why didn't I have to use Ndiswrapper?

newbiesforever · 06-30-2009, 10:45 PM

I made an Ubuntu liveCD for a family member today, and tested it myself first. It apparently can do something my distro, MEPIS, can't: detect my wireless network immediately, without my having to set up ndiswrapper (in a terminal window) with the device's Windows driver, and connect as soon as I enter a password. That's great, but why didn't I need ndiswrapper?

soppy · 06-30-2009, 11:02 PM

well, that all depends on the type of wireless card you have. someone might've made a driver for it and it comes stock in the Linux Kernel or if it's Atheros, Ubuntu could have recognized it and loaded up madwifi already. I had Ubuntu and Fedora both do that for mine in their newest releases...but i always went back to Slackware.

newbiesforever · 06-30-2009, 11:17 PM

It's a Linksys wireless PCI card, model WMP54G. Well, I guess MEPIS is behind Ubuntu's curve on this. Too bad, but since I don't mind fooling around with Ndiswrapper and the MEPIS Network Assistant, it's not enough to make me hop distros.

shane25119 · 06-30-2009, 11:48 PM

I don't know why you'd be complaining about not having to use ndiswrapper. I had an old Acer TravelMate and installing ndiswrapper on it and getting that thing to work was one of life's great displeasures :-p

newbiesforever · 06-30-2009, 11:54 PM

Begging your pardon, but I wasn't complaining--I wouldn't have said "that's great."

soppy · 07-01-2009, 06:28 AM

i understand. i actually did some research (well...googled your card) and apparently there are 2 open-source drivers that are compatible with your card. I guess Mepis doesn't ship these like Ubuntu.

shane25119 · 07-01-2009, 10:51 AM

newbiesforever- no offence meant- call it reading late at night and being a bit tired. An attempt at being satirical

newbiesforever · 07-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soppy

i understand. i actually did some research (well...googled your card) and apparently there are 2 open-source drivers that are compatible with your card. I guess Mepis doesn't ship these like Ubuntu.

I could try to duplicate that research, but do you mind sharing it?

soppy · 07-01-2009, 05:50 PM

i just typed "linksys wmp54g linux" in google and found this.

It says it's for Fedora yes, but if you just read the top part on where he got the source, that's all you need. Also, the driver he installed is from Ralink(the mobo maker of your card) created the Linux driver.