Final issue : Wireless!

[kiisu]

OK, first of all thank you to everyone (new and old) posting in these forums; I fearlessly leapt into Kubuntu on Wednesday, it is now Monday, and I don't think I would have anything up and running if it weren't for all you posting in the various help forums.

after a bumpy ride, I gradually ticked off all the core problems - switching from Konquertor to Firefox, grabbing Automatix, Flash, adding mp3 support to Amarok, and after running through a list of media players VLC worked great for me.

all that's currently left facing me is my wireless issue. Very frustrating since so many other people I;ve read abou seem to have solved this issue - my Intel 3945abg wasn't recognized (although many people reported Kubuntu/Ubuntu running it off the bat!). Intel provides drivers in pieces (tar files) that I have to manually assemble and I haven't been able to find a decent newbie guide on how to do this.

Hopefully, someone here went through this with the ipw3945 or iwlwifi drivers and can explain it to me step by step?? One possible problem is that when I try to untar (tar xvzf filename.tgz) I get a message saying something to the effect of 'child returned status 2'.

Or, alternatively, is there a direct source to download and install the complete wireless driver from?

thnx anyone who takes the time to read or reply!!!

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

I'm still working on this problem.

Getting past the problem of the tar command, when I tried to install the iwlwifi driver i got this:


kvm@kvm:~/iwlwifi-1.1.21$ make
Makefile:22:
Makefile:23: WARNING: $SHELL not set to bash.
Makefile:24: If you experience build errors, try
Makefile:25: 'make SHELL=/bin/bash'.
Makefile:26:
Kernel Makefile not found at '/lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/source'
chmod: cannot access `compatible/*': No such file or directory
/bin/sh: cannot create compatible/kversion: Directory nonexistent
-e
Makefile has been modified by generate_compatible, please run `make' again

make: *** [compatible/kversion] Error 1


Again, as a new-b this confuses me. Does this indicate I should update the kernel, or replace the kernel? Should I just change into the SHELL=bin/bash? Or do I need to add yet another support file into the lib/modules ... directory?

[Snowhog]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

... grabbing Automatix, ...

Before you experience problems - you will in time - uninstall Automatix and stick with using Adept Manager, Synaptic, or apt-get from the command line for package management. Automatix will eventually create serious problems with your system. Do a search in the Forum on Automatix and you'll discover what I mean.

[opie]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Before you try to compile and install another driver lets see if we can troubleshoot a bit.

Firstly paste the output of(in a terminal window):

lshw

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

This is what lshw has given me:

description: Computer
width: 32 bits
*-core
description: Motherboard
physical id: 0
*-memory
description: System memory
physical id: 0
size: 1001MB
*-cpu
product: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2080 @ 1.73GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.14.12
serial: 0000-06EC-0000-0000-0000-0000
size: 800MHz
capacity: 800MHz
width: 32 bits
capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe constant_tsc pni monitor est tm2 xtpr cpufreq
configuration: id=0
*-logicalcpu:0
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 0.1
width: 32 bits
capabilities: logical
*-logicalcpu:1
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 0.2
width: 32 bits
capabilities: logical
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: driver=agpgart-intel module=intel_agp
*-display:0
description: VGA compatible controller
product: Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: vga bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-display:1 UNCLAIMED
description: Display controller
product: Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 02
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 module=snd_hda_intel
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Ethernet controller
product: AR5006EG 802.11 b/g Wireless PCI Express Adapter
vendor: Atheros Communications, Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-pci:2
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8101E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:05:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 01
serial: 00:16:d4:fd:be:eb
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.2LK ip=192.168.1.102 latency=0 module=r8169 multicast=yes
*-usb:0
description: USB Controller
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:1
description: USB Controller
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:2
description: USB Controller
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:3
description: USB Controller
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:4
description: USB Controller
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.7
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
*-pci:3
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1e
bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
version: e2
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
*-pcmcia
description: CardBus bridge
product: PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 4
bus info: pci@0000:06:04.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pcmcia bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=yenta_cardbus latency=176 maxlatency=5 mingnt=192 module=yenta_socket
*-firewire
description: FireWire (IEEE 1394)
product: PCIxx12 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 4.1
bus info: pci@0000:06:04.1
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ohci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ohci1394 latency=32 maxlatency=4 mingnt=2 module=ohci1394
*-storage
description: Mass storage controller
product: 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 4.2
bus info: pci@0000:06:04.2
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: storage bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=tifm_7xx1 latency=57 maxlatency=4 mingnt=7 module=tifm_7xx1
*-system
description: Generic system peripheral
product: PCIxx12 SDA Standard Compliant SD Host Controller
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 4.3
bus info: pci@0000:06:04.3
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=sdhci latency=57 maxlatency=4 mingnt=7 module=sdhci
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-ide
description: IDE interface
product: 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: ide bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0 module=ata_piix
*-serial UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0

------------------------------------------------------

Interesting to note that pieces of this actually make sense - to a guy who knew nothing of this stuff one week ago.

Thanks for the advice about Automatix.

[opie]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

What is the computer brand and model number?

Your listing is showing Atheros AR5006EG wireless that has no driver loaded.

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Toshiba Satellite a200 series

[Snowhog]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Check for a wireless antenna on/off switch on the front left of the laptop. My Toshiba P105 has it on the front right side. If you have one (and I think you do), make sure it is in the 'on' position.

Toshiba A200-ST2043 Series Detailed Product Specification (see page 6)

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Appreciate the suggestion ... i'm new to linux, not computers - yes the wireless switch is set to on.

[lingenfr]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

It looks like folks have had some trouble with those laptops and that card. My research says that folks are able to make it work. Here is a howto:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...light=AR5006EG

Ignore where he tells you to download and compile ndiswrapper. Install it from the repositories or your CD(Alternate)/DVD. I wish people would stop advising this as it is not necessary and makes wireless just that much more complex. Other than that, this howto looks OK. Try it out and post any questions.

[opie]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

I think that advice is on the right track. If you have any questions be sure to post back before you go forward.

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Wow great help guys.

Definitely put me on the right track - I followed it through til step 12 last night, encountered some problems, but was able to get through to the end this evening - and it looked like everything worked in the end!

But, upon reboot, still no wireless - is there additional configuration any of you might suggest?

[lingenfr]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Since you completed the howto, have you gone to K>System Settings>Network and configured the interface. If not, do that. You need to go in to administrator mode, select the interface, configure and make sure that automatic and start at boot are checked. Then reboot. If that doesn't do it, post the results of these commands:

ndiswrapper -l (that's an L)

lsmod

sudo ifconfig

iwconfig


When you say you had problems completeing the howto, what do you mean?

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

this will be helpful i hope;


kvm@kvm:~$ ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:164:FD:BE:EB
inet addr:192.168.1.100 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::216:d4ff:fefd:beeb/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:7467 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:4484 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:10963454 (10.4 MB) TX bytes:405221 (395.7 KB)
Interrupt:18 Base address:0xa000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)

kvm@kvm:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.






(However I'm not receiving any messages about wlan0, as the instructions in the link mention in #14 - thoughts?)



vm@kvm:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
ipv6 273892 10
af_packet 24840 2
i915 25856 2
drm 83348 3 i915
rfcomm 42136 2
l2cap 26240 11 rfcomm
bluetooth 57060 4 rfcomm,l2cap
ppdev 10244 0
acpi_cpufreq 10568 1
cpufreq_ondemand 9612 1
cpufreq_userspace 5280 0
cpufreq_powersave 2688 0
cpufreq_conservative 8072 0
cpufreq_stats 7232 0
freq_table 5792 3 acpi_cpufreq,cpufreq_ondemand,cpufreq_stats
sbs 19592 0
ac 6148 0
battery 11012 0
container 5504 0
dock 10656 0
button 8976 0
video 18060 0
ndiswrapper 188700 0
sbp2 24072 0
parport_pc 37412 0
lp 12580 0
parport 37448 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
snd_hda_intel 263712 1
snd_pcm_oss 44672 0
snd_mixer_oss 17664 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 80388 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 4740 0
joydev 11328 0
snd_seq_oss 33152 0
snd_seq_midi 9600 0
uvcvideo 48644 0
snd_rawmidi 25728 1 snd_seq_midi
compat_ioctl32 2304 1 uvcvideo
videodev 29312 1 uvcvideo
v4l1_compat 15364 2 uvcvideo,videodev
snd_seq_midi_event 8448 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
v4l2_common 18432 2 uvcvideo,videodev
ath_pci 98080 0
wlan 206020 1 ath_pci
ath_hal 192720 1 ath_pci
snd_seq 53232 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_mid i_event
pcmcia 41388 0
snd_timer 24324 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 9228 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi ,snd_seq
snd 54660 11 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,sn d_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_de vice
tifm_7xx1 8832 0
tifm_core 11652 1 tifm_7xx1
iTCO_wdt 11940 0
iTCO_vendor_support 4868 1 iTCO_wdt
psmouse 39952 0
soundcore 8800 1 snd
sdhci 18828 0
mmc_core 28420 1 sdhci
yenta_socket 27532 1
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 40980 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
serio_raw 8068 0
shpchp 34580 0
pci_hotplug 32704 1 shpchp
intel_agp 25620 1
agpgart 35016 3 drm,intel_agp
snd_page_alloc 11400 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
evdev 11136 5
ext3 133896 1
jbd 60456 1 ext3
mbcache 9732 1 ext3
sg 36764 0
sr_mod 17828 1
cdrom 37536 1 sr_mod
sd_mod 30336 3
ata_generic 8452 0
ohci1394 36528 0
ieee1394 96312 2 sbp2,ohci1394
ata_piix 17540 3
libata 125168 2 ata_generic,ata_piix
scsi_mod 147084 5 sbp2,sg,sr_mod,sd_mod,libata
r8169 32260 0
ehci_hcd 36492 0
uhci_hcd 26640 0
usbcore 138632 5 ndiswrapper,uvcvideo,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
thermal 14344 0
processor 32072 2 acpi_cpufreq,thermal
fan 5764 0
fuse 47124 1
apparmor 40728 0
commoncap 8320 1 apparmor




One last thing - when I go to Network Settings all I have for the interfaces is my ethernet connection. How do I configure?

[kiisu]

Re: Final issue : Wireless!

Oh and the problems I had following those instructions were nothing major - it was just a basic problem getting the Windows Wireless program to run, a little google action got me past that.

Again, thnx to anyone taking the time to help with all this!