I am running redhat 9.0 on an IBM T20 laptop.
I have a wireless SMC 2635W pcmcia card.
When I power up the laptop, the OS recognizes the card because the power light comes on.
I am assuming that I need to install the drivers for this card.
Does anyone know where I can download these drivers and step by step how to install them?
Has anyone been able to install this type of card before?

Thanks,

mr_dizzle

not hot on laptops, but this is a good place to start

http://www.linux-wlan.org

the good news is SMC 2635W is listed here and it says drivers are available...

http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html

learn more here :-

http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_.../Wireless.html

good luck. and let me know how you get on.

inode

This is an ADMtek chipset 802.11b card, I have a little howto for this chipset which you may find useful, there is a downloadable pre-compiled module there for redhat 9.0 (kernel 2.4.20-8) that you can download and try, there is also a link and instructions for how to compile the admtek linux driver on your own machine, here's the link:
http://www.houseofcraig.net/belkin_howto.php#dlink
if you need further assistance, post back.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the responces. I will take a look at the links and let you know if I am successfull.

mr_dizzle

ok, i went through the steps of downloading and then installing as directed on http://www.houseofcraig.net/belkin_howto.php#dlink
i was able to get the led to start flashing rapidly
everything went smoothly until step 8 under "installing the 8211 module"
i went through redhat 9.0's network configuration tool but was unable to activate the device. the default list did not include my model card so i tried by selecting another smc card and also with a 3com card.
i get error "device does not seem to be present" when attempting to activate the card

so i continued on to "configuring the 8211 driver"
i was able to type ifconfig -a and verify that an ethernet device is registered with the MAC address of the card listed next to HWaddr
then i attempted to activate the card by typing:
ifconfig eth1 192.168.1.101 but i get error:
SIOCSIFADDR: No such device
eth1: unknown interface: No such device

yes, it is eth1 because i have another wired card that works no problem. i was able to use the redhat network config tool to get that card working.

any suggestions?

thanks,

mr_dizzle

Open a terminal/shell window and type "su -" then give the root password, I call this a 'root console'.

Now, let's eject the card and the module and see if we can start fresh, so, in your root console, do "cardctl eject" and then remove the card, do "rmmod 8211", then "lsmod" and verify that 8211 is indeed not in the list returned as well as taking a look to see if the smc module you attempted to assign to this card via the config tool is there and if it is, do "rmmod smcmodulename" also.

Next, delete the eth1 config file, do "rm /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1" (it may not exist depending on how far things got with the config tool), then open your /etc/modules.conf file and delete the line (if it exists) that is aliasing the wrong module for eth1, this line would look like this: "alias wrong_smc_modulename eth1", take care not to delete the line for eth0 if there is one. Delete any other line that is aliasing eth1 also.

Now, go back to your root console and do "tail -f /var/log/messages", then plug in your card and watch the messages as they go by, report any errors. Take note of the line containing "pci.agent setup ... ... ... for pci slot ...", see if the hotplug system is attempting to load modules other than 8211 for this card. Back in the terminal window, things should finally end up with a long series of "setting channel ...." messages, and having it finally come to rest on the channel your router is using, see if this is true. When that completes you can type ctrl+c to get your terminal back.

At that point use the howto's manual "automating the config" instructions, and let me know how it goes.

if anything errors out, post back at that point.

OK, i will try this. but before i do, i forgot to mention that after i rebooted i got stuck into a loop of "setting channel" where it just kept going and going until i popped the card out.

mr_dizzle

Ah, ok, that's different, and for reference, you do not want/need to reboot before/during or after installing drivers in linux, in some cases it's actually detrimental.

Let me get some info and we'll go from there, I need to see the output of lsmod, cardctl ident, cardctl status, and cat /etc/modules.conf, and cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1, as well as the log message referred to above with "pci.agent setup ... ... ... for pci slot ...".

here we go:

i put the card back in and started the machine. as it boots, it gets thrown back into the loop of "setting channel's 1-14, so i popped the card out and it booted normally.
i opened a terminal window and am logged in as root.
i did not do "cardctl eject" because the card is already out
i then typed "rmmod 8211" and then "lsmod" and verified that 8211 as well as the other module i attempted to assign the card were not in this list.
then i typed "rm /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1" and confirmed the removal
then i opened /etc/modules.conf file and deleted the line that is aliasing the wrong module for eth1
then i typed "tail -f /var/log/messages" and popped the card back in.
here is what i got:

localhost kernel: PCI: Enabling device 02.00.0 (0000 -> 0003)
localhost cardmgr [1548]: socket 0: CardBus hotplug device
localhost /etc/hotplug/pci.agent: Setup 8211 for PCI slot 02:00.0
localhost kernel: ADM8211 Linux driver version 1.03 (Feb 17, 2003)
localhost kernel: Hardware Address 00:04:E2:84:0F:43, IRQ 11
localhost insmod: Warning: loading /lib/modules/204020-8/kernel/drivers/net/pcmcia/8211.o will taint the kernel: no license
localhost insmod: Module 8211 loaded, with warnings
localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: invoke ifup eth0
localhost kernel: eth0: ADMtek Wireless rev 32 at 0x4000, set channel 1
localhost kernel: set channel 2
localhost devlabel: devlabel service started/restarted
localhost kernel: default .... 00008946
localhost last message repeated 3 times
localhost kernel: set channel 3
localhost kernel: set channel 4
localhost kernel: set channel 5
localhost kernel: set channel 6
localhost kernel: set channel 7
localhost kernel: set channel 8
localhost kernel: set channel 9
localhost kernel: set channel 10
localhost kernel: set channel 11
localhost kernel: set channel 12
localhost kernel: set channel 13
localhost kernel: set channel 14
localhost dhclient: DHCPREQUEST on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67

and then it just keeps "set channel" over and over with a few of the "DHCPREQUEST" lines thrown in here and there.

the thing is strange is that the line "DHCPREQUEST on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67" is referring to eth0 and not eth1

also while it is "set channel" the light is flashing rapidly. i tried this both with WEP enabled and disabled but game the same results.

i sure hope this post can give you some insight to my situation. i appreciate your last post. very easy to follow, and of course, extremely helpful.

mr_dizzle

Don't worry to much about the eth0 messages mixed in with the eth1's, this is normal, in fact other devices' messages may show up interspersed with the eth1's as well, they all go to the same place (sort of) and it's first-come-first-served as to what gets displayed in what order.

Now, so far I see no problems with your setup, once again, I remind you, rebooting is not the answer, it changes very little. With the card in (and perhaps those set channel messages streaming by) open a terminal/shell/console and "su -" to become root, then type "iwconfig eth1 mode managed channel x essid youressidname rate auto" using the correct channel and essid name, for this exercise, turn wep off on the router, we'll get it working once the card is up. That should stop the set channel messages. If not, give the card an ip address by typing "ifconfig eth1 10.0.0.1" and try it again.

Then do iwconfig and verify that the info you set is what you set it to. If all that works, then try this: dhcpcd eth1, and when it returns (or *if*) then do iwconfig and see if you have a valid ip address for your network.

"
Let me get some info and we'll go from there, I need to see the output of lsmod, cardctl ident, cardctl status, and cat /etc/modules.conf, and cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1, as well as the log message referred to above with "pci.agent setup ... ... ... for pci slot ...".

[root@localhost root]# lsmod
Module Size Used by Tainted: P
3c574_cs 12548 1 (autoclean)
8211 66984 0
ide-cd 35708 0 (autoclean)
cdrom 33728 0 (autoclean) [ide-cd]
parport_pc 19076 1 (autoclean)
lp 8996 0 (autoclean)
parport 37056 1 (autoclean) [parport_pc lp]
autofs 13268 0 (autoclean) (unused)
ds 8680 2 [3c574_cs]
yenta_socket 13472 2
pcmcia_core 57216 0 [3c574_cs ds yenta_socket]
ipt_REJECT 3928 6 (autoclean)
iptable_filter 2412 1 (autoclean)
ip_tables 15096 2 [ipt_REJECT iptable_filter]
keybdev 2944 0 (unused)
mousedev 5492 1
hid 22148 0 (unused)
input 5856 0 [keybdev mousedev hid]
usb-uhci 26348 0 (unused)
usbcore 78784 1 [hid usb-uhci]
ext3 70784 2
jbd 51892 2 [ext3]
[root@localhost root]#


[root@localhost root]# cardctl ident
Socket 0:
product info: "3Com", "Megahertz 574B", "B", "001"
manfid: 0x0101, 0x0574
function: 6 (network)
Socket 1:
no product info available
[root@localhost root]#

(i have my wired card in only so i can connect on this machine and copy and paste)

[root@localhost root]# cardctl status
Socket 0:
5V 16-bit PC Card
function 0: [ready]
Socket 1:
3.3V CardBus card
function 0: [ready]
[root@localhost root]#

[root@localhost root]# cat /etc/modules.conf
alias usb-controller usb-uhci
alias sound-slot-0 cs46xx
post-install sound-slot-0 /bin/aumix-minimal -f /etc/.aumixrc -L >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
pre-remove sound-slot-0 /bin/aumix-minimal -f /etc/.aumixrc -S >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
alias eth0 3c574_cs
[root@localhost root]#

[root@localhost root]# cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1
cat: /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1: No such file or directory
[root@localhost root]#

here is the results of "tail -f /var/log/messages" again

it may look a little strange because i had to eject both cards and then insert the wireless card in order to get the log to react. and then i had to plug my wired card back in to get back online to copy and paste.

[root@localhost root]# cardctl eject
[root@localhost root]# tail -f /var/log/messages
Oct 31 19:57:32 localhost devlabel: devlabel service started/restarted
Oct 31 20:03:32 localhost cardmgr[1548]: executing: './network check eth0'
Oct 31 20:03:32 localhost cardmgr[1548]: executing: './network stop eth0'
Oct 31 20:03:32 localhost kernel: eth1: ADMtek Wireless rev 32 at 0x4800,<7>divert: freeing divert_blk for eth0
Oct 31 20:03:32 localhost cardmgr[1548]: executing: 'modprobe -r 3c574_cs'
Oct 31 20:03:32 localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: NET unregister event not supported
Oct 31 20:03:33 localhost kernel: ADM8211 remove
Oct 31 20:03:33 localhost kernel: cs: cb_free(bus 5)
Oct 31 20:03:33 localhost /etc/hotplug/pci.agent: PCI remove event not supported
Oct 31 20:03:33 localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: NET unregister event not supported
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost kernel: cs: cb_alloc(bus 5): vendor 0x1317, device 0x8201
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost kernel: PCI: Enabling device 05:00.0 (0000 -> 0003)
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost kernel: ADM8211 Linux driver version 1.03 (Feb 17, 2003)
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost kernel: Hardware Address 00:04:E2:84:0F:43, IRQ 11.
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost cardmgr[1548]: socket 1: CardBus hotplug device
Oct 31 20:04:07 localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: invoke ifup eth0
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost /etc/hotplug/pci.agent: Setup 8211 for PCI slot 05:00.0
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost kernel: eth0: ADMtek Wireless rev 32 at 0x4800, set channel 1
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost kernel: default .... 00008946
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost last message repeated 3 times
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost kernel: set channel 2
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost kernel: set channel 3
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost devlabel: devlabel service started/restarted
Oct 31 20:04:08 localhost kernel: set channel 4
Oct 31 20:04:09 localhost kernel: set channel 5
Oct 31 20:04:09 localhost kernel: set channel 6
Oct 31 20:04:09 localhost kernel: set channel 7
Oct 31 20:04:09 localhost kernel: set channel 8
Oct 31 20:04:09 localhost kernel: set channel 9
Oct 31 20:04:10 localhost kernel: set channel 10
Oct 31 20:04:10 localhost kernel: set channel 11
Oct 31 20:04:10 localhost kernel: set channel 12
Oct 31 20:04:10 localhost kernel: set channel 13
Oct 31 20:04:10 localhost kernel: set channel 14

mr_dizzle

Ok, we are leap-frogging each other, see my previous post, and when finished post back.

with the light flashing rapidly i typed
"iwconfig eth1 mode managed channel 6 essid sesamestreet rate auto"
and i get
"Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06):
SET failed on device eth1 ; No such device.

and then eventually the light stops blinking, and becomes solid

my name is coughlan22 for all instant messenger programs. might be easier........if you feel like dealing with my mess right now???

Ok, (without rebooting) take down the eth0 interface: type cardctl eject 0 (assuming the cards are in the same slots as before) and then try iwconfig'ing both ways, with and without an ip address, this time use "rate 11M"