Trying to install WUSB54G v1 on Edgy

s9am_me · 03-13-2007, 06:04 PM

hey folks! My first post and finally taking the plunge into linux and just installed Ubuntu 6.10 on my laptop a few days ago. Everything works fine right now except my wireless internet via a Linksys WUSB54G adapter. v1 of this adapter is using the prism GT chipset and not the ralink one for v4 BTW.

I searched around and found ndiswrapper. Installed it, downloaded the Windows driver for my adapter (via linksys website), and set it up with ndiswrapper. I ran ndiswrapper -l to make sure everything is ok at this point and it says " wusb54g driver is installed and hardware present". So far so good. I loaded it into the module. I set the settings all in System-> Admin -> Networking to DHCP enabled, network key, and the correct ESSID. However when I run iwconfig it doesn't show "eth1" finding the AP or ESSID. It says everything is invalid. I also checked /etc/network/interfaces and "eth1" has an entry exactly how it is on the installation guide. It looks like its set up, but it just won't scan for any AP's. The lights on my adapter are solid green.

I searched the ndiswrapper wiki, went over the installation steps, did a search here, and I'm still stuck w/o wireless internet. Appreciate the help. I have WinXP dual booted just in case something like this happens. Although if I can get this work, I think I can safely get rid of WinXP on my laptop

Hangdog42 · 03-14-2007, 06:51 AM

Welcome to LQ!

You're going to need to do some investigating here as to what is going wrong. In particular, you'll need to look through your log files (/var/log/syslog, /var/log/messages and the output of the dmesg command) and see if ndiswrapper is leaving any clues. Also check the output of lsmod and make sure that ndiswrapper is loaded.

One other thing to think about, depending on the chipset in that card there may be a native linux driver being loaded and competing with ndiswrapper. You might want to post the output of lsmod and we can take a look.

s9am_me · 03-16-2007, 02:03 AM

thanks for the reply. I know the WUSB54G v4 uses the ralink chipset and has native drivers in Edgy, but i'm using v1 of the same model which uses the Prism GT chipset. So I'm using Windows drivers from the linksys website via ndiswrapper.

I am using WiFi Radar as my wireless connection program. I disabled the wireless card in Ubuntu's network settings and ran

iwlist eth1 scan

and to my surprise it found a bunch of routers in my area!! So I guess its working to an extent. But when I try to set up WEP it doesn't want to get an IP Address from the router. I even tried disabling WEP, but it still doesn't work. At least my device is somewhat working now and I can scan for routers. So I guess I installed the drivers properly

Anyways here's the output of my lsmod....

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
af_packet              24584  0
binfmt_misc            13448  1
rfcomm                 42260  0
l2cap                  27136  5 rfcomm
bluetooth              53476  4 rfcomm,l2cap
ipv6                  272288  8
savage                 35200  2
drm                    74644  3 savage
powernow_k7             8872  0
cpufreq_userspace       5408  0
cpufreq_stats           7744  0
freq_table              6048  2 powernow_k7,cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_powersave       2944  0
cpufreq_ondemand        8876  1
cpufreq_conservative     8712  0
video                  17540  0
tc1100_wmi              8324  0
sbs                    16804  0
sony_acpi               6412  0
pcc_acpi               14080  0
i2c_ec                  6272  1 sbs
hotkey                 11556  0
dev_acpi               12292  0
button                  7952  0
battery                11652  0
container               5632  0
ac                      6788  0
asus_acpi              17688  0
parport_pc             37796  0
lp                     12964  0
parport                39496  2 parport_pc,lp
snd_seq_dummy           4996  0
snd_seq_oss            36480  0
snd_seq_midi            9984  0
snd_seq_midi_event      8960  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                59120  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
joydev                 11200  0
snd_via82xx            30360  1
gameport               17160  1 snd_via82xx
islsm_usb              33028  0
islsm_device           13576  1 islsm_usb
islsm                  37004  2 islsm_usb,islsm_device
tsdev                   9152  0
snd_mpu401_uart        10240  1 snd_via82xx
ieee80211softmac       33792  1 islsm
i2c_prosavage           5504  0
i2c_algo_bit           10376  1 i2c_prosavage
snd_rawmidi            27264  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device          9868  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
prism2_usb             79236  0
snd_via82xx_modem      16648  0
pcmcia                 40380  0
i2c_viapro              9876  0
i2c_core               23424  3 i2c_ec,i2c_algo_bit,i2c_viapro
ieee80211              35272  2 islsm,ieee80211softmac
ieee80211_crypt         7552  1 ieee80211
snd_ac97_codec         97696  2 snd_via82xx,snd_via82xx_modem
snd_ac97_bus            3456  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss            47360  0
snd_mixer_oss          19584  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                84612  4 snd_via82xx,snd_via82xx_modem,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              25348  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
shpchp                 42144  0
pci_hotplug            32828  1 shpchp
serio_raw               8452  0
snd                    58372  14 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_via82xx,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device,snd_via82xx_modem,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
snd_page_alloc         11400  3 snd_via82xx,snd_via82xx_modem,snd_pcm
via_ircc               28948  0
soundcore              11232  1 snd
yenta_socket           28812  1
rsrc_nonstatic         15360  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            43924  3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
via_agp                11264  1
agpgart                34888  2 drm,via_agp
pcspkr                  4352  0
evdev                  11392  1
via_rhine              26116  0
psmouse                41352  0
mii                     6912  1 via_rhine
irda                  214332  1 via_ircc
crc_ccitt               3200  2 islsm,irda
ext3                  142856  1
jbd                    62228  1 ext3
ehci_hcd               34696  0
uhci_hcd               24968  0
usbcore               134912  5 islsm_usb,prism2_usb,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
ide_generic             2432  0
ide_cd                 33696  0
cdrom                  38944  1 ide_cd
ide_disk               18560  3
via82cxxx              10500  0 [permanent]
generic                 6276  0
thermal                15624  0
processor              31560  2 powernow_k7,thermal
fan                     6020  0
fbcon                  41504  0
tileblit                3840  1 fbcon
font                    9344  1 fbcon
bitblit                 7168  1 fbcon
softcursor              3328  1 bitblit
vesafb                  9244  0
capability              5896  0
commoncap               8704  1 capability

s9am_me · 03-16-2007, 02:33 AM

ok I tried setting up the wireless device in the terminal with out using WiFi Radar. I ran command

iwconfig eth1 essid MySSID

it works. Verified it through iwconfig and it shows my router's mac address, channel, encryption is ON, it seems to connect to my router fine.

BUT everytime I try to set up my WEP key

sudo iwconfig eth1 key xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SET failed on device eth1 ; Unknown error 524

what does that mean?? I even tried turning off WEP but it just won't get an IP from my router.

Hangdog42 · 03-16-2007, 06:53 AM

I was wondering if this wasn't going to happen:

Quote:

islsm_usb 33028 0
islsm_device 13576 1 islsm_usb
islsm 37004 2 islsm_usb,islsm_device

Those are the native linux drivers for your card, and since ndiswrapper isn't showing up in your lsmod output, you're likely using these and not ndiswrapper (unless you loaded it after you got this lsmod output). If you read through the site I linked to, you'll see the islsm drivers also need firmware, which you likely haven't installed. That could very easily cause the issues you're seeing.

So you really have a choice to make here. If you want to use the islsm driver, you're going to have to install firmware. If you prefer ndiswrapper, then you'll need to blacklist islsm in the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file so that it doesn't load and conflict with ndiswrapper. And of course you do have to load the ndiswrapper module (modprobe ndiswrapper) before it can be used.

s9am_me · 03-16-2007, 11:32 AM

thanks! Its makes total sense that the drivers might be conflicting. I'll try the firmware route tonight when I get home from work.

SactoBob · 03-16-2007, 12:38 PM

The Ubuntu Forum has a sticky on getting this adapter to work.
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=192588
There are 10 pages of follow-up posts.

Although it is entitled Sticky: How to install WUSB54G for Dapper Drake, it looks like most of the participants in the thread are using edgy.

Bob

s9am_me · 03-17-2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBob

The Ubuntu Forum has a sticky on getting this adapter to work.
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=192588
There are 10 pages of follow-up posts.

Although it is entitled Sticky: How to install WUSB54G for Dapper Drake, it looks like most of the participants in the thread are using edgy.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I read that post many times over. I tried everything in there, plus they're referring to v4 of my device... I have v1 which uses as different chipset. v4 works with ubuntu out of the box.

I went through the firmware path... man I am so lost. I downloaded about 3 different files and I don't even know what to do with them. I've read the installation step, but its not descriptive enough for me, i'm just starting out. I don't know why I need 3 programs to install a firmware. And when I tried to install one of the programs, it said some error about missing folders and the installation quits and i'm stuck. Too much work for me to understand at this point.

Ok I tried the blacklist route since it was the easier. I blacklisted islsm_usb but when I reboot I can't find my wireless USB anymore. ndiswrapper says the hardware is present but I can't configure the card if I can't see it anywhere. loaded the module, command iwconfig and it doesn't list my wireless device. Am I missing some other steps?

Maybe i'll just buy a new wireless USB adapter that works out of the box. At this point, i'd rather just spend the $50 and get this over with.

Hangdog42 · 03-17-2007, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Ok I tried the blacklist route since it was the easier. I blacklisted islsm_usb but when I reboot I can't find my wireless USB anymore

Well, I think that is actually a good thing. It suggests that you've successfully blacklisted islsm_usb. A quick check of lsmod should confirm that.

Quote:

ndiswrapper says the hardware is present but I can't configure the card if I can't see it anywhere. loaded the module, command iwconfig and it doesn't list my wireless device. Am I missing some other steps?

That depends. Could you go through what you've done to install both ndiswrapper and the Windows driver? What happens when you load the ndiswrapper module? Are there any clues in your log files (/var/log/syslog, /var/log/messages and the dmesg output) after you load ndiswrapper?

Quote:

I went through the firmware path... man I am so lost.

You're not the only one. I've seen some pretty serious messes before, but that could take the cake. If you want to figure out what firmware to use, you need to follow the instructions on determining the chipset and we can take it from there.

SactoBob · 03-17-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Maybe i'll just buy a new wireless USB adapter that works out of the box. At this point, i'd rather just spend the $50 and get this over with.

That is the conclusion that I came to also, and I'm sure glad I stopped trying to get my old card to work. Let's face it, usb cards are not very good performers to begin with. And you have already gone above and beyond the call of duty. You may eventually get that thing to work, but what is your time worth, and what are you going to to if you upgrade or change distros?

I think Hangdog is on the right track - starting with the exact chip, and you might get it to work. USB is tough.

The challenge is in finding a card that you know will work since mfrs change chips in the same model cards, and very few vendors know anything about open source. You could try netgate.com, where I got my Atheros pcmcia. What a relief, after 2 weeks of butting my head against a wall, I was running in 5 minutes.

For a less portable and headache free solution that uses no drivers, check out the wireless bridge thread here started by 2Gnu entitled Driverless Wireless. Newegg has a $60 bridge (I have one) that gives you four wired outlets from a wireless bridge. 2Gnu has used an even less expensive ZyXEL in the same way.

Linux is so good - it's a shame that it so often starts out in wireless driver hell.

s9am_me · 03-17-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangdog42

Could you go through what you've done to install both ndiswrapper and the Windows driver? What happens when you load the ndiswrapper module? Are there any clues in your log files (/var/log/syslog, /var/log/messages and the dmesg output) after you load ndiswrapper?

Ok so after I blacklisted islsm and I uninstalled ndiswrapper previously through synaptics, I rebooted and re-installed ndiswrapper 1.8 via synaptics. I have the windows drivers sitting on my desktop.

I did a quick check of ndiswrapper -l to make sure no drivers are infact installed from my previous attempts and its clean. Install went like this:

Code:

sudo ndiswrapper -i /home/desktop/windrivers/wusb54g.inf
ndiswrapper -l
wusb54g  driver present, hardware present
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper or sudo ndiswrapper -m

after I load the module, it just brings me back to a prompt with no messages. I checked lsmod and I see

Code:

usbcore    ndiswrapper, ehci_hcd, uhci_hcd

Its from here that I'm stuck. iwconfig brings up no wireless extentions.

/var/log/messages and /var/log/syslog I see the same thing which is the following:

Quote:

Ubuntu kernel:
ndiswrapper v 1.38 loaded (preempt=no, smp=yes)
usbcore: registered new driver ndiswrapper

dmesg says this

Code:

ndiswrapper v 1.38 loaded (preempt=no, smp=yes)
usbcore: registered new driver ndiswrapper
usb 4-3: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
usb 4-3: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

s9am_me · 03-17-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBob

Linux is so good - it's a shame that it so often starts out in wireless driver hell.

exactly, that is why i'm trying so hard to get this wireless to work. Everything else is great. Plays movies, music, documents, email, and all my basic necessities. The only reason I'm using WinXP still on my desktop is because I use adobe programs for audio/video editing and gaming. Other than that, Linux is great!! Certainly has evolved since the last time I tried taking the plunge years ago. Once I get this wireless figured out, I'm going to do a full reformat and get rid of WinXP on my laptop.

SactoBob · 03-17-2007, 02:26 PM

It looks like you have installed the driver with ndiswrapper. I haven't set up a usb successfully, so I'm stuck at this point. Hopefully somebody will help. Is iwconfig supposed to support usb devices? If so, I can't think why it does not report a device with ndiswrapper showing success.

Have you tried enabling the wireless device and configuring it in your network manager (System, Administration, Network). Does it also fail to show any device?

s9am_me · 03-17-2007, 04:21 PM

that's the thing, my device doesn't show up anywhere when I blacklist islsm_usb

I officially give up. I feel as if I've tried everything and still doesn't work. I ended up buying one of the wireless USB adapters from the Ubuntu list that "works out of the box"

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...CardsSupported

I got the Airlink AWLL3026 on amazon for only $20. I should get it in a few days. Hopefully it'll just work.

the WUSB54G was borrowed from work so I didn't spend money on it which makes me feel a little better

s9am_me · 03-21-2007, 03:46 PM

UPDATE:

Got my AWLL3026 WiFi USB in today. Its really slim and smaller than I thought it would be. Anyways, plugged it in, instantly Network Manager popped up with routers around me. Picked mines and entered in my security code and BAM! I was online with my laptop! FINALLY! So I can confirm it works "out of the box" on Edgy. Got a good deal on amazon marketplace for only $20 shipped. As far as performance, I haven't done anything other than check to see if I can get online then I had to rush off to work. I am a happy linux camper now!

Thanks for all those who helped and gave suggestions. The Linux community is just awesome, I tip my hat to you guys, so knowledgeable