Wireless on Fujitsu-Siemens laptop

[lee.jarratt]

Hello there,
I am a relatively new Linux user, I have been using Linux since February this year and I love it. I have ditched Windows a long time ago and had Ubuntu as my main OS, my curiosity has led me to trying out 2 Distributions, Fedora 9 and OpenSUSE 11.

Fedora 9 looks really good and OpenSUSE does too, except I won't try SUSE for a month or two yet..

One gripe though, I installed and ran into Network problems. I predicted this would happen.. I managed to find a fix for my Ubuntu installation but Fedora is different and I wouldn't know how to get the Wireless working on Fedora 9. So now I am waiting to install Fedora 9 again until I can get my Wireless working on it, as soon as I get help, I am installing Fedora 9 and will be using it for maybe a long time!

My laptop is a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo li1818, if anyone can help me, I will be very grateful!

Thanks in advance,

Lee Jarratt

[bbfuller]

Hello lee.jarratt

We would need to know more about what is actually in your laptop before being able to help.

If you want more advice run the command:

/sbin/lspci

in a terminal window and copy and paste bach the output that relates to "ethernet" and "network" devices.

[lee.jarratt]

Hello, thanks for the reply,

It says that there is no file or directory? Is this specific to Fedora? I am currently on Ubuntu until I know I can get Wireless working on my laptop. Is there a Ubuntu alternative to find out this information?

I have searched around on Google and forums and found nothing about my laptop model connecting up to the internet using Fedora.

Many thanks again,

Lee Jarratt

[lee.jarratt]

Okay my wireless card is a sis169u if that is any help? Also, ethernet works fine, It just doesn't pick up Wireless Networks.

Lee

[hyperspace]

How did you fix it Ubuntu?

[lee.jarratt]

I will post the instructions that a fellow forum friend gave me:

CODE
sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper-utils-1.9 ndiswrapper-common


CODE
mkdir ~/.drivers


CODE
cd ~/.drivers


CODE
wget http://c0lin.org/leeswireless.zip


CODE
unzip -a leeswireless.zip


CODE
cd WLAN


CODE
sudo ndiswrapper -i sis163u.inf


CODE
sudo ndiswrapper -l


CODE
sudo ndiswrapper -m


CODE
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper


CODE
sudo reboot


CODE
sudo gedit /etc/modules


then add this to the bottom of the file after the last line:
CODE
ndiswrapper


Save the file.

CODE
sudo reboot

[Nikobelia]

Are you in the right directory when you use lspci? I changed from Ubuntu to Fedora 9, and one difference is that in Fedora, you have to be in the right directory in the terminal to be able to use commands. When you open a terminal you'll start in the directory "/home/(your username)". Enter "cd .." to move "up" in the directories; if you do that twice, and type "ls" then, you'll see all the different basic directories: "bin, dev, home...". From there, typing "sbin/lspci" should work.

[hyperspace]

Search the forum and you will find similar instructions on how to use ndiswrapper in Fedora.

[lee.jarratt]

so would the wireless drivers that were in the link on my above post work in fedora? So I can use Sudo etc in Fedora? (as you can see, I'm new to Linux). So I just pop in the commands and it should work?

Just going to install Fedora 9 again now,
Lee

[hyperspace]

so would the wireless drivers that were in the link on my above post work in fedora? So I can use Sudo etc in Fedora? (as you can see, I'm new to Linux). So I just pop in the commands and it should work?

Just going to install Fedora 9 again now,
LeeThe instruction for Fedora are similar but I think there are some differences. Search the forum, the information is there.

[lee.jarratt]

okay, when attempting to do the first step installing the wireless, I get this:

lee is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.

I'm stuck for now

Edit: okay I find out that you use su - instead of sudo, now I get this:
su: user apt-get does not exist

[lee.jarratt]

Okay, I'm not trying to be rude. But I'm new to Linux, I was getting good with Ubuntu but with Fedora it's really different to me. I'm only used to Sudo and apt-get etc.
I just want someone to help me with a step-by-step guide on getting the wireless working on my laptop, because if not i'm just going to have to go back to Ubuntu as Internet is a big thing for me. I hope I'm not coming across as rude, I've searched the internet but to no avail.

Lee

[lee.jarratt]

Hello lee.jarratt

We would need to know more about what is actually in your laptop before being able to help.

If you want more advice run the command:

/sbin/lspci

in a terminal window and copy and paste bach the output that relates to "ethernet" and "network" devices.

As I have Fedora now, here is the results from the command:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
06:05.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)

[Nikobelia]

There might well not be an exact guide for your wireless card, I'm afraid. There's lots of different cards and drivers around, and there aren't all that many people who write up how-tos. But here's one I used when I was trying to get my wireless to work: http://www.micahcarrick.com/11-29-2005/linksys-ndiswrapper-fedora.html

If you have any questions about following that, I'll try to help.

edit to answer other stuff:

okay, when attempting to do the first step installing the wireless, I get this:

lee is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.

I'm stuck for now

Edit: okay I find out that you use su - instead of sudo, now I get this:
su: user apt-get does not exist

You don't have apt-get in fedora, you have a program called "yum". It's called a package manager, and to install something - say, ndiswrapper - you just type "yum install ndiswrapper". It'll sort out various stuff like dependencies, then download everything you need, tell you what that is, and ask you if you're sure you want to install it. Overall, it's easier to use than apt-get.

Also, you can use "su -l" instead of sudo, or you can log in on your root account and put your normal username in the group "sudoers". I can't remember exactly how to do that, try googling "fedora root privileges" or something similar and you'll probably find it explained.

[MrHappy]

Hi Lee

I would suggest having a read of these web sites.

http://fedoramobile.org/wireless to help with your wireless issues
and
http://fedorasolved.org/post-install-solutions/sudo for help in making sudo work for you.

MrHappy

[hyperspace]

Okay, I'm not trying to be rude. But I'm new to Linux, I was getting good with Ubuntu but with Fedora it's really different to me. I'm only used to Sudo and apt-get etc.
I just want someone to help me with a step-by-step guide on getting the wireless working on my laptop, because if not i'm just going to have to go back to Ubuntu as Internet is a big thing for me. I hope I'm not coming across as rude, I've searched the internet but to no avail.

LeeYou are not being rude. You are just finding out that different Linux distributions do some things differently. Welcome to the Linux Journey!

[bbfuller]

Hello lee.jarratt

I don't see your wireless card listed in the output from lspci. Is it a usb device?

If you are sure of what it is, and that Fedora will see it, and:

/sbin/lsusb

will tell you that, then ndiswrapper is probably the answer.

I've a complete set of notes for setting up ndiswrapper on Fedora here and I'm appending them to this post.

You'll see that they actually refer to a broadcom card, but all you have to do is substitute the name of your driver in it.

Although you can use "sudo" in Fedora, in the same way as you can activate a root account and use "su" in Ubuntu, most people don't bother and adapt to the particular way of doing things in the distribution in question.

You will see in the notes that that means using "su -". The space and minus sign are imperative without them you only get root rights over your ordinary users part of the machine. With them you get full root access to anywhere.

In a terminal acquire full root rights with:

su -

That's a space and a minus sign after the su. It gives full root rights over the machine, not just over your own environment which is what you get with plain su.

If you haven't already, install the Livna repository:

rpm -i http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-9.rpm

Obviously, if you are still running Fedora 8 replace the 9 in the above with an 8

Install ndiswrapper:

yum install kmod-ndiswrapper

should bring in the three relevant packages.

Then set up and configure ndiswrapper with:

ndiswrapper -i <path to your windows driver file>.inf

should install the driver,

ndiswrapper -l

if it is going to work should return "driver present" and "hardware present"

modprobe ndiswrapper

should load the driver into the kernel, but probably only until you reboot.

If you are lucky now and NetworkManager is running then after a short while it 'may' begin reporting wireless networks. NetworkManager is the preferred method of connecting to wireless networks with Fedora and should be located on the top Gnome Panel to the right in the notification area.

If it's not there, "Gnome System Menu - Administration - Services" will give you the opportunity to start it, set it to start at boot time and save the changes. {This last sentence will probably only be necesary if you have installed Fedora 8 from a DVD.}

If it works, or indeed if it doesn't you will also need to run:

ndiswrapper -ma

and then edit the file:

/etc/modprobe.conf

as root and add the line:

alias wlan0 ndiswrapper

to it.

{Editing modprobe.conf should only be applicable to Fedora 8. In many instances Fedora 9 doesn't even have the file.}

With that all in place, reboot the computer to get the alias recognised and open "Gnome System Menu - Administration - Network", highlight your wlan0 entry, click "Edit" and make sure now that it is set NOT to "Activate device when computer starts" but that if it is there, "Controlled by NetworkManager" is ticked. That last item will only be in place if your machine is currently fairly up to date.

{This section will also probably only be applicable to Fedora 8}

Reboot and try connecting again.

Post back if you have any questions or problems.

[lee.jarratt]

Hello lee.jarratt

I don't see your wireless card listed in the output from lspci. Is it a usb device?

If you are sure of what it is, and that Fedora will see it, and:

/sbin/lsusb

will tell you that, then ndiswrapper is probably the answer.

I've a complete set of notes for setting up ndiswrapper on Fedora here and I'm appending them to this post.

You'll see that they actually refer to a broadcom card, but all you have to do is substitute the name of your driver in it.

Although you can use "sudo" in Fedora, in the same way as you can activate a root account and use "su" in Ubuntu, most people don't bother and adapt to the particular way of doing things in the distribution in question.

You will see in the notes that that means using "su -". The space and minus sign are imperative without them you only get root rights over your ordinary users part of the machine. With them you get full root access to anywhere.



Post back if you have any questions or problems.

Hello,
Thank you very much for this guide, I have installed Ubuntu again but I will partition my drive and install Fedora on it (I don't have access to a live disk at the moment so I can't test this out). My wireless Card is internal.
If I just change the broadcom card name to my card, all I have to change it to is ' ' ? And everything should work fine?

Also, slightly offtopic, I have OCD and I format my disk drive every few days, is formatting and reinstalling Operating Systems this often bad for the hard disk? I'm getting worried that it seems like it's thrashing more.

Thanks for all the help,

Lee Jarratt