I have a Linksys WUSB11 2.6 adapter that uses the Atmel AT76C503A chipset. I've downloaded the Atmel drivers for the adapter but I have no clue how to install them. I am trying to experiment with Aircrack or Kismet but I don't know how to even install the drivers for my adapter. I have never used a Linux OS before. I understand I have to set my adapter into monitor mode but how do I do this? I've tried various OS' such as the Auditor Live CD, Simply Mepis Live, and Ubuntu 6.10 but I don't know where to begin. The Auditor Live CD didn't have the right folder of where I was supposed to install (/usr/src/linux-2.x.x) and it wouldn't let me create a folder. The same problem with Simply Mepis. It said I didn't have permission to create a folder. Ubuntu had the right folder but I couldn't see any of my hard drives to copy the necessary files over. Do I have to install the Linux OS instead of using the Live CDs? What exact commands do I need to type? Please help because I can't use this wireless adapter in Windows as it has no monitor mode drivers available.

I think you should try to install Ubuntu. It is easy to install with windows. After you get Ubuntu installed you will need to download the Kernel headers (Kernel source or something like that) with apt-get. It won't compile without the kernel headers.

I instantly found this site on google: http://at76c503a.berlios.de/

You will need to cd into the directory (with terminal) where the drivers are at and type make. Then modprobe the driver. You will see the instructions on that site.

Ubuntu has a graphical network configuration tool.

If you have any more question just post.

Have you tried the search button on the right and entering WUSB11?

Can I just put all the files I need on a cdr and transfer them to the ubuntu os? I don't know what apt-get is. My wireless adapter doesn't work after I boot up the Live CDs so I have a feeling it won't work even if I install it to my hard drive. I don't know ANY of the commands for linux. I don't know what cd'ing into a terminal means or what modprobing means. I'm a linux newb but not a computer newb. I can follow directions fine if you can give me step by step instructions on what to do.

I have seen that website (http://at76c503a.berlios.de/) but on that page it says this:

Currently, the driver has some limitations: no promiscous, monitor or station mode and no support for libpcap, i.e. it does not work with Kismet or Airsnort and it cannot act as an WLAN access point. This is a restriction imposed by the current firmware.


So I think my only option is to use the drivers from the Sourceforge site (http://atmelwlandriver.sourceforge.net/news.html). But how should I do it? Can you tell me exactly what I'm supposed to do or type right after I finish installing Ubuntu please?

"I don't know ANY of the commands for linux. I don't know what cd'ing into a terminal means or what modprobing means. I'm a linux newb but not a computer newb."

OK, against my better judgment I'll try to give you some help. The problem is that I don't want to become your linux tutor, having to hover over every single command you enter into the system. Linux is a lot like DOS. If you don't have any experience with that, say perhaps you're a Mac user or a corporate mainframe user, then this will be difficult for both of us. I don't think I'm prepared to go through that.

To be honest, some people are simply not going to be successful with Linux. To go from zero to hero will take an enormous amount of effort on *your* part. So, let's start by asking why you want to do this. What are you trying to accomplish? If you just want a tour of Linux to see what the fuss is all about, then get an internet cable, connect your computer to your router, and fire up the livecd. It should start and connect to the internet. However, there's not a lot you will be able to do with it. Yes, you can browse the internet and you can run some programs, but in order to save anything, you need to dedicate a partition to Linux, because Microsoft filesystems don't play particularly well with Linux.

On the otherhand, if you have made the decision to actually load Linux to this PC, then still get the internet cable and connect directly to your router. Then, decide which distro you want to use, and start the install process. Be warned, though that you're going to need some actual space on your computer to do the installation. For most people that are as new as you are to this, that means the complete destruction of all data you have on the computer. By the way, setting up the wireless card is the very last part of your installation. You have to get Linux actually installed, generally through your wired ethernet port, before we can even begin to mess with the wireless adapter.

Please post your responses to this, and we'll figure out where to go from here.

Hey I was looking around some more and I think my particular wireless adapter is probably not going to work so well. I found this in the Kismet documentation:

Atmel-USB Linux Berlios-Atmel
http://at76c503a.berlios.de/
Capture interface: 'wlanX'
These drivers work ONLY on USB cards (Sorry, no PCMCIA
support). Monitor mode support is limited and "faked"
by bypassing part of the firmware and parsing packets
directly, and is likely to not report all of the
frames.
This card MAY BROADCAST while in rfmon, rendering the
sniffer visible.
It appears that this card may be only formatting the
beacons as an 802.11 stream, which means you likely
will not see data frames, rendering most IDS functions,
IP discovery, and data logging unavailable.

I don't know if you've used kismet or aircrack before but would only capturing management/beacon frames be enough to detect my WEP key? If not, then I guess I should wait until I get a better wifi adapter.

I wouldn't worry about it. All wireless is weak. The hardest part about getting a wireless card to work on linux is finding the right driver.

Just install Ubuntu and give it a try. If you can't get it to work, oh well.

Follow this link to a discussion of your board. The first post indicates that there are two drivers that will work and provides a link to them.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/sh...uct=71&cat=all

Yes I know about the 2 drivers. The issue isn't just getting the wifi to work in linux. That, I know is possible. It's getting it to work in monitor mode so I can use Kismet or Aircrack to monitor and capture packets that's the issue. My adapter doesn't support monitor mode but I've read you can sort of fake it and get into a quasi-monitor mode but it won't capture all the packets. It will only capture management/beacon frames that are forwarded by the firmware. So unless someone here has actually cracked a WEP key in Linux using my type of wifi adapter then it'll be a lot of work for nothing. I'll just wait until I get a better supported wifi adapter....unless you guys don't mind trying to help me install it anyways. I'll go through with it if you guys are willing. I appreciate the help always.

*That, I know is possible. It's getting it to work in monitor mode so I can use Kismet or Aircrack to monitor and capture packets that's the issue.*

Oh, I didn't realise you wanted help cracking your neighbors routers. :: Mod Edit ::

This is not a cracking forum!

When did I say I was trying to crack my neighbor's router?? I stated in my very first post that I wanted to experiment with Kismet. I know this is not a cracking forum which is why I didn't ask about how to use Kismet or Aircrack. I plan on trying this on my own router. If you wanna help then help but don't jump to conclusions and say rude things.

So before this goes any further..
We don't support cracking here. That's in the LQ rules for sure..

However, analysing networks is a must, so we're not going to damn anyone for that.
It's a fine line and this thread hasn't crossed it.

Please continue..

i have the same usb adapter and i am new to linux, have just set up ubuntu, i was not going to worry about setting my wireless adapter up until i get some more expereince BUT as this thread seems to be on the topic...How do i get my adapter working in ubuntu?