Wireless How to for Knoppix 5.3.1

[chip.ling]

Dear all,

Some time ago, I promised an user (I forgot who) to try to find a way to use wireless connection on Knoppix 5.3.1. He mentioned that if we can make wireless working on the 5.3.1 may help some blind people. So I am very happy to have it done.

It took me a while to download the DVD and have it working.

I spent the past weekend on 3 network cards on three machines and have them wireless connect to the network successfully.

I put up all the three cases on the FAQ page so you can take a look at it if you are interested.

Case 1, wireless card recognized by Knoppix 5.3.1 : see FAQ question 11.

Case 2, wireless card not recognized by Knoppix 5.3.1 : see FAQ question 12.

Case 3, Broadcom B43 wireless card on Dell Latitude D610 and D600. Wrong bcm43xx driver loaded plus missing firmware : see FAQ question 13.

http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Network_FAQ

Merry X'mas

Rgds,
Chip

[juliantchan]

Dear all,

Some time ago, I promised an user (I forgot who) to try to find a way to use wireless connection on Knoppix 5.3.1. He mentioned that if we can make wireless working on the 5.3.1 may help some blind people. So I am very happy to have it done.
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Merry X'mas

Rgds,
Chip

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Chip Ling,

Glad that you have prepared a howto procedure for beginners to work with.

Though I have followed this wireless LAN step-by-step guide (case 1) for a D-Link GWL122 adapter (802.11g) installed on a desktop PC running Knoppix 5.3.1 (HDD version) intended to connect to a D-link 724+ (with encryption OFF) wireless router but I failed to bring the wireless LAN up and running.

I first booted Knoppix 5.3.1 without the D-Link DWL122 plugged into the usb slot. I plugged the adapter into its place when I am about to issue the iwconfig and ifconfig commands. Appended is the test log:

==juliantchan@KNX-Host:~$ su
==Password:
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# iwconfig
==
==lo no wireless extensions.
==
==eth0 no wireless extensions.
==
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# ifconfig
== *** no "lo" display ***
== *** Plug usb wireless adapter (GWL122) into usb slot ***
== *** Saw the lnk led brinks @ about 3 seconds interval ***
== *** Wait for about 5mins before next commands ***
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# iwconfig
==
==lo no wireless extensions.
==
==eth0 no wireless extensions.
==
==wmaster0 no wireless extensions.
==
==wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:""
== Mode:Managed Channel:0 Access Point: Not-Associated
== Tx-Power=0 dBm
== Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2346 B
== Encryption key: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
==
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# ifconfig
== *** no "lo" display ***
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# su
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# iwconfig wlan0 essid D724 channel 6
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# iwconfig
==
==lo no wireless extensions.
==
==eth0 no wireless extensions.
==
==wmaster0 no wireless extensions.
==
==wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID: "D724"
== Mode:Managed Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
== Tx-Power=27 dBm
== Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2346 B
== Encryption key: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
==
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# ifconfig
==
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# pump -i wlan0
==
==failed to connect to localhost:bootpc: Network is unreachable
==There might be another pump running!
==Operation failed.
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan# ifconfig
==root@KNX-Host:/home/juliantchan#

On a second try, I have have put the D-link GWL122 adapter into the usb slot before the booting.
Result is the same except pump command only returns "Operation" failed (without "There might..............).

On a third try, I have been consistently and successfully bringing the wireless LAN up with the same hardware combination except using Knoppix the latest Knoppix (version 6.0.1 CD) - even with WPA encryption ON.

Lastly, I failed to bring the Wireless LAN up with a PROLINK WN2200 usb draft 802.11n adapter - iwconfig and ifconfig command (or Knoppix 6.0.1) seems can't even detect the existence of this adapter. The vendor website provides a driver which is called "RT2870 Wireless Lan Linux Driver". I am new, so dare not to do something screw up the entire system.

In summary, I have two (2) problems:

1. Not able to bring wlan0 up and running with 5.3.1
Further, how encryption is being implemented
2. Not able to detect draft N adapter with 6.0.1
Looks like problem is with the standard driver/configuaration

I am very new to Linux/Knoppix (2 weeks old) but have been working with PCs for quite some time.
I am able to follow (detailed) instructions but not sure what could be wrong in causing above problems.
Appreciate if you can help identifying (my) problems.

Regards,
Julian