MadWifi Atheros card not working

MadHatter21 · 07-19-2009, 09:32 PM

Hello,

I have been trying for the past two weeks to solve this problem but no success as i am completely new to linux slackware. I have a gateway netbook running backtrack 3 usb, (about to install backtrack 4) but i cannot get the wifi working. It is an atheros ar5b95 wifi card that should be compatible with the Madwifi driver. I have tried both compiling my own source and installing a pre made package. I followed the tutorial on hxxp://madwifi-project.org/wiki/UserDocs/FirstTimeHowTo

Self-compiled:

Code:

bt Desktop # cd madwifi-0.9.4
bt madwifi-0.9.4 # ls
BuildCaps.inc*  Makefile.inc*  ath_rate/  hal/      kernelversion.c*  readme*      scripts/
COPYRIGHT*      ath/           contrib/   include/  net80211/         regression/  thanks*
Makefile*       ath_hal/       docs/      install*  patches/          release.h*   tools/
bt madwifi-0.9.4 # sudo make
Checking requirements... ok.
Checking kernel configuration... ok.
...
...
...
gcc -o athdebug -g -O2 -Wall -I. -I../hal -I..  athdebug.c
gcc -o 80211debug -g -O2 -Wall -I. -I../hal -I..  80211debug.c
gcc -o wlanconfig -g -O2 -Wall -I. -I../hal -I..  wlanconfig.c
gcc -o ath_info -g -O2 -Wall ath_info.c
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/tools'

bt madwifi-0.9.4 # make install
sh scripts/find-madwifi-modules.sh 2.6.21.5
for i in ath/ ath_hal/ ath_rate/ net80211/; do \
                make -C $i install || exit 1; \
        done
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/ath'
test -d //lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net || mkdir -p //lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net
...
...
...
for i in amrr/ onoe/ sample/ minstrel/; do \
                make -C $i install || exit 1; \
        done
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/ath_rate/amrr'
test -d //lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net || mkdir -p //lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net
...
...
...
wlan_xauth.o wlan_scan_sta.o wlan_scan_ap.o; do \
                f=`basename $i .o`; \
                install $f.ko //lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net; \
        done
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/net80211'
(export KMODPATH=/lib/modules/2.6.21.5/net; /sbin/depmod -ae 2.6.21.5)
make -C ./tools  install || exit 1
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/tools'
install -d /usr/local/bin
for i in athstats 80211stats athkey athchans athctrl athdebug 80211debug wlanconfig ath_info; do \
                install $i /usr/local/bin/$i; \
                strip /usr/local/bin/$i; \
        done
install -d /usr/local/man/man8
install -m 0644 man/*.8 /usr/local/man/man8
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4/tools'


bt madwifi-0.9.4 # iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

And the pre-compiled package:

Code:

bt~#installpkg Desktop/madwifi-0.9.4_2.6.21.5_smp-i486-1-.tgz
Installing package madwifi-0.9.4_2.6.21.5_smp-i486-1-...
Package Description:
madwifi: madwifi (driver for atheros based wireless a/b/g cards)
...
...
...
...
Executing install script for madwifi-0.9.4_2.6.21.5_smp-i486-1-...
bt~# iwconfig
lo           no wireless extensions.
eth0        no wireless extensions.

Did I miss a step after anything? As I said I am completely new to slackware but I will do anything to get the wifi working, even if i have to use something like ndiswrapper.

Thanks

Biggen · 07-19-2009, 09:52 PM

First, is the wireless NIC on? I know that sounds like a stupid question, but sometimes, the on/off button for the wireless cards can be easy to "bump" when you move the laptop around.

If it is on, did you load the modules after compiling/installing??

Do an "lsmod" and look for ath_pci. If it isn't there than you need to do a:

Code:

modprobe ath_pci

You also have to create a wlan device for the first time after compiling/installing like this:

Code:

wlanconfig ath0 create wlandev wifi0 wlanmode sta
ifconfig ath0 up

That command will create ath0 and put it in station mode which is what you want. You should then be able to pass standard iwconfig and ifconfig commands right to ath0 just like it is a regular eth0 interface.

My last suggestion if none of the above works would to NOT use their official released drivers and grab the nightly snapshot. I have had constant problems with downloading their "stable" drivers and always use SVN now to grab the lastest code. Do a:

Code:

svn checkout http://svn.madwifi-project.org/madwifi/trunk/ madwifi-ng

Try compiling and installing that. Just make sure you uninstall the previous installation of Madwifi by doing a "make uninstall" in the original 0.9.4 source directory you tried earlier.

Bruce Hill · 07-19-2009, 10:07 PM

Are you running Slackware or backtrack? Whatever backtrack is -- I'll Google it.

For Slackware packages you just can't go wrong installing Alien Bob's pkgs or using his build scripts.

MadHatter21 · 07-19-2009, 10:10 PM

Thank you so much for the help. So after I do modprobe ath_pci, it just excecutes.

Code:

bt madwifi-0.9.4 # modprobe ath_pci
bt madwifi-o.9.4 #

What am i supposed to do after? And I also tried lsmod and it just says Usage: lsmod.
At the moment i do not have any network on the bt machine, ethernet or wifi.
Can i somehow download them on a mac, pc, or ubuntu machine and bring them over to the
bt machine?

MadHatter21 · 07-19-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

Are you running Slackware or backtrack? Whatever backtrack is -- I'll Google it.

For Slackware packages you just can't go wrong installing Alien Bob's pkgs or using his build scripts.

Yes i am running backtrack,

Thanks

Bruce Hill · 07-19-2009, 10:20 PM

Since backtrack (sounds like it's for crackers) is based off Ubuntu,
why are Slackware tools/packages supposed to work on it? Or why are
you inquiring in the Slackware forum, and not the Ubuntu forum, or
the Linux - Wireless Networking forum?

Not trying to be rude, just wondering out loud.

MadHatter21 · 07-19-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

Since backtrack (sounds like it's for crackers) is based off Ubuntu,
why are Slackware tools/packages supposed to work on it? Or why are
you inquiring in the Slackware forum, and not the Ubuntu forum, or
the Linux - Wireless Networking forum?

Not trying to be rude, just wondering out loud.

Ha well, just responding out loud. Yes backtrack is ment for pen testing. It is based off of slackware though, and mabye a little of ubuntu, im not sure. Like i said im not experienced with linux in general, and am looking to start. Thanks for the help Do you think i should move it over to a different thread?

MadHatter21 · 07-19-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggen

You also have to create a wlan device for the first time after compiling/installing like this:

Code:

wlanconfig ath0 create wlandev wifi0 wlanmode sta
ifconfig ath0 up

That command will create ath0 and put it in station mode which is what you want. You should then be able to pass standard iwconfig and ifconfig commands right to ath0 just like it is a regular eth0 interface.

Biggen,

So when i tried the wlanconfig command, the bash gave me a command not found error. Not sure what that means but it isnt there.

Bruce Hill · 07-19-2009, 11:28 PM

Well, DistroWatch says it's based off Ubuntu.

It's website says it's based of Whoppix and something else
I never heard of.

My recommendation (worth all you paid for it) is to issue "removepkg madwifi-0.9.4_2.6.21.5_smp-i486-1"
and then download http://connie.slackware.com/~alien/s...i-free/build/* into a buld
directory on your box.

While it's downloading, read Alien Bob's Configuring your network in Slackware and
Installing Madwifi on Slackware to learn how this is done in Slackware.

If it works on Backtrack, you're good. If not, run Slackware and for a Live CD
for forensics use Helix (my choice for that need).

Nille_kungen · 07-20-2009, 03:19 AM

Backtrack 3 is based on slax which is based on slackware long ago.
Backtrack 4 is based on ubuntu and not slax/slackware.

What kernel are you running?
If it has support for ath5k and your card doesn't work with that module then you might need to blacklist the module to be able to use madwifi.

I would ask in the official backtrack forum, since they should know best.
http://forums.remote-exploit.org/

Biggen · 07-20-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadHatter21

Biggen,

So when i tried the wlanconfig command, the bash gave me a command not found error. Not sure what that means but it isnt there.

I would problem be in agreement with Bruce, if Backtrack isn't fully Slackware-like, than you may want to ask these questions in a more pertinent forum as they may be more familiar with your platform.

Did you do the wlanconfig command as root??

MadHatter21 · 07-20-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nille_kungen

What kernel are you running?
If it has support for ath5k and your card doesn't work with that module then you might need to blacklist the module to be able to use madwifi.
http://forums.remote-exploit.org/

I am running 2.6.21.5 kernel. What do you mean blacklist? I came across that yesterday in a wiki but thought it was nothing. How would i go about doing it if i need to?

unSpawn · 07-20-2009, 10:33 AM

Please post your thread in only one forum. Posting a single thread in the most relevant forum will make it easier for members to help you and will keep the discussion in one place. Your duplicate threads have been closed. You are warned for crossposting. Please do not do that again. Do read and understand the LQ Rules before continuing.

MadHatter21 · 07-20-2009, 12:37 PM

I am so sorry, i thought that if i posted the same thing it would like move. I am really sorry, how would i go about moving this thread.

Truly sorry

unSpawn · 07-20-2009, 12:58 PM

NP, we already dealt with it for you.