need help configuring linux to detect wireless

From the sounds of it, Linux detects your hard-wired ethernet port, but needs a driver for the wireless card. In fact, Linux by default doesn't support very many wireless cards at all. You're usually forced to download the drivers.

So, you'll first need to find the exact name and model of your wireless card. Then google the brand/model of the card + "linux driver" or something similar. You'll then find a driver, and (hopefully) installation instructions.

Warning: many wireless drivers require you to compile them and need the kernel's source code. If you run into such a problem, come post here and we'll give you further instructions on that.

My wireless card is atheros AR5212 802.11 abg NIC

after I google my ass off these are the information I have for the drivers that are compatible with wireless card I have in a fedora core 5.

I was able to download these file to a cd-rom.

when I tried to download one of them in linux, I get an error stating "unable to retrieve software information"

I don't have much experience with installation in linux..although I did read some instructions on yum and rpm , but I would appreciate some assistance from someone who have atleast done it before. I don't want to make any mistake that will end up setting me back.

Does anyone have experience with this??

madwifi-devel-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.i386.rpm - madwifi kernel header files

The madwifi kernel headers are used for accessing the kernel modules' API. [more]

madwifi-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.i386.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

Dec 23 18:43:40 CET 2006 madwifi-hal-kmdl-2.6.18-1.2257_1.fc5.cubbi_suspend2-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.x86_64.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

madwifi-hal-kmdl-2.6.18-1.2257_1.fc5.cubbi_suspend2-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.x86_64.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

madwifi-devel-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.i386.rpm - madwifi kernel header files

The madwifi kernel headers are used for accessing the kernel modules' API. [more]

You don't really need this rpm - it's a development version, and there's no real reason to use one unless you want to beta test.

madwifi-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.i386.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

This is *one* of the rpms you need.

Dec 23 18:43:40 CET 2006 madwifi-hal-kmdl-2.6.18-1.2257_1.fc5.cubbi_suspend2-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.x86_64.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

madwifi-hal-kmdl-2.6.18-1.2257_1.fc5.cubbi_suspend2-0.9.3-31_r1865.fc5.at.x86_64.rpm - A linux device driver for Atheros chipsets (ar5210, ar5211, ar5212)

These kernel modules won't work because they're for 64-bit platform, which is incompatible with your processor chipset.

I suggest reading this guide, which explains which RPMs you need, and how to install madwifi.
http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/Distro/RedHat

Hope this helps

I have the docs for yum, but it seems somewhat unclear to me...when a yum command is issued, the docs say it "downloads" the proper packages etc. Since I am trying to make a wireless system work, I obviously don't have access to the internet yet. Am I chasing my tail here issuing a command that "downloads" the proper package when I in fact don't even have access to the internet yet?

2) I ran the uname-r cmd to determine my kernel. It returned 2.6.15-1.2054_FC5. When I viewed the livna repository, I didn't see a madwifi kernel module-package that support this kernel. what do I do in this case?

I have the docs for yum, but it seems somewhat unclear to me...when a yum command is issued, the docs say it "downloads" the proper packages etc. Since I am trying to make a wireless system work, I obviously don't have access to the internet yet. Am I chasing my tail here issuing a command that "downloads" the proper package when I in fact don't even have access to the internet yet?

Yes. :cheesy:

I ran the uname-r cmd to determine my kernel. It returned 2.6.15-1.2054_FC5. When I viewed the livna repository, I didn't see a madwifi kernel module-package that support this kernel. what do I do in this case?

You need to upgrade your kernel. In this case, yum makes this process a whole lot easier, so what you might want to do is physically connect your laptop to your router to do all the downloading and updating, and once that's done then try to hook everything up.

If you can get an internet connection (best thing is to hook up the laptop to the router before it boots, and then DHCP will be automatic), then try this at the prompt:

# su
[enter password]
# yum upgrade kernel

And then your kernel will be updated. At this point, you have 2 options: you can either proceed like you were going to do previously, and download an RPM kernel module that matches the lateest Linux kernel version, or you can install madwifi using the same method as the kernel: via yum. You might want to try this method first, as it's probably the easiest:

# yum install madwifi

Hopefully it will be installed and you can then detect a wireless card via iwconfig.

is it possible for me to burn the files to a cd and install it on linux or that is pretty much a one way street?

is it possible for me to burn the files to a cd and install it on linux or that is pretty much a one way street?

It is possible, but it's cumbersome. Simply burning the rpms to the disc is not enough, as the rpm merely contains packaging information, and to actually install the program it needs additional data downloaded. To be frank, I don't even know how to get the actual package, and it's not exactly easy.

Is there really a reason why you can't simply hook up your laptop with ethernet to a router? It would really make the whole install thing a lot easier.

I was finally able to get access to a router in order to execute those cmds. However, when I executed "yum upgrade kernel" I got this error msg:

[root@localhost ]# yum upgrade kernel
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Upgrade Process
Setting up repositories
core
Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: core
Error : Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: core

Try cleaning and updating yum first.

# su
[enter password]
# yum clean all
# yum -y update

Your respositories file may also be corrupted, but first try the above commands.

sorry I wasn't able to respond fast enough. Iam using a friend's router to execute those cmds and he's really hard to track down so it took a while.

I was able to execute yum Clean all and yum -y update after establishing internet connection. The error message that I received is the same as before:
[root@localhost ]# yum upgrade kernel
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Upgrade Process
Setting up repositories
core
Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: core
Error : Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: core

Not sure what the problem is; maybe you should just try good ol' RPM:
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/LinuxTutorialKernelRpmInstall.html

This will not require internet connection, right?

This will not require internet connection, right?

It will require an internet connection, since downloading an RPM is just file information. The actual data is downloaded when you use the rpm command to install it.

OK thanks...I'll read read the direction and try this.