• Connecting to my wireless router in Xubuntu 9.10 - how?
    7 replies, posted
I've decided to take the plunge and put Xubuntu on my laptop as a quick starting net OS. It runs fine so far, but I'm trying to set it up to connect to my wireless router but I haven't got a clue how. It asks me for an SSID, BSSID, MAC Address, all that jazz, and I don't know where to start. I was looking around, and the Ubuntu wireless connection menu seems much easier to use. Is there a way to force a simple setup? If not, what settings to I need to know to set this up?
If you're new to linux, I'd recommend Linux Mint then. It's like Ubuntu, just even more user friendly. I assume your laptop isn't the most powerful one's so I'd suggest either Linux Mint XFCE edition, or Linux Mint Fluxbox edition [url]http://www.linuxmint.com/download_ce.php[/url]
Generally all you need is a SSID and a key/password whether that be WEP or WPA (or unencrypted). The SSID is just the name of the access point. Like at a hotel you might see "sleepinn_pub" in your list of available networks. [editline]08:16PM[/editline] Ubuntu uses Networkmanager to do it's Wireless stuff which is pretty easy. I have no idea if Xubuntu uses it or not, but you could possibly try out wicd. Both Networkmanager and wicd will scan for available networks, so it takes care of finding the SSID for you.
[QUOTE=Van-man;20260594]If you're new to linux, I'd recommend Linux Mint then. It's like Ubuntu, just even more user friendly. I assume your laptop isn't the most powerful one's so I'd suggest either Linux Mint XFCE edition, or Linux Mint Fluxbox edition [url]http://www.linuxmint.com/download_ce.php[/url][/QUOTE] don't listen to this man Download Ndiswrapper if you don't already have it, and pop in your driver cd. Locate the .INF on the cd and open it with Ndiswrapper. Works every time. [editline]07:33PM[/editline] actually if the card itself works, just search for network manager in synaptic. You should be able to install ubuntu's network manager just fine.
[QUOTE=raccoon2112;20261956]don't listen to this man Download Ndiswrapper if you don't already have it, and pop in your driver cd. Locate the .INF on the cd and open it with Ndiswrapper. Works every time. [editline]07:33PM[/editline] actually if the card itself works, just search for network manager in synaptic. You should be able to install ubuntu's network manager just fine.[/QUOTE] Ndiswrapper is a bitch with most RaLink wireless drivers. While Linux Mint got driver support out-of-the-box
[QUOTE=Van-man;20266390]Ndiswrapper is a bitch with most RaLink wireless drivers. While Linux Mint got driver support out-of-the-box[/QUOTE] Linux Mint gets all my RaLink, RealTek, Atheros, ZyDAS, and Intel wireless chipsets working without any need for NDISwrapper or a custom kernel. It's even gotten me online when ubuntu couldn't. NDISWrapper should only be needed for Broadcom chipsets.
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;20267664]Linux Mint gets all my RaLink, RealTek, Atheros, ZyDAS, and Intel wireless chipsets working without any need for NDISwrapper or a custom kernel. It's even gotten me online when ubuntu couldn't. NDISWrapper should only be needed for Broadcom chipsets.[/QUOTE] Fortunately broadcom has been getting better. For about 4-5 chips, Broadcom has a proprietary driver. [url]http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php[/url] And there is the b43 kernel driver that apparently supports a few broadcom chips. [url]http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43[/url] [editline]04:45PM[/editline] AFAIK, the b43 driver still need proprietary firmware.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;20274867]Fortunately broadcom has been getting better. For about 4-5 chips, Broadcom has a proprietary driver. [url]http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php[/url] And there is the b43 kernel driver that apparently supports a few broadcom chips. [url]http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43[/url] AFAIK, the b43 driver still need proprietary firmware.[/QUOTE] When I bought my HP TX1000 tablet, it came with a Broadcom 4311 wireless card, and Ubuntu 7.04 was out at that time. I couldn't get Ubuntu, or any other Linux distro working with it. I tried Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Kubuntu, Mandriva, Slax, and DSL... with no OOTB luck. Even the firmware cutter and NDISwrapper failed to get it working. I'm betting the card works fine with Linux now, but I replaced it with a Gigabyte AirCruiser Mach G, which has an Atheros chipset. It took a risky BIOS hack to get it working, but it's worked flawlessly for years now. :)
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