|
Title: HowTo: Configure a WiFi Card on SuSE Description: Configuring a WiFi card on SuSE
WIFI PROBLEM
I have seen that many people have troubles with WiFI cards configuration. Most of the times, there is an easy way to solve those problems using a graphical tools. I think that YaST is not a good tool for WiFI configuration, since you need to access WLAN networks on different places, so, a WiFI profile manager is a must, and YaST only allow a fix configuration way. I suggest people to update their repositories and then install -from them- the drivers of WiFI cards, and proper configuration utilities in order to symplify WiFI configuration and usage. If you still have problems, then you should try to debug your system using command line tools (ifconfig, etc.), but, most of the time, you won't need it. The only command line tool you would always need is ping, to see that you are connected to the network.
BASIC STEPS
Here you can find the basic steps. If those steps do not work for you, then continue with the next. http://en.opensuse.org/Wireless_Network_Card_Installation∞
THREAD DESCRIPTION
Below I am detailing the most important WiFI packages, describing: a.- Package Name: for searching on a package manager (Smart, Synaptic, YaST) b.- One repositorie URL to use for downloading each package: for manual installation. c.- Main project web page: for documentation or downloading the source code (useful for other Unix systems or Linux distributions).
UPDATING REPOSITORIES
Check this if you want to use any package manager on your system: HowtoConfigureSuseRepositories
WIFI DRIVERS
Those packages available from repositories: 1.- Kernel Modules for WiFI cards: compilation of WiFI drivers (at76c503, atmelwlandriver, madwifi) Package Name : km_wlan URL 32 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/i586/km_wlan-28pre8-16.i586.rpm∞ URL 64 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/x86_64/km_wlan-28pre8-16.x86_64.rpm∞ 1.1.- Drivers for Atmel AT76C503/505A based USB WLAN adapters:
Main Page: http://at76c503a.berlios.de/∞ Source URL: http://at76c503a.berlios.de/cvs.html∞ 1.2.- Drivers for Atmel AT76C5XXx-based Wireless Devices: ATMEL linux PCI, PCMCIA, USB drivers. and configuration utilities.
Main Page: http://atmelwlandriver.sourceforge.net/news.html∞ Source URL: http://sourceforge.net/projects/atmelwlandriver/∞ 1.3.- Multiband Atheros Driver for WiFi (MADWiFI): Linux driver for 802.11a/b/g universal NIC cards - Cardbus, PCI, or miniPCI - using Atheros chip sets.
Main Page: http://madwifi.org/∞ Source URL: http://sourceforge.net/projects/madwifi/∞ 2.- Kernel Modules for non Unix WiFI cards : from manufaturers that works only with Windows OS. Package Name: km_ndiswrapper Main Page: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net∞ URL 32 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/i586/km_ndiswrapper-1.2-2.i586.rpm∞ URL 64 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/x86_64/km_ndiswrapper-1.2-2.x86_64.rpm∞ Package Name for Source Code: ndiswrapper Main Page: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/∞ URL 32 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/i586/ndiswrapper-1.2-2.i586.rpm∞ URL 64 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/x86_64/ndiswrapper-1.2-2.x86_64.rpm∞ If you have problems with this package, you should check this link: WiKI link: http://www.opensuse.org/Wireless_Network_Card_Installation∞ 3.- Drivers for Intel PRO WLAN Package Name: ipw-firmware Main Page: http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net/∞ URL: http://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/10.1/inst-source-extra/suse/noarch/ipw-firmware-6-2.noarch.rpm∞ 4.- WiFI Protected Access (WPA) implementation for Linux : Package: wpa_suplicant Main Page: http://hostap.epitest.fi/wpa_supplicant/∞ URL 32 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-10.0-OSS/inst-source/suse/i586/wpa_supplicant-0.4.4-2.i586.rpm∞ URL 64 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/x86_64/wpa_supplicant-0.4.4-2.x86_64.rpm∞
WIFI APPLICATIONS
On KDE, after installation, icons of WiFI management tools are placed on "KDE Menu -> System -> Network", except Netapplet, which will be placed on "KDE Menu --> System --> Applets" From all those applications, I personally prefered WiFI Radar + PyWireless, cause it is the easier way to manage WiFI connections (pretty similar to Windows WiFI tools). 1.- WiFI Profile manager : WiFI-Radar, perfect tool for accessing to wireless network. A must on every Linux PC. Package Name: wifi-radar Main Page: http://www.bitbuilder.com/wifi_radar/∞ URL: http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/suser-guru/rpm/10.0/RPMS/noarch/wifi-radar-1.9.4-3.guru.suse100.noarch.rpm∞ 2.- WiFI Quality monitor: PyWireless, great dock utility for detailing your link properties (signal strength, link quality, etc.) Package Name: pywireless Main Page: http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=28637∞ URL: http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/suser-guru/rpm/10.0/RPMS/noarch/pywireless-3.2-2.guru.suse100.noarch.rpm∞ 3.- Combined KDE WiFI tool: KDE WiFI manager, that combined PyWireless + WiFI Radar functions. Package Name: kdenetwork-wireless Main Page: http://kwifimanager.sourceforge.net/∞ URL: ftp://ftp4.gwdg.de/pub/linux/suse/apt/SuSE/10.0-i386/RPMS.kde/kdenetwork3-wireless-3.5.0-9.i586.rpm∞ 4.- Combined Gnome WiFI tool : Netapplet is a small application that combined PyWireless + WiFI Radar functionalities. GUI is like kinternet, with KDE WiFI manager functionalities. Package Name: netapplet Main Page: http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/∞ URL: ftp://ftp4.gwdg.de/pub/linux/suse/apt/SuSE/10.0-i386/RPMS.gnome/netapplet-1.0.8-15.i586.rpm∞ In order to run this applet, walk this way: 4.1.- Start the NetDaemon: by typing "/opt/gnome/bin/netdaemon start" as root from a command line. You can enable it using xinetd through YaST; if does not appear on xinetd services list, then, you have to add this service (server: /opt/gnome/bin/netdaemon; options: start).
4.2.- Change Applet icon : in order to force user to set the root password when try to launch the applet. The icons are place on "KDE Menu --> Internet --> Administration" and on "System --> Applets"
4.3.- Click over the icon: for launching the applet.
5.- Kinternet : you can use this tool for manage all your interfaces on an easy way. It is included on SuSE installation by default. Package Name: kinternet SuSE documentation: http://www.polinux.upv.es/mozilla/varios/suselinux-userguide-9.2-es/ch01s04.html∞ URL 32 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/i586/kinternet-0.72-3.i586.rpm∞ URL 64 bits: http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source/suse/x86_64/kinternet-0.72-3.x86_64.rpm∞
WIFI COMMAND-LINE TOOLS
Here I am detailing some useful command line wifi utilities. Check manual for see how to use them (man from command line): 1.- WiFI Configuration : Command: iwconfig Usage: iwconfig [interface] [command] [options] iwconfig => Returns a list of WLAN interfaces 2.- WiFI Scan + Quality: Command: iwlist Usage: iwlist [interface] [command]
WIFI COMMAND-LINE EXAMPLES
Here some examples: 1.- Information of the interfaces: root@linux# iwconfig lo no wireless extensions. eth0 no wireless extensions. sit0 no wireless extensions. eth1 unassociated ESSID:"none" Nickname:"Casa" Mode:Managed Channel=0 Access Point: Not-Associated Bit Rate=0 kb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm Retry limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off Encryption key:off Power Management:off Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0 Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0 Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:131 Missed beacon:0 2.- Scanning the environment: for finding near access points root@linux# iwlist eth1 scan eth1 Scan completed : Cell 01 - Address: 00:0D:54:A5:17:80 ESSID:"Casa" Protocol:IEEE 802.11bg Mode:Master Channel:1 Encryption key:off Bit Rates:54 Mb/s Extra: Rates (Mb/s): 1 2 5.5 6 9 11 12 18 24 36 48 54 Quality=95/100 Signal level=-32 dBm Extra: Last beacon: 152ms ago 3.- Connecting to an access point: after the scan root@linux# iwconfig eth1 essid Casa root@linux# iwconfig lo no wireless extensions. eth0 no wireless extensions. sit0 no wireless extensions. eth1 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"Casa" Nickname:"Casa" Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: 00:0D:54:A5:17:80 Bit Rate=54 Mb/s Tx-Power=20 dBm Retry limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off Encryption key:off Power Management:off Link Quality=95/100 Signal level=-31 dBm Noise level=-86 dBm Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0 Tx excessive retries:1 Invalid misc:131 Missed beacon:0 4.- Help of iwconfig: root@linux#iwconfig --help
Usage: iwconfig interface [essid {NN|on|off}]
[nwid {NN|on|off}]
[mode {managed|ad-hoc|...}
[freq N.NNNN[k|M|G]]
[channel N]
[ap {N|off|auto}]
[sens N]
[nick N]
[rate {N|auto|fixed}]
[rts {N|auto|fixed|off}]
[frag {N|auto|fixed|off}]
[enc {NNNN-NNNN|off}]
[power {period N|timeout N}]
[retry {limit N|lifetime N}]
[txpower N {mW|dBm}]
[commit]
Check man pages for more details.Credits: cesar_spain http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/index.php?showtopic=30546∞ |
Warning: include(http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/ssi.php?a=active) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
in /home/customers/webs/slwiki/actions/footer.php on line 51
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/ssi.php?a=active' for inclusion (include_path='.:/home/customers/webs') in /home/customers/webs/slwiki/actions/footer.php on line 51
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional ::
Valid CSS ::
Powered by Wikka Wakka Wiki 1.1.6.0
Page was generated in 0.0322 seconds
There are no comments on this page. [Add comment]