Wireless PCI Card Adapter (Netgear) installation, where do I begin?

[Sunnz]

Basically, I just have downloaded FC3 and brought a wireless 802.11g network adaptor thing... for a PC. The FC3 I installed has shell prompt only and no X Windows/GNOME/whatosever... it didn't detect the network card or anything, so I guess I need to install it or what not? But where do I begin? The wireless card worked on my other XP box fine, and a WEP encryption and password is set for the rounter/access point.

[Detour]

I'm assuming you are talking about the Netgear WG311. First step, ensure that your motherboard supports the card. This card uses a PCI 2.2 slot and it seems that it is only supported by newer mobos. Use the command /sbin/lspci and look for your card somewhere in there. Next, determine what version of the card you have (http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WG311.asp) . If you have v1, your card uses the Atheros chipset and you need the MadWifi drivers (http://madwifi.sourceforge.net/). If you have v2, your card has the Texas Instruments ACX1111 chipset. You have two choices, either install ndiswrapper (http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/) or install DriverLoader from Linuxant (http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/?PHPSESSID=2fe714dca992b0be7970d3491c86204b) and use whichever one to load the WinXP drivers supplied on the cd that came with your card.

[imdeemvp]

If you are sure that your card uses the Atheros chipset this is how you install the drivers. (http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=43718)

[Sunnz]

Sorry I don't have the model number right now and I will get it eventually, but I believe the one I got is http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG311T.php or WG311T, the number looks similar and it has the same speed.

So how new does the mobo has to be? The mobo I am trying to install now is about 4 years-old... doesn't sound too good does it??? :(

[Detour]

Run the command /sbin/lspci and post the output.. Mine shows this line in there:

02:07.0 Network controller: Texas Instruments ACX 111 54Mbps Wireless Interface

That's this card (http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG311.php) , i would imagine that you should see something similar.. if not, your mobo is probably not picking it up.

The card you listed seems to be different than mine, so i'm not sure if it uses the same PCI 2.2 slot but the netgear site does state that it uses the Atheros chipset, so as imdeepvp pointed out, you should be able to use the MadWifi drivers

[chili555]

Your mobo does not have to be new. I am using a variety of equipment on my four computers. I recently retired a 1996 Gateway...running linux perfectly, but slowly.

You can search this forum for your mobo model and look at http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php?cat=8

Good luck and have fun!

[Sunnz]

Well I am not at home right now, but I'll get on to it as soon as I get home.

I believe the only difference from my card to WG311, is the extra 't' in the end and speed, but it probably uses PCI 2.2 as Detour said... well the CPU my mobo running is a P-III 550, do you think it should pick up the card at all???

Thank you all for your help!! :)

[Sunnz]

I just ran /sbin/lspci and I got something like:
0.10.0 Ethernet Controller. Atheros communications, INC. 802.11abg (rev01)

So it is atheros right? Which files should I download and run? Do I need the CD? Note that I am still on Windows right now, I have to download all necessary files then get in on the FC box by CD/USB Drive.

[Sunnz]

Anyway, I think the kernal version is 2.6.9-1.667... there is no way for me to update the kernel or anything yet because that machine doesn't have the internet untill I have installed the adapter.

[imdeemvp]

Anyway, I think the kernal version is 2.6.9-1.667... there is no way for me to update the kernel or anything yet because that machine doesn't have the internet untill I have installed the adapter.
Lets do some brain storming...how else can we do this??.......uhhh I got! :rolleyes:

You can try to download the kernel http://atrpms.net/dist/fc3/kernel/ burn in a cd, copy to hard drive and install it and do same for madwifi drivers (http://atrpms.net/dist/fc3/madwifi/) and make sure you are VERY careful in the kernel you choose.

OR if you have a pen flash drive save it there and transfer it to you fc3 box!

I would select this one: kernel-2.6.10-1.766_13.rhfc3.at.i686.rpm

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Sunnz]

Oh ok cool so I can actually download the kernel itself? I'll try it now!

[Sunnz]

Well ok, I think I got it "installed" now, but how do I connect? Will it automatically connect or something? I mean, I had a password thing on WEP and the router doesn't even broadcast its SSID/name thing. So what's next?

Thank you all for the help.

[imdeemvp]

Go to system tools and run the >internet configuration wizard and select >wireless and follow the intructions....

[Sunnz]

Quote from my initial post...The FC3 I installed has shell prompt only and no X Windows/GNOME/whatosever...
I have done my serach, and looking through this forum, and it was a very frustrated process that all the how-to's are for GNOME!!! What's good with a *nix system where you have to rely on GUI?

[Detour]

I've not used it much but the command line tool for configuring wireless devices is: /sbin/iwconfig

[claudeyu]

I have checked my WG311 card is using Atheros that means v1. I have gone into madwifi drivers and looked for drivers for my fc5 version 2.6.15-1.2054_FC5. However, i am very confused which are required to download and these are not any one for my kernel. they are all 2.6.17.... or 2.6.18...
and not certain which of them are required to download.
Having download, do i use yum rpms to install the packages for proper installation.
Also you mentioned ndiswrapper, which are also required to download and how do I install this. i am a newbie. Every thing is working fine in my XP plateform including wireless network.

[solarisman]

I have a WG311 on my tower PC running FC 4 with ndiswrapper (never could get madwifi to work).
If you want to try ndiswrapper, you can download it from sourceforge.net/projects/ndiswrapper.
just place the file somewhere in your home directory, untar it,cd into the top-level dir and follow the included instructions--either README or INSTALL. you will need gcc and make for the build process.

I was able to use the binary driver and INF file that came with my NetGear install CD, so I didn't have to hunt for a driver; hopefully it'll work for you too...

[claudeyu]

Hi Solarisman,

Thxs for your info.
I'll try that and see hw it goes.
Before doing so, I hv checked both inst cd of WG311T and Windows driver couldn't find *.inf file you mentioned. I only find from netgear 311T adapter card->driver details-> managed to trace the driver file called WG311T13.sys inside Windows\system32\...
Is that the one but it is not *.inf as Ndiswrapper does say too. Why?

[romain92]

Hi mine is a v3 wg311 01:07.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88w8335 [Libertas] 802.11b/g Wireless (rev 03)
Tnx in advance :) and Happy Christmas

[romain92]

Have I forgotten to say that I don't know how to install it, to get drivers... (Fedora 64) ?
If you have ideas, u'r welcome