Fedora Networking

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:19 am

Well I have decided to give Linux a definitve chance, to make it a productive machine (eg printing, internet, etc) so that I can learn Linux by using it more and getting something done, maybe nothing important, but something and KDE has KLatin and other tools that will be very useful in school. Windows will still be the primary Os for me, but the more you know the better off you are I think. I decided to go with Fedora Core 4 so I downloaded the DVD version. First install I fucked up GRUB, second I didn't choose KDE during the install and was unable to get it to install from within Fedora, either by going to the Add Remove Programs or by opening the files from within the DVD because it kept asking for the "Fedora Core 4 Disk 2" and wouldn't accept the DVD. Third install I got KDE, but only half of it, so fourth install I finally got all the install programs I wanted. Next leap was the NVIDIA driver, which was causing me pain, but through intensive Google searches, 10 cups of coffee and the realization that Linux has similar commands to DOS I finally got those done. The only major hurdle left is networking. I have a wireless network in the house and cannot make the computer hardwired. I have a Microsoft MN-500 base station and the MN-510 USB Adapter. This is the hurdle that has kept me from trying Linux before, but I really want to get this set-up so can anyone tell me what to do?

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:01 am

Well I found this Linux WLAN and I am pretty sure what I need is in there, but I don't really know what to do with it. I read the readme and the FAQ and I al still lost, sucks being a newb

Post by **^misantropia^** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:20 pm

Often times, the easiest way to get your WLAN-adapter up and running under Linux (esp. if there are no native drivers for it), is ndiswrapper. Installation instructions can be found here.

On a side note, Fedora is Red Hat's testing ground for their commercial Enterprise package and as such, it can be unstable/broken. If it is stability you want, give Debian a try. Kubuntu is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian, but with KDE as its desktop system instead of Gnome. The latter two distros are generally considered to be more end-user friendly than plain Debian.

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:13 pm

^misantropia^ wrote:Often times, the easiest way to get your WLAN-adapter up and running under Linux (esp. if there are no native drivers for it), is ndiswrapper. Installation instructions can be found here.

On a side note, Fedora is Red Hat's testing ground for their commercial Enterprise package and as such, it can be unstable/broken. If it is stability you want, give Debian a try. Kubuntu is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian, but with KDE as its desktop system instead of Gnome. The latter two distros are generally considered to be more end-user friendly than plain Debian.

100% agreed with this. ndiswrapper and using debian are both very wise and very recommended.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:39 pm

Well right now I have a CAT5 cable running across the living room from my router to the machine, so I am currently posting from Fedora. I tried ndiswrapper and the first command did not work, just my luck. Says you need the kernel source and to typle "ln -s /usr/src/linux-<kernel-version> /lib/modules/VERSION/build" Well I tried entering 2.6.11 and 2.6.11-1 for the kernel version, as that is what it says for the kernel version after I exit X-Window. I think I need the super newbie version of instructions.

Post by **^misantropia^** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:12 pm

`uname -r` will give you the current kernel's version. Also, make sure the kernel source is installed (`ls /usr/src/`).

Post by **Kills On Site** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:57 pm

Well my kernel version is 2.6.11-1.i369_FC4, I did not see a kernel source in /usr/src/ how would I go about getting it?

BTW, I just remembered and located a spare Linksys WUSB54Gv2 USB adapter, would that be any easier to configure?

Also is it possible to get some form of bridge or router that I could connect near my computer with just a power cable, connect my computer to it via ethernet and then have it transmit wirelessly to my router?

Post by **^misantropia^** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:02 am

Kills On Site wrote:Well my kernel version is 2.6.11-1.i369_FC4, I did not see a kernel source in /usr/src/ how would I go about getting it?

`yum install kernel-source` IIRC.

Kills On Site wrote:BTW, I just remembered and located a spare Linksys WUSB54Gv2 USB adapter, would that be any easier to configure?

Doesn't really matter with ndiswrapper since it only acts as a wrapper around the Windows drivers (a quick search on Google didn't reveal any native drivers).

Kills On Site wrote:Also is it possible to get some form of bridge or router that I could connect near my computer with just a power cable, connect my computer to it via ethernet and then have it transmit wirelessly to my router?

Sure.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:21 am

Well I found the "game adapters" that Linksys makes, there is an 802.11B and 802.11G version, since the G version is out the B version is $43 on newegg, which is acceptable. Linksys WGA11B. It says it has a set-up you can use through your PC so I could set my WEP key there and then connect. You guys think that would work if I decide to give up on my current adapter?

Post by **^misantropia^** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:55 am

That would work, yes. But $43 is money better spent on beer and hookers. Let me know which part of the ndiswrapper install is giving you trouble and I'll try to talk you through.

Post by **Kills On Site** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:51 pm

I am having an issue with the command that says goto source and do "make distclean"

One of my friends might have one of those adapters that he never used, if I remember corrrectly, if so then I might buy it off of him for less.

Post by **^misantropia^** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:55 pm

- Did you download a stable or a CVS source tree?
- What output does `make distclean` produce?
- Does `make install` work?

Post by **Kills On Site** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:01 pm

Well I cheaped out and bought the CAT5 to 802.11B converter from my friend for $25. It is quite nice, took a while to get it to be recognized it Windows so I could configure my SSID and WEP key, but it works very well. It also has the advantage of now I can update computers I am fixing or building for someone else without leaving the wireless network config on their computer.