Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG (rev 05)

dejai · #1 2nd July 2008, 07:38 AM

I have an Acer Aspire 1640z and I am trying to connect to the Internet using my Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG (rev 05). Fedora recognizes the device but when I try to activate it the following comes up:

Code:

Error for wireless request "Set Bit Rate" (8B20): SET failed on device eth1; Invalid argument.

Determining IP information for eth1... failed; no link present. Check cable?

I am not sure were to go from here.. I tried http://fedoramobile.org/fc-wireless/ipw2x00-yum-livna but it said I had the package already installed. And it still didn't work. Thanks for any help in advance

bbfuller · #2 2nd July 2008, 10:12 AM

Hello dejai

I don't have one of those, but I have used the other two types of Intel card (3945 and 4965).

The ipw 2200 firmware that needs to be loaded for your card is already included in the Fedora 8 and 9 distributions and it should just be a matter of activating it. No need to install anything else.

It can also be a bit different depending on if you are running Fedora 8 or 9?

If it is 8 did you install from a DVD or CD?

If it is 8 have you managed to do any updating since you installed over a wired connection?

Running the command:

Code:

rpm -q kernel

if you are using Fedora 8 will sort that out.

That error message you are seeing though is usually the result of trying to control your card the wrong way.

Fedora now assumes that something called NetworkManager will control your card. It lives on your Gnome panel somewhere in the notification area near the clock. It usually makes connecting to a wireless network much easier than the alternative which you are using - "Gnome System Menu - Administration - Network".

Indeed if it is running it can actually interfere with the older method that you appear to be using producing the error messages you see.

If you have been experimenting in "Gnome System Menu - Administration - Network" then at the very least you will need to set the card NOT to "Activate device when computer starts". It should be set to be "controlled by NetworkManager" if it is available.

Sorry if there are so many alternatives there, Wireless Networking has changed hugely over the past 8 or 9 months in Fedora and you haven't specified where you are on the update curve.

Give NetworkManager a trial and post back with any questions and the answers to mine.

stevea · #3 2nd July 2008, 01:30 PM

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. ((I use the Intel 2200 daily))

That message just means that you cannot set the iwp2200 data rate manually to that value - it should be set to "Auto" (system-config-network, select the interface, then "edit" in the new window select the "wireless settings" tab. The inteface will work OK despite this. This is the same driver call as w/ "iwconfig eth1 rate auto".

The fundamental problem is that you are using the inflexible Redhat scripts to config the wifi. I strongly suggest you use NetworkManager or one of the other wifi tools, and disable system-config-network from configuring that interface.

dejai · #4 3rd July 2008, 09:38 AM

Ok I have network manager installed I have used it before but I cannot enable wireless. I Rick click on it, I can enable networking but not wireless.

I am running 2,6.23.1-42.fc8

bbfuller · #5 3rd July 2008, 10:25 AM

Hello dejai

Use the commands:

Code:

su -

then:

Code:

iwconfig

and then:

Code:

iwlist wlan0 scan

to see if your card is being recognised. Obviously, if an interface other than 'wlan0' is identified in the first command use that instead of 'wlan0' in the second command.

If that doesn't return any wireless interfaces then we need to explore further.

Tell us exactly which version of Fedora you are running and also run:

Code:

lsmod | grep ipw

that will run the 'lsmod' command to list all your loaded modules, run them through the 'grep' filter and only return any that have ipw in their name.

dejai · #6 6th July 2008, 02:27 AM

I am sorry I left barely any information for you to work with.

Running command

Code:

uname -r

output is:

Code:

2.6.23.1-42.fc8

I mentioned that earlier, fc8 means fedora core 8 you may have missed it. Anyway I am using Fedora Core 8.

I know that the card is being recognized because in System->Administration->Network I can see the device..

Running the command

Code:

/sbin/iwconfig

however outputs:

Code:

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

eth1 radio off ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Channel:0 Access Point: Not Associated
Bit Rate: 0kb/s Tx-Power=off Sensitivity=8/0
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:0 Missed beacon:0

virbr0 no wireless extensions .

Code:

/sbin/lsmod | grep ipw

Code:

Ipw2200               134665 0
ieee80211             20985         1    ipw2200

Thanks for your help so far.

bbfuller · #7 6th July 2008, 09:41 AM

Hello dejai

The outputs are good so far. Just what I would expect to see.

How about the output from:

Code:

iwlist eth1 scan

dejai · #8 6th July 2008, 01:00 PM

Results are:

eth1 No scan results.

bbfuller · #9 6th July 2008, 02:47 PM

Hello dejai

Very odd, try:

Code:

dmesg | grep ipw

and:

Code:

dmesg | grep eth1

and see if we can intercept any messages from the card while it is trying to start / connect.

dejai · #10 6th July 2008, 03:45 PM

dmesg | grep ipw

ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 220/2915 Network Driver, 1.2.2kmprq
ipw2200: Copyright(C) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
ipw2200: Detected Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
ipw2200: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
ipw2200: Detected geography ZZM(11 802.11bg channels, 0 802.11a channels.

dmesg | grep eth1

ADDRCONF (NETDEV_UP): eth1: link is not ready
ADDRCONF (NETDEV_UP): eth1: link is not ready

bbfuller · #11 6th July 2008, 05:09 PM

Hello dejai

Quote:

ipw2200: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:

I would be concerned about this output if it were my machine.

Do you have any external switches to turn wireless on and off?

dejai · #12 7th July 2008, 01:14 AM

Yes, but the switch seems inactive

dejai · #13 7th July 2008, 01:15 AM

By this I mean pressing it seems to have no effect on the status of the kill switch.

dlm4ut · #14 7th July 2008, 12:59 PM

If you still have Windows, you might try booting up in it and turning the wireless device back on with the Kill Switch and then reboot back into Fedora.

dlm4ut

bbfuller · #15 7th July 2008, 03:27 PM

Hello dejai

That's a very good idea from "dlm4ut".

If it doesn't work then I don't know.

I suspect that you will have to start another thread about "wireless card not able to be turned on by software switch" and see if you can attract any sort of attention from someone else who has had this sort of problem.