12-rc3.bz2
--23:43:22--  http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...2.6.12-rc3.bz2
           => `patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2'
Resolving www.kernel.org... 204.152.191.5
Connecting to www.kernel.org[204.152.191.5]:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 3,706,330 [application/x-bzip2]

100%[====================================>] 3,706,330    317.82K/s    ETA 00:00

23:43:34 (311.80 KB/s) - `patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2' saved [3706330/3706330]

laptop:/usr/src# ls
modules  ndiswrapper-source.tar.gz  patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2  pcmcia-cs.tar
laptop:/usr/src# tar xjf patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2
tar: This does not look like a tar archive
tar: Skipping to next header
tar: Archive contains obsolescent base-64 headers
tar: Read 3662 bytes from patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
laptop:/usr/src# wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...h-2.6.11.7.bz2
--23:46:05--  http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...h-2.6.11.7.bz2
           => `patch-2.6.11.7.bz2'
Resolving www.kernel.org... 204.152.191.5
Connecting to www.kernel.org[204.152.191.5]:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 10,906 [application/x-bzip2]

100%[====================================>] 10,906        --.--K/s

23:46:05 (95.30 KB/s) - `patch-2.6.11.7.bz2' saved [10906/10906]

laptop:/usr/src# tar xjf patch-2.6.11.7.bz2
tar: This does not look like a tar archive
tar: Skipping to next header
tar: Archive contains obsolescent base-64 headers
tar: Read 3876 bytes from patch-2.6.11.7.bz2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

now that comes from following

http://www.projektfarm.com/en/suppor...l_compile.html

that link on howto compile a debian kernel... according to that site i needed to wget the kernel, then run tar xjf, but as you can see, this did not work.

Lleb_KCir · 04-28-2005, 11:00 PM

ok tried this and still no love:

Code:

laptop:/usr/src# apt-get remove ndiswrapper-source
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  ndiswrapper-source
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 23 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 205kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 73034 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing ndiswrapper-source ...
dpkg - warning: while removing ndiswrapper-source, directory `/usr/src/modules/ndiswrapper' not empty so not removed.
dpkg - warning: while removing ndiswrapper-source, directory `/usr/src/modules'not empty so not removed.
laptop:/usr/src# apt-get install ndiswrapper-source
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  ndiswrapper-source
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 23 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/139kB of archives.
After unpacking 205kB of additional disk space will be used.
Selecting previously deselected package ndiswrapper-source.
(Reading database ... 73025 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking ndiswrapper-source (from .../ndiswrapper-source_1.1-1_i386.deb) ...
Setting up ndiswrapper-source (1.1-1) ...
laptop:/usr/src# ls
modules                    patch-2.6.11.7.bz2    pcmcia-cs.tar
ndiswrapper-source.tar.gz  patch-2.6.12-rc3.bz2
laptop:/usr/src# tar -jxvf /usr/src/ndiswrapper-source.tar.gz
bzip2: (stdin) is not a bzip2 file.
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
laptop:/usr/src# dpkg -L ndiswrapper-source
/.
/usr
/usr/share
/usr/share/doc
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source/changelog.gz
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source/README
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source/README.Debian
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source/copyright
/usr/share/doc/ndiswrapper-source/changelog.Debian.gz
/usr/sbin
/usr/src
/usr/src/modules
/usr/src/modules/ndiswrapper
/usr/src/ndiswrapper-source.tar.gz
/sbin

what am i doing wrong?

timcharper · 05-05-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lleb_KCir
ok tried this and still no love:

Code:

laptop:/usr/src# apt-get remove ndiswrapper-source ... laptop:/usr/src# tar -jxvf /usr/src/ndiswrapper-source.tar.gz bzip2: (stdin) is not a bzip2 file. tar: Child returned status 2 tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors ...

what am i doing wrong?

well... I'm not an expert... but the command to untarzip a tar.gz file is "tar -xzf", not "tar -jxvf".

tar -jxvf is for extensions .tar.bz2

hope that helps in some way...

mcirsta · 05-05-2005, 03:44 PM

It's not a problem if you don't know how to unpack and archive . The solution is to just use MC , Konqueror or Krusader to unpack it wherever you want . You just have to enter the archive and unpack it wherever you wish .
As for recompiling the kernel I would suggest getting Debian's own kernel source package and then using Debian's tools for recompling the kernel . I've done it and there's nothing to it . If you cand use Debian's own kernel configuration file ( can't remeber where it is but you should find it ) . Read Debian's own documentation on recompiling the kernel as it works and is easy .
Also you might want to get a PrismGT card ( www.prism54.org ) or an Atheros card as they support Linux and you won't need ndiswrapper ( don't think one costs that much either , only 30 $ here ) .
As I final advice don't go head first into everything and take time to read more info on the subject on the internet and you'll better understand what needs to be done . Feel free to improvize on a few things too . You don't need to do everything by the book . If it says do tar -bla you can use mc ( apt-get install mc ) and unpack where you need to ( don't forget : man tar ) .
Good luck !

Lleb_KCir · 05-05-2005, 08:27 PM

thank you. i am still not comfortable with compiling a kernel (to many failed attempts), but someone form my LUG provided a great wiki for ndiswrapper:

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/p...p/Installation

i was successful at getting my linksys card up and working. i am very steady at 54m. not sure that is what the G rated speeds should be, but it is sufficient for me on my laptop as it allows me to take the laptop out to the living room to manage and controll via VNC my media box. also running debian with the 2.4 kernel though

emetib · 05-05-2005, 09:11 PM

you don't need the 2.4 kernel anymore. i would only suggest using it if you are running it on something other than your laptop, and then you really don't need it any more.

for the G, it's another part of the terminology for the 802.11 system.

and don't worry, you won't be using the full 54 unless your access point is wired into a fiber system. which i doubt it is.

other than that, i would suggest the atheros chip also, i've had problems with the ndiswrapper in deb. it keeps freezing up my system with no fix except for a reboot.

cheers.

Lleb_KCir · 05-05-2005, 09:40 PM

well the older box is nothing but a media station. it is connected directly to my TV and does nothing but play DVD's and movie files. someday ill upgrad it to the 2.6 or higher kernel but for not if it aint broke done fix it.

:P

if i run into to many issues with the ndiswrapper ill look for a new wifi nic. thanks for the help and info.