Wirless with WAP on FC6? New to Fedora and Linux

[hat-trick]

I have an access point at work, a Linksys router with wireless using WAP Personal encryption.

I've installed Fedora on my laptop (Compaq V5000, AMD Turion64 with Broadcom Air Force One WiFi card).

Fedora recognized the card but the configuration screens do not have any way to configure encryption and the key appears to be looking for hex only.

How do I configure the card for encryption?

[zeroelixis]

I think you mean WPA not WAP, the easiest route to do this would be to use:

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Tools/NetworkManager

[hat-trick]

I think you mean WPA not WAP, the easiest route to do this would be to use:

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Tools/NetworkManager

You're right, I did mean WPA. I followed the link and low and behold it has started the Network Manager. I'll have to see if I can connect when I get to work.

Thanks very much for the quick response and help.

[hat-trick]

Okay so I've tested the wireless connection at home and I can't get it to connect.

It connects when I boot to Windows so I assume the wireless is working. I removed all security and tested it but to no avail.

Where do I begin and how can I troubleshoot the connection and why it isn't connecting?

[mtl2002]

I have a linksys WRT54G router, and an Intel Pro Wireless 3945 card, and this is how I got WPA2 working.

1. Set up the router to use WPA2, with AES (aka CCMP) encryption, and input the secret-password. The two things the computer needs to know about the router are its ESSID, and the WPA2 password. So note those two things down.

2. Make sure you have the wpa_supplicant package installed (available by yum). You probably have it if you got it working by network manager.

3. Create a wpa_supplicant configuration file, with the following content:


ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=0
eapol_version=1
ap_scan=1
fast_reauth=1

network={
ssid="your-linksys-routers-essid"
scan_ssid=1
proto=WPA2
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
auth_alg=OPEN
pairwise=CCMP
group=CCMP
psk="the-super-secret-password-you-input-into-the-router"
priority=5
}



I put this file into /etc, calling it /etc/wpa2_home.conf

4. To start the wpa_supplicant, open up a terminal, become root with the su command, and then issue the following commands:

# /usr/sbin/wpa_supplicant -Bw -ieth1 -c/etc/wpa2_home.conf -Dwext
# /sbin/ifconfig eth1 up
# /sbin/dhclient eth1

And if everything works, you should be connected to the access point and receive a lease. Now you should be able to surf!

What does all that gobbledygook on the wpa_supplicant command mean?

-Bw = start the wpa_supplicant demon in (B)ackground and (w)ait until wireless interface comes up

-ieth1 = use (i)nterface eth1. Can replace eth1 with wlan0 or whatever else your wireless interface is called

-c/etc/wpa2_home.conf = use the (c)onfiguration file /etc/wpa2_home.conf

-Dwext = use the (D)river "wext" (wirelessextensions). If you use a different wireless card, you might have to use a different driver, such as hostap or madwifi or something like that.

Hope that works for you!

[thewhitefedora]

Broadcom Air Force One WiFi card
Fedora Core 6 Does indeed recognize this card, but can't(natively) use it.
First download http://www.kamisamanou.net/downloads/802bg.tar.gz and extract it to a convenient location.
Then, open Applications>Accessories>Terminal
Log in as SuperUser using the su command and entering the root password when it prompts you for it.
Next, type: yum install -y ndiswrapper(Note: You need the livna repository for this.)
and then: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /wherever/you/put/bcmwl5.inf
after that type: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
and make sure it says something like:
installed drivers:
bcmwl5 driver present

then: /sbin/lspci and look for the broadcom card and find the XX:XX.X number for the broadcom card
then:/sbin/lspci -n and match the XX:XX.X number with the XXXX:XXXX at the end.( mine looked like this: 00:0b.0 0280: 14e4:4318 (rev 02))
then: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -a XXXX:XXXX bcmwl5.inf(Note: mine was 14e4:4318
and: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -m
then type: /sbin/modprobe ndiswrapper
Restart your computer.
Open the terminal, log on as SuperUser,
and type: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
it should return something like "driver installed, present on...."
and you should be able to configure it with whatever GUI you have.

Reply to this post if you have any further problems and I will help you further.

[hat-trick]

I'll give this a try. This is exactly what I need right now a step by step description of what I need to do. I'm not very well-versed in the processes involved in the install and configuration of drivers in Linux.

[hat-trick]

okay, I got this far:

[root@localhost daoist]# yum install -y ndiswrapper
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
livna 100% |=========================| 1.1 kB 00:00
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Parsing package install arguments
Nothing to do

nothing seems to work after this.

Here is what I get:

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /home/daoist/bcmwl5.inf
driver bcmwl5 is already installed
[root@localhost daoist]# /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
installed drivers:
bcmwl5 invalid driver!

I ran this command line once then running it again I received this response:

rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
Retrieving http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
package livna-release-6-1 is already installed

I got the command line from this url : http://rpm.livna.org/rlowiki/UsingLivna

[DunkelenTeufel]

3. Create a wpa_supplicant configuration file, with the following content:


ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=0
eapol_version=1
ap_scan=1
fast_reauth=1

network={
ssid="your-linksys-routers-essid"
scan_ssid=1
proto=WPA2
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
auth_alg=OPEN
pairwise=CCMP
group=CCMP
psk="the-super-secret-password-you-input-into-the-router"
priority=5
}




I'm having trouble too...just loaded FC6 on my laptop (Compaq V2000Z, amd Turion 64...)
I installed Ndiswrapper and the Broadcom driver, but I can't configure it...Could you explain this step a little more...in PEBCAK terms? hehe thanks...

[thewhitefedora]

okay, I got this far:

[root@localhost daoist]# yum install -y ndiswrapper
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
livna 100% |=========================| 1.1 kB 00:00
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Parsing package install arguments
Nothing to do

nothing seems to work after this.

Here is what I get:

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /home/daoist/bcmwl5.inf
driver bcmwl5 is already installed
[root@localhost daoist]# /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
installed drivers:
bcmwl5 invalid driver!

I ran this command line once then running it again I received this response:

rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
Retrieving http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
package livna-release-6-1 is already installed

I got the command line from this url : http://rpm.livna.org/rlowiki/UsingLivna

apparently you already had livna and ndiswrapper installed.
Type: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -r bcmwl5.inf
then: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
and then: /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l

If it says driver present or something similar, continue on with the steps I mentioned previously.

[hat-trick]

When I type:

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -r bcmwl5.inf

I get the response:

couldn't delete /etc/ndiswrapper/bcmwl5.inf

The file in /etc/ndiswrapper/ directory is bcmwl5 with no extension.

[thewhitefedora]

whoops, my mistake,
that should have been

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -r bcmwl5
/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i wherever/you/put/bcmwl5.inf
/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l

[hat-trick]

Ok, a little progress here. It seems to have removed the driver and installed the other.

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /home/daoist/BCMWL5.INF
installing bcmwl5
forcing parameter IBSSGMode from 0 to 2
forcing parameter IBSSGMode from 0 to 2

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
couldn't run modprobe: No such file or directory at /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper line 826.

[hat-trick]

I tried to go ahead with this command.

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -a 14e4:4318 bcmwl5.inf

ls: /etc/ndiswrapper/bcmwl5.inf/: No such file or directory

So I used

/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -a 14e4:4318 bcmwl5 and got this

couldn't create symlink for "14E4:4318:0311:1468.5.conf"
installation may be incomplete
couldn't create symlink for "14E4:4318:0312:1468.5.conf"
installation may be incomplete
couldn't create symlink for "14E4:4318.5.conf"
installation may be incomplete
driver 'bcmwl5' is not installed (properly)!

[hat-trick]

I asked a guy at work to help me and he worked through the instructions.

modprobe was not working because it was no in the path so he corrected that. The symlinks were already created and were there and the driver is showing installed and present on the hardware so all seems to be well.

The blue wireless icon on the keyboard is now lighted which it was not before. I take that as a good sign.

I've rebooted but have not yet been able to connect. I will continue trying and try to connect to a more reliable network that the one here at work to test it.

Thanks for all the help. Hopefull it will work. I'll report back!

[hat-trick]

Can't get it to connect. Connects in Windows but not in FC6.

[hat-trick]

Now the wireless button is no longer lit. I downloaded some security patches which I suppose might have effected it or the driver I installed.

We're going downhill. I seem to be back to square one getting the same output as I did before.

[thewhitefedora]

Congrats, your card is now installed.
What does it say/do when you computer boots up?

[thewhitefedora]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm currently working on a manual for installing Wifi cards with ndiswrapper on Fedora Core 6. The instruction will be different from what I posted here since I've acquired the knowledge of a better method. These will be simple, step-by-step instructions. I will post a link to the file once I have finished it.

[thewhitefedora]

Now the wireless button is no longer lit. I downloaded some security patches which I suppose might have effected it or the driver I installed.

We're going downhill. I seem to be back to square one getting the same output as I did before.
The method I told you only shows light on the wireless when it's being used. If you want it to be on as long as it's activated, you have the follow the better method that I am currently writing and will post here soon.

[thewhitefedora]

I have finished my guide for installing the Broadcom 4318 Air Force One B/G card in Fedora Core 6. This guide is based on my most recent install(a few days ago) and should work when followed to the "t". If you have any problems, contact me using the address specified in the guide. The Document is in version 0.9.0, and will be released as 1.0 if no errors are found on Kamisamanou.net.

Broadcom 4318 Air Force One B/G card in Fedora Core 6 (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcmjp3jt_72pp33kf&revision=_published)

[hat-trick]

I had a guy from work work through your initial instructions in the thread. He knows a good bit about Linux and uses Fedora. He was once again able to get the card to work and to install the driver when the PC boots.

I'll take a look at the manual. The card works fine on unsecured networks but I have not been able to connect to a WPA network and haven't try WEP. Hopefully I can do that today and work through the manual.

I really appreaciate all the help.

What do you know about playing DVD movies? :D :eek:

[thewhitefedora]

yum install -y vlc

[hat-trick]

Thanks. I had installed VLC before and it didn't seem to work with a particular DVD. However, I've tried it again and it works with another DVD. I think I was choosing DVD and DVD with menus.