The GNU/Linux User Show #015
The GNU/Linux User Show #015 (MP3 20.8MB - 60min 25sec)
The GNU/Linux User Show #015 (OGG 35.6MB - 60min 25sec)
MP3: LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE
OGG: LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE
Woohee those OGGs are a pain in the butt! This one’s borked at the moment but we’ll get ‘er fixed shortly. Hang on!
Fixed!
This week I take you through the steps I use to get my wifi up and running using NDISWRAPPER. These steps have worked on every wifi card in my house including:
- PCMCIA SMC 2435W
- PCMCIA Linksys WPC11
- PCI DLINK Airplus (not sure of model number)
Kelly wants no part of this so she pops in later to give us her definitions on some of the commands I use to get the card up and running.
References:
- Finding your system startup scripts: link
- Using update-rc.d in a Debian system: link
- Using chkconfig in a Red Hat system: link
Commands you will need (use MANor INFO on your system):
- ifconfig
- iwconfig
Commands you might need (use MANor INFO on your system):
- Dhclient
- DHCPD
- PUMP
Commands that are fun to use (use MANor INFO on your system):
- iwlist
Contest:
- Cameron Reilly wins the last Win4Lin license. Congrats, Cam! That was our last Win4Lin license. Many thanks to the guys over at Win4Lin for giving us them to give away.
- Cam’s winning entry:
-
There once was a penguin called kelly
Who saw a Linux show on telly
when she saw His Highness
Torvalds, they call Linus,
the girl grabbed petroleum jelly
Show minutes:
00:39 - Grudging Intros
04:38 - NDSIWrapper Intro
06:30 - NDISWrapper options
07:06 - How to get NDISWrapper if it’s not installed already
10:30 - eth1 or wlan0?
10:48 - don’t forget to have your current wifi network info available (passwords, essid, etc)
11:50 - find your Windows drivers and use NDISWrapper to load ‘em up!
15:08 - use iwconfig and ifconfig to configure the card
17:31 - enter your WEP key
18:41 - get an IP address from the DHCP server
19:26 - ping something to check connevity
20:16 - don’t forget the help system for iwconfig if you have problems
21:11 - The Personal Productivity Show promo. Free wine!
21:59 - IWlist
23:58 - Jon’s sad explanation of crypto
25:20 - How to auto start the card when the computer boots
35:07 - other ways to get an IP address
41:07 - Kelly Penguin Girls GNU/Linux terminology page and her definitions:
- IFUP
- PUMP
- DHCP
- MAN
If you like the show, review us and cast a vote for us on the Podcast Pickle!
Show Forums: here
Kelly Penguin Girl’s website: here
Intro voice by Bob Taylor Productions: here
Intro/Outro music by Mirror Shades: here
September 13th, 2005 at 12:14 am
Surely employee’s and the family’s of TPN should be unable to enter?
RIGGED, RIGGED!
Molly
PS. Still waiting for my Shirt from the AFL show and my prize from the Golf show!
September 13th, 2005 at 12:47 am
Normally, I would totally agree with you, and I think Cam entered on a lark rather than with any real hope to win.
However, since nobody else bothered to enter, I figure nobody has anything to bitch about :)
I had to give it to someone!
September 15th, 2005 at 4:46 am
Hi Jon,
thanks for producing another fine show! Wifi issues are very important for a good many people in the Linux community. I do like these showes where you talk through a subject with the intent of really helping people out in difficult situations. Along with the show you produced on installing software this opne is surely one of your best so far. I hope your number of listeners are increasing! Do keep up the good work, some of us really do appreciate it! BTW it was cool to hear you live on the 100th edition of the LLTS. Any plans to go on again soon? Oh please like some one else said in another show blog try and get Arron from the KDE project on your show for an interview if you can do. Anyway keep up the good work.
John Mills
September 15th, 2005 at 4:57 am
Hi John,
Thanks for the kind words. The shows where I’m actually doing something while talking are always the hardest because I never feel like I know what I’m talking about, but people seem to find them the most valuable. I’ll do more!
Funny you should mention Aaron - I’m talking to him tomorrow night for inclusion in a future show. I think he will be in show 18 or 19…not sure yet :)
Thanks!
September 17th, 2005 at 1:08 am
Great podcast! I have a great need for it now as my laptop has onboard wifi on the USB buss with no PCMCIA buss! One question - I found the Windows-XP .sys file driver, but I am unable to find any matching .inf file. Would I just put the NDISWRAPPER around the .sys file? Thanks Larry
September 17th, 2005 at 1:22 am
Hi Larry.
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it! We had fun doing it :)
It’s very strange that you have no INF file. I’ve done a little reading on the ndiswrapper wiki and it does appear that you need both the SYS and INF file.
I’m wondering where your INF file is. Is it possible that you’re dealing with a Windows install disk that has all the files into one executable, or zip, or cab file? If so, then this page about extracting those files in GNU/Linux might be useful to you: LINK
I think you have to find both the INF and SYS files, so let me know if that link doesn’t help you and we’ll see if we can track them down.
September 28th, 2005 at 5:49 pm
Awesome show. I just found this podcast recently and just listened to this one today. I actually just got wireless working on my wife’s computer without ndiswrapper yesterday (it was actually discovered right out of the box)
Any chance you know which WPC11 rev you have. I’ve never had luck getting mine to work in linux. Inspired by this show, I tried again today, and got further than before, but not quite there (have to try again without encryption)
P.S. You mentioned in the show that you were running a wireless 11Mbps because you were running 802.11b and it would be a major undertaking to upgrade to G. In case you didn’t know (and with my luck you do, and this is redundant…) G is backwards compatible with B. So, you can upgrade your router first, and all the B cards can still connect, and then you can upgrade a card at a time as you wish…
Anyways, keep up the good work. I love the half dozen or so shows I’ve listened to so far. I can’t wait for the next one!
September 29th, 2005 at 12:02 am
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the kind words. We like doing the show, so it’s nice to hear when people like listening to it :)
I don’t see a rev number on my WPC11, but it does say version 3 on it. Is that what you’re looking for? Ndiswrapper works with this card (obviously) but it reports an ‘invalid driver’ when I do an ndiswrapper -l.
I agree that shutting off the encryption while you’re setting this up is beneficial if you’re having problems. I generally leave it on and only shut if off to troubleshoot.
Yes, I did know that Wireless G is backwards compatible and you’re absolutely right - starting at the router is the way to go. It’s more of a whine factor. Until I can afford at least the router and a card, I’m going to hold off. I would have to have a nice shiny new G router sitting there and not reap any benefit from it because of my existing B card :)
Thanks again!
Jon