Wireless Configuration Applet

[bsoft]

I've created a wireless configuration applet that works great with cards that support scanning. It's GPL, written in Python, and it integrates with the GNOME panel.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gtkwifi/

You will need python-gnome2 and python-gtk, as well as the standard wireless tools included with Ubuntu.

Give it a spin and tell me what you think!

Update:
You will need python-gnome2-extras, python-gtk, and python-gnome2 to install.

1.03 is out, which adds a new warning against running gtkwifi from the command line (don't do it - add it to the panel in the normal way). Improved compatibility with older PyGNOME versions. Also, GTKWifi no longer reassociates on startup if you're already associated to a preferred network.

Update 7 Mar 2005, 2:44 PM MST
Screenshots:

http://gtkwifi.sourceforge.net/panel.png
This is the main applet. It displays the number of networks (if unassociated) or the SSID of the current network and the signal strength (if associated). Click on it to bring up a list of wireless networks.

http://gtkwifi.sourceforge.net/select.png
This dialog appears when the applet is clicked. It lists the available wireless networks (assuming your card supports scanning).

http://gtkwifi.sourceforge.net/prefs.png
You can set preferences by clicking on the "preferences" button or right-clicking on the applet and choosing "preferences".

Update 8 Mar 2005, 5:01 PM MST

1.04 is out.

You can now double-click on networks to connect, or use the enter key. You can press enter instead of using the "OK" button in the WEP key dialog. Also, a bug was fixed that could prevent association under certain conditions.

Also, the headers at the top of the "select network" dialog are now hidden. Sorting a list with ~1-6 items isn't particularly useful, especially since it's already sorted by SSID.

[bsoft]

Sidenote: If anyone would like to help me build debs, I'd be extremely greatful. You can take a look at the install.py script for details.

Basically, I need to:

- Copy 4 files to the proper locations
- Set permissions on those files
- Add a line to "/etc/sudoers" if it's not already there.

Of course, I also would have to set the right dependencies and such.

Perhaps someday gtkwifi could be part of the stock install ;).

[poofyhairguy]

I've created a wireless configuration applet that works great with cards that support scanning. It's GPL, written in Python, and it integrates with the GNOME panel.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gtkwifi/

You will need python-gnome2 and python-gtk, as well as the standard wireless tools included with Ubuntu.

Give it a spin and tell me what you think!


I could kiss you for making this! This is exactly what my computer needs. I have never compiled a program from source in my linux career- yours will be the first!

Laptop, here I come!

[bsoft]

I could kiss you for making this! This is exactly what my computer needs. I have never compiled a program from source in my linux career- yours will be the first!

Laptop, here I come!


There is no need to compile, as it's written in Python. Just untar the file and run the install.py script.

[blinksilver]

no love for the 64bit users, or is it just me???

[thegnark]

How does this differ from netapplet?

I can't download and install this ATM, but I'm just curious.

P.S. I can't actually get the applet in netapplet 0.99 (listed in synaptic) to be visible in the try, but when i downgrade to 0.98 (deb found on debian's site), it works. In essence, even if it does nothing extra, at least the applet would show up (I assume)

[bsoft]

How does this differ from netapplet?

I can't download and install this ATM, but I'm just curious.

P.S. I can't actually get the applet in netapplet 0.99 (listed in synaptic) to be visible in the try, but when i downgrade to 0.98 (deb found on debian's site), it works. In essence, even if it does nothing extra, at least the applet would show up (I assume)

1: It lists both the associated SSID and signal strength

If your card has scanning (try "iwlist scan"), it gets much cooler:

2: It displays a list of wireless networks that you can connect to
3: It allows you to enter the WEP key in the GUI, in Hex or ASCII format
4: It stores WEP keys for future use
5: It doesn't require root to change wireless settings
6: It stores your "preferred" networks and will connect automatically.


Sorry about the bug - I haven't had time to fully squash all of the issues. It appears that GTKWifi isn't properly creating the empty WEP dictionary when it loads. I'll take a look this afternoon and ship a new version (1.02).

Thanks for catching the issue, though. I don't want anything like that popping up when I present at my local LUG :wink: .

[bsoft]

no love for the 64bit users, or is it just me???

64-bit makes no difference; nor does the CPU arch. It should run fine on AMD64, PowerPC, and anything else with a working Python interpreter.

I've been testing it on my system, which has stored GConf settings. Without those settings, it appears to crash ;(.

[kperkins]

Getting this error:


Verifying dependencies:
>>> Missing Dependencies: Python GNOME-Applet bindings not found (PyGNOME-Applet).
FAILED: Dependencies not met. Exiting.
I can't find pygnome (and gnome-applets is installed) through synaptic, and have python-gnome and python-gtk installed--any ideas?
Using Warty, by the way--is that the problem?

[thegnark]

Getting this error:


Verifying dependencies:
>>> Missing Dependencies: Python GNOME-Applet bindings not found (PyGNOME-Applet).
FAILED: Dependencies not met. Exiting.
I can't find pygnome (and gnome-applets is installed) through synaptic, and have python-gnome and python-gtk installed--any ideas?
Using Warty, by the way--is that the problem?

I have this same exact problem with Hoary Array-6, latest updates.


UPDATE: Isntalling python-gnome2-extras (and dependencies) fixes.

[kperkins]

I have this same exact problem with Hoary Array-6, latest updates.


UPDATE: Isntalling python-gnome2-extras (and dependencies) fixes.

No love there-doesn't seem to be available for Warty.
Maybe it's time to try upgrading.

[thegnark]

This is a METOO of the bug noted above by blinksilver.

[bsoft]

This is a METOO of the bug noted above by blinksilver.

Yeah. Sorry about that. Try the 1.02 version and see if it fixes things.

[thegnark]

Yeah. Sorry about that. Try the 1.02 version and see if it fixes things.
(:8445): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_client_add_dir: assertion `gconf_valid_key (dirname, NULL)' failed

also, when i bunzip2'd 1.02 the resulting file was a tar without a .tar extension

[bsoft]

(:8445): GConf-CRITICAL **: gconf_client_add_dir: assertion `gconf_valid_key (dirname, NULL)' failed

also, when i bunzip2'd 1.02 the resulting file was a tar without a .tar extension

You can't run the application directly unless you use the "run-in-window" argument. Either add the applet to your panel (using the standard GNOME interface) or use "gtkwifi run-in-window".

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to detect whether the app is being run from the command line or from the panel.

[blinksilver]

i have been running this for alittle now and i must say i am very happy, you are the best and i just cant seem to understand why it took so long for such a simple yet perfectly well designed tool to come around

[blinksilver]

oh, this may just be me, but for some reason it does not automatically connect to a network on my perfered network list during start up, don't know why, not really that big of a deal, but would really like it fixed, running 1.0.3

[blahrus]

this is where I am at now:

blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ sudo ./gtkwifi-1.03.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.03/install.py
================================================== ==============================
GTKWifi 1.03 installation script
================================================== ==============================
Verifying dependencies:
[OK] All dependencies met.
Copying files:
>>> 'gtkwifi' -> '/usr/bin/gtkwifi'
>>> 'gtkwifi-settings-client' -> '/usr/bin/gtkwifi-settings-client'
>>> 'GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server' -> '/usr/lib/bonobo/servers/GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./gtkwifi-1.03.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.03/install.py", line 94, in ?
os.chown(dest,0,0) # Make root the owner and group for the file
OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/usr/lib/bonobo/servers/GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server'
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$

anyone have any ideas?

[blahrus]

this is where I am at now:

blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ sudo ./gtkwifi-1.03.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.03/install.py
================================================== ==============================
GTKWifi 1.03 installation script
================================================== ==============================
Verifying dependencies:
[OK] All dependencies met.
Copying files:
>>> 'gtkwifi' -> '/usr/bin/gtkwifi'
>>> 'gtkwifi-settings-client' -> '/usr/bin/gtkwifi-settings-client'
>>> 'GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server' -> '/usr/lib/bonobo/servers/GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./gtkwifi-1.03.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.03/install.py", line 94, in ?
os.chown(dest,0,0) # Make root the owner and group for the file
OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/usr/lib/bonobo/servers/GNOME_GTKWifiApplet.server'
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$

anyone have any ideas?


lovechild, thanks!

sudo -s

then install

[bsoft]

oh, this may just be me, but for some reason it does not automatically connect to a network on my perfered network list during start up, don't know why, not really that big of a deal, but would really like it fixed, running 1.0.3

I fixed a bug in 1.04 that may be related to this. Give it a try and see if it works. Otherwise, a detailed bug report would be great.

[bsoft]

lovechild, thanks!

sudo -s

then install

Yeah, this is a pseudo-bug in the installer - it assumes that you are running the installer from the installer directory ("./install.py").

Regardless, with 1.05 this will be fixed.

Thanks,
Brian Cairns

[thezo]

Here's what I get:

gtkwifi run-in-window
/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/gtk-2.0/gnome/applet.py:4: DeprecationWarning: Module gnome.applet is deprecated; please import gnomeapplet instead
DeprecationWarning)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/gtkwifi", line 1258, in ?
GTKWifi_applet_factory(app, None)
File "/usr/bin/gtkwifi", line 1250, in GTKWifi_applet_factory
status.main_applet = GTKWifiApplet(applet,iid)
File "/usr/bin/gtkwifi", line 1188, in __init__
self.logo_pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(settings.icon_wireles s_large)
gobject.GError: Failed to open file '/usr/share/pixmaps/wireless-applet/wireless-applet.png': No such file or directory

[bsoft]

Here's what I get:

Upgrading to 1.04 will fix this problem; it seems that you are running 1.01 which was designed with Warty Warthog in mind.

Just download 1.04 from http://sf.net/projects/gtkwifi and re-run the install script.

[thezo]

I am on 1.04.

[bsoft]

I am on 1.04.

You might want to double-check that. Only version 1.01 has that path ("/usr/share/pixmaps/wireless-applet/wireless-applet.png") in the sourcecode.

Try grepping /usr/bin/gtkwifi for "1.04". You should get two occurances.

[jayded]

Thanks alot !
I spend a lot of time between coffee shops, home and other wireless hotspots. I havent had anything yet that could save me from pulling my hair out, until now.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[tgecho]

Well, once I got it installed, it couldn't see my card until I ran "modprobe ndiswrapper". Probably not it's fault, but oh well.

So it sees the card (an Ralink RT2500) and displays it in Preferences. However it tells me the card does not support scanning. I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean by scanning (and why a card wouldn't support it).

My access point doesn't show up, so I guess I'll need to try and see if ndiswrapper is set up properly.

Looks like a nice, functional little program though. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for, assuming I can get this whole thing working at all.

Edit: After a little fiddling it suddenly discovered my access point. I tried to connect, but got a "DHCP Failed". Anyway, I don't want this to turn into a troubleshooting thread for my apparent configuration issues. I am still curious about that scanning thing, since the message is still there.

[blinksilver]

sadly, still nothing, have to connect on startup

[bsoft]

Well, once I got it installed, it couldn't see my card until I ran "modprobe ndiswrapper". Probably not it's fault, but oh well.

So it sees the card (an Ralink RT2500) and displays it in Preferences. However it tells me the card does not support scanning. I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean by scanning (and why a card wouldn't support it).

Scanning is a matter of module support. Apparently, the ndiswrapper module doesn't support the functionality.

Scanning is what allows the Wireless Configuration Applet to detect which networks are available. Without it, you won't be able to use the auto-connect or network list functionality of GTKWifi.

[otterit]

The initial post mentions python-gnome2-extras (and deps). Where are you supposed to download these files? I've got the other required files already installed.

I am hoping the install script will run once I can find the -extras .deb.

Thanks!

[bsoft]

sadly, still nothing, have to connect on startup

Hmmmm..... does your card have auto-association enabled? GTKWifi won't reassociate if the card is already associated. It should de-associate on startup, but only if you're not already associated to a preferred network.

I don't know exactly what the problem could be.

[blinksilver]

tell me how to check for that and i will

[kperkins]

The initial post mentions python-gnome2-extras (and deps). Where are you supposed to download these files? I've got the other required files already installed.

I am hoping the install script will run once I can find the -extras .deb.

Thanks!
It seems that they are only in the hoary repositories, and they must contain the python gnome applets (which is my sticking point)

[otterit]

It seems that they are only in the hoary repositories, and they must contain the python gnome applets (which is my sticking point)

I assume there is nothing I can do to install those packages from Hoary on Woddy?

-- Jeff

[kperkins]

I assume there is nothing I can do to install those packages from Hoary on Woddy?

-- Jeff
Well you could enable the hoary repositories, and install just that package (and/or what you need to to meet dependencies). It may, or may not, break things. Or just upgrade to Hoary, if you're feeling adventurous. :D

[otterit]

Well you could enable the hoary repositories, and install just that package (and/or what you need to to meet dependencies). It may, or may not, break things. Or just upgrade to Hoary, if you're feeling adventurous. :D

Just give the URL for the upgrade (python) packages and I'll try them. Otherwise, I guess the gtkwifi won't be for me.

:-(

[blahrus]

The panel encountered a problem while loading "OAFIID:GNOME_GTKWifiApplet".

I get that each time I try to add the applet.

ver 1.4

[bsoft]

The panel encountered a problem while loading "OAFIID:GNOME_GTKWifiApplet".

I get that each time I try to add the applet.

ver 1.4

Try running "gtkwifi run-in-window" and post the output error.

[bsoft]

It seems that they are only in the hoary repositories, and they must contain the python gnome applets (which is my sticking point)

GTKWifi should run on Warty - it was, in fact, developed mostly on Warty. Try the Python GNOME2 extras package.

[poofyhairguy]

I'm going to bump this thing....this app can add a lot to Ubuntu Hoary when it comes.

I hope it gets stickied before I get tired.

[bsoft]

tell me how to check for that and i will

It varies from card to card. One way to check is this: remove GTKWifi from the panel and reboot your system. When it comes up, run "iwconfig" and see if it's associated.

[gregh]

Here is a strange issue, I installed gtkwifi onto hoary and it installed fine, BUT, it seems to be interfering with the network monitor applet causing the gtkwifi and network monitor to constantly load and unload (enable and disable) the wireless adapter. It seems to disable/enable every 5-10 seconds.

When I remove gtkwifi from the panel all is ok again.

??

-Greg

[kperkins]

GTKWifi should run on Warty - it was, in fact, developed mostly on Warty. Try the Python GNOME2 extras package.
As I said--they are not in the Warty repositories . ](*,)
I'm upgrading to hoary today or tomorrow anyways, so I'll be trying to install it again, then.

[bsoft]

Here is a strange issue, I installed gtkwifi onto hoary and it installed fine, BUT, it seems to be interfering with the network monitor applet causing the gtkwifi and network monitor to constantly load and unload (enable and disable) the wireless adapter. It seems to disable/enable every 5-10 seconds.

When I remove gtkwifi from the panel all is ok again.

??

-Greg

That's interesting, as GTKWifi doesn't have the capability to load/unload modules. I'll try it on my box and see if something odd happens.

[blinksilver]

bsoft, you were right, i set mt essid to any with iwconfig and all is well now, and for the problem with the gnome config and the GTKwifi, just go into the gnome applet mark that the wireless device is not configured save, open a terminal, do a sudo iwconfig YOUR_DEVICE_HERE essid any, give your system a reboot, and just use gtkwifi to config your wlan, it is way quiker and more usefull then the gnome one anyhow.

[blinksilver]

quik mod on my last post , after one reboot, it atomatically logged onto a network, but when i rebooted again, nada, strange :-k

[cgreene]

Well, once I got it installed, it couldn't see my card until I ran "modprobe ndiswrapper". Probably not it's fault, but oh well.

So it sees the card (an Ralink RT2500) and displays it in Preferences. However it tells me the card does not support scanning. I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean by scanning (and why a card wouldn't support it).

My access point doesn't show up, so I guess I'll need to try and see if ndiswrapper is set up properly.

Looks like a nice, functional little program though. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for, assuming I can get this whole thing working at all.

Edit: After a little fiddling it suddenly discovered my access point. I tried to connect, but got a "DHCP Failed". Anyway, I don't want this to turn into a troubleshooting thread for my apparent configuration issues. I am still curious about that scanning thing, since the message is still there.

You could add ndiswrapper to a list of modules that load at boot.

Anyway, I use ndiswrapper as well and the card does support scanning. The thing I notice is that DHCP always fails. I think this is related to ndiswrapper because I have a set of commands joined together with && that I always use to associate with my access point (without the brackets):

sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode Managed && sudo iwconfig wlan0 key restricted s:[keygoeshereinascii] && sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid [ID goes here] && sudo dhclient wlan0

The first time I run this, DHCP does not obtain an IP address. The second time I run this, DHCP obtains an IP address and everything works. Therefore my workaround is just to copy this, type my password, press ctrl-c once it gets to the DHCP portion, press up, press enter, and then it all works. It's a pain, but I guess it's what I have to do.

Perhaps the applet could have a checkbox for those people using ndiswrapper. For us it could do what I've described above at the DHCP step.

[bsoft]

You could add ndiswrapper to a list of modules that load at boot.

Anyway, I use ndiswrapper as well and the card does support scanning. The thing I notice is that DHCP always fails. I think this is related to ndiswrapper because I have a set of commands joined together with && that I always use to associate with my access point (without the brackets):

sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode Managed && sudo iwconfig wlan0 key restricted s:[keygoeshereinascii] && sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid [ID goes here] && sudo dhclient wlan0

The first time I run this, DHCP does not obtain an IP address. The second time I run this, DHCP obtains an IP address and everything works. Therefore my workaround is just to copy this, type my password, press ctrl-c once it gets to the DHCP portion, press up, press enter, and then it all works. It's a pain, but I guess it's what I have to do.

Perhaps the applet could have a checkbox for those people using ndiswrapper. For us it could do what I've described above at the DHCP step.

Yeah, except that GTKWifi associates based on MAC address, not based on SSID.

So, if you run dhclient twice (but not the rest), does it work?

[bsoft]

quik mod on my last post , after one reboot, it atomatically logged onto a network, but when i rebooted again, nada, strange :-k

What does GTKWifi say when it fails to auto-connect? Does it display "X Networks" or, does it display a network name?

[blahrus]

blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ sudo gtkwifi-settings-client
sudo: gtkwifi-settings-client: command not found
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ sudo gtkwifi
sudo: gtkwifi: command not found
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ gtkwifi
bash: gtkwifi: command not found
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ gtkwifi-settings-client
bash: gtkwifi-settings-client: command not found
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$

still having issues . . .

blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ gtk
gtk-query-immodules-2.0 gtkwifi
gtk-update-icon-cache gtkwifi-settings-client
blahrus@chodeslaptop:~$ gtk


any ideas?

[blinksilver]

(consider this my bug report, i hope it helps, good job just the same, even with the bug its better then the gnome config)
okay let me be as detailed as possible,

lets start with my network config:
first I deactivated my wireless device in the gnome network applet so gnome does not touch this, as well as went into the options tab, and unmark "this device is configured" so gnome does not try to connect to a network no startup,

i have one network in my perfered list, it is the the one it *tries* but fails to connect to

i did the iwconfig that i mentioned above to make sure the was nothing try to start up the card or associated with some network.

running version 1.04 of GTKWIFI

my hardware config:
i have a broadcom 54g card running and the 64 bit version of ubuntu with a wrappered version of the 64 bit windows driver i believe form the 1289 or 1260 build of XP x64

and finally the error:
when my system starts up and logs into the gnome, the applet is in my top most panel and show the name of the network that is in my perferred list, but no internet apps connects and my little net monitor for that device tells me that the device is not active, after opening the applet and selecting the network again, the mointor detects the network and my web enabled apps work

hope that helps thanks again

[cgreene]

Yeah, except that GTKWifi associates based on MAC address, not based on SSID.

So, if you run dhclient twice (but not the rest), does it work?

If I run just dhclient twice it does not work.

I also just noticed that when I start the computer, it says no networks are available. If I type sudo iwlist wlan0 scan in the terminal, it says that one network is available. If I then run the commands I pasted in before, it works the second time. Any idea as to how to get it working?

Edit to clarify: It says that one network is available in the applet as well as in the terminal.

[kperkins]

Updated to Hoary today. This works great.
I have a Broadcom wireless at wlan0 using ndiswrapper. Although it says that it doesn't support scanning, I can see the three wireless networks closest to me. (My own, and two neighbor's.) And I could choose which to log into if I wanted. Very cool, and working good so far.
By the way--Thanks for this little app.

[kperkins]

Thought I'd throw up a screenshot.

[kperkins]

Okay, so here's a report from the user front. This works nicely, except for one small thing.
I turned it on this morning,and my network connection came up just fine, but no others.
Not a problem. After a while still no other networks showing, so I ran
iwlist wlan0 scan
The other networks showed up on that, and when I cliicked on the applet, lo and behold they show up there.
I'm using ndiswrapper with a Broadcom integrated card, so I'm not real sure if this is the reason, or not. Opening a terminal and doing a manual scan isn't a big deal, but I'm wondering if there may be a fix for this.
Maybe a scan button in the "select access point" box that calls that? Or (iwlist scan, in case someone uses more than one wireless card, or uses a different setting for it?)
EDIT:
I, also, noticed that once I manually scan, that the warning that my card doesn't support scanning disappears in the Preferences > Wireless Card tab.

[jayded]

Ok, so I'm sitting here at a coffee shop on a tmobile wireless network.
I managed to connect but I had to manually set things up in the network config tool.

This tool does not seem to be able to switch successfully to another network if the wireless card was initially set with a static IP.

If that could be fixed somehow then this would help many people I'm sure.

[bsoft]

(consider this my bug report, i hope it helps, good job just the same, even with the bug its better then the gnome config)
okay let me be as detailed as possible,

lets start with my network config:
first I deactivated my wireless device in the gnome network applet so gnome does not touch this, as well as went into the options tab, and unmark "this device is configured" so gnome does not try to connect to a network no startup,

i have one network in my perfered list, it is the the one it *tries* but fails to connect to

i did the iwconfig that i mentioned above to make sure the was nothing try to start up the card or associated with some network.

running version 1.04 of GTKWIFI

my hardware config:
i have a broadcom 54g card running and the 64 bit version of ubuntu with a wrappered version of the 64 bit windows driver i believe form the 1289 or 1260 build of XP x64

and finally the error:
when my system starts up and logs into the gnome, the applet is in my top most panel and show the name of the network that is in my perferred list, but no internet apps connects and my little net monitor for that device tells me that the device is not active, after opening the applet and selecting the network again, the mointor detects the network and my web enabled apps work

hope that helps thanks again


This has to do with GTKWifi not refreshing DHCP if you're already connected to a wireless network. It's not a bug per say - more of a missing feature. It will be fixed in 1.05 regardless.

[bsoft]

Okay, so here's a report from the user front. This works nicely, except for one small thing.
I turned it on this morning,and my network connection came up just fine, but no others.
Not a problem. After a while still no other networks showing, so I ran
iwlist wlan0 scan
The other networks showed up on that, and when I cliicked on the applet, lo and behold they show up there.
I'm using ndiswrapper with a Broadcom integrated card, so I'm not real sure if this is the reason, or not. Opening a terminal and doing a manual scan isn't a big deal, but I'm wondering if there may be a fix for this.
Maybe a scan button in the "select access point" box that calls that? Or (iwlist scan, in case someone uses more than one wireless card, or uses a different setting for it?)
EDIT:
I, also, noticed that once I manually scan, that the warning that my card doesn't support scanning disappears in the Preferences > Wireless Card tab.

Hmmm.... this has to do with certain wireless cards not scanning correctly when iwlist is run as a non-root user. The same thing happens with my Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 card. GTKWifi, as of 1.04, already runs iwlist as root, but it only does it when no networks are found (as is the case on my Intel card). I'll change this for 1.05 so it runs every 5 seconds instead.

[bsoft]

Ok, so I'm sitting here at a coffee shop on a tmobile wireless network.
I managed to connect but I had to manually set things up in the network config tool.

This tool does not seem to be able to switch successfully to another network if the wireless card was initially set with a static IP.

If that could be fixed somehow then this would help many people I'm sure.

I'll take a look at it and see if I can squash this bug.

Thanks for the report.

[kperkins]

Hmmm.... this has to do with certain wireless cards not scanning correctly when iwlist is run as a non-root user. The same thing happens with my Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 card. GTKWifi, as of 1.04, already runs iwlist as root, but it only does it when no networks are found (as is the case on my Intel card). I'll change this for 1.05 so it runs every 5 seconds instead.

Thanks. :D Really appreciate your work on this.
By the way, I have to tell you that this looks, and works, a lot better than KwifiManager for KDE.

[blierp]

Is there a way to manually add a network to the applet? At home i've got a acess point wich doesn't broadcast the ssid, will the applet be able to connect to it anyway?

[pete]

The install is getting stuck on:

XXXX@XXXX:~$ sudo -s
root@XXXX:~# ./gtkwifi-1.04.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.04/install.py
===============================================
GTKWifi 1.04 installation script
===============================================
Verifying dependencies:
[OK] All dependencies met.
Copying files:
>>> 'gtkwifi' -> '/usr/bin/gtkwifi'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./gtkwifi-1.04.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.04/install.py", line 94, in ?
os.chown(dest,0,0) # Make root the owner and group for the file
OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/usr/bin/gtkwifi'
root@XXXX:~#


and I'm not sure where to go from there. Any ideas?

[blinksilver]

put sudo infront of the ./gtk.... i got the same error the first time

[pete]

thanks-- i'm currently working on getting xorg.conf to understand my docking station/external monitor. I'll give this a shot again when i need a break from that :)

[pete]

unfortunately, i'm still getting the same error. Here's what I'm typing:

XXXX@XXXX:~$ sudo -s
root@XXXX:~# ./gtkwifi-1.04.tar.bz2_FILES/gtkwifi-1.04/install.py

I even tried it with "sudo -s" and "sudo" before the "./gtkwifi..." and still no love. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, as it seems to be working for lots of other folks.

[pete]

Nevermind, I answered my own question. I missed the part at the beginning of the thread wherein I needed to manually place the files to their various locations. Did that, and the install ran fine.

Sorry for the bother.

[bsoft]

Is there a way to manually add a network to the applet? At home i've got a acess point wich doesn't broadcast the ssid, will the applet be able to connect to it anyway?

That will probably be a feature in version 1.10. For now, you can use iwconfig along with GTKWifi.

[fabiang]

i use wlanctl-ng driver and this do not have scannign function:


~/borrar $ gtkwifi run-in-window
Error for wireless request "Set ESSID" (8B1A) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not supported.
wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented

wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented

wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented


did you know if this applet works with ndiswrapper?

[wbeck85]

You wouldnt consider porting this over to KDE, would ja?

I was using it in gnome and really loved it, but I think i prefer KDE ove gnome.

[kperkins]

i use wlanctl-ng driver and this do not have scannign function:


~/borrar $ gtkwifi run-in-window
Error for wireless request "Set ESSID" (8B1A) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not supported.
wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented

wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented

wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Function not implemented


did you know if this applet works with ndiswrapper?
It's working for me.
I do have to do a "sudo iwlist scan" in the commandline though before I can see any networks. I think he's trying to fix that.

[bsoft]

It's working for me.
I do have to do a "sudo iwlist scan" in the commandline though before I can see any networks. I think he's trying to fix that.

Yes, this should be fixed in 1.05 - GTKWifi now runs "iwlist scan" every 5 seconds as root.

[fabiang]

Mi problem is: the wlan-ng driver NOT support scanning yet, the latest beta versión (in cvs i guess) support this, anyone know how i can install it.

[mattisking]

I installed the applet with no trouble. However, I just got my wireless USB adapter today. It's a Linksys WUSB54AG. I got it off Ebay and it's not really a big deal but I generally buy Linksys, especially since they were bought by Cisco. Of course, Ubuntu Hoary doesn't seem willing to do anything with it. HAL does correctly identify it, but Ubuntu claims there are no wireless interfaces installed (as does this applet).

Maybe it's not the right place but could someone point me to or just tell me how to set this thing up in a step by step manner? I've read something about ndiswrapper and WindowsXP drivers but I am still a bit lost.

[mattisking]

I installed the applet with no trouble. However, I just got my wireless USB adapter today. It's a Linksys WUSB54AG. I got it off Ebay and it's not really a big deal but I generally buy Linksys, especially since they were bought by Cisco. Of course, Ubuntu Hoary doesn't seem willing to do anything with it. HAL does correctly identify it, but Ubuntu claims there are no wireless interfaces installed (as does this applet).

Maybe it's not the right place but could someone point me to or just tell me how to set this thing up in a step by step manner? I've read something about ndiswrapper and WindowsXP drivers but I am still a bit lost.
Never mind! After a bit of cussing it's now working with the Windows XP driver from the CD using the ndiswrapper version currently in Hoary. Sweet.

[lordsteff]

Hello

This applet is great. I have only one small problem:

At my university there are many access points available at the same time (10 and more), all with the same name and connection settings. Would it be possible to just show the best one of them and automatically connect to it?

What happens if I choose one of them to connect automatically, and later I am in another room where I only get the other access points? Does it connect to them? This probably depends on the way the networks are recognized.

[ubuntu-geek]

bumped. moved to its own section in 3rdparty apps.

[_cashel]

Getting this error:


Verifying dependencies:
>>> Missing Dependencies: Python GNOME-Applet bindings not found (PyGNOME-Applet).
FAILED: Dependencies not met. Exiting.
I can't find pygnome (and gnome-applets is installed) through synaptic, and have python-gnome and python-gtk installed--any ideas?
Using Warty, by the way--is that the problem?


I'm getting this same issue w/ Hoary. Any ideas?

[tread]

I can install this fine, and it is a really nice app. Just removing the default gnome applet removed the interference problem someone mentioned before in this thread (at least, I didn't get any ...) Is there any way to keep the display constant to the network I am connected to? It keeps switching between the name and the strength .. can't I have both displayed constantly?

Also, I noticed a problem in the wireless strength .. for my home router, it showed 35% signal strength, as against the default gnome tool which shows 70%. Now if this is just a display thing I don't care, but would it affect my net speeds? Has anyone else observed this? I cannot test this because I don't have another computer here to transfer data to on the same network. My other worry is, if the signal drops below a certain strength, will the app start hunting for other networks to connect to, and switch to them if it finds one?

[_cashel]

Well I managed to get it installed, but now I'm having trouble running it. I'm the ultimate Linux noob, so bear with me here. When I went to add it as a custom app to a panel, I used the gtkwifi located in the /usr/bin/gtkwifi/ folder. When I try to launch it, I don't have permission. I chmoded the file to 777, and now when I click it, nothing happens. What's going on?

Oh and I tried the gtkwifi run-in-window command in the terminal and got this message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./gtkwifi", line 1362, in ?
GTKWifi_applet_factory(app, None)
File "./gtkwifi", line 1354, in GTKWifi_applet_factory
status.main_applet = GTKWifiApplet(applet,iid)
File "./gtkwifi", line 1314, in __init__
self.scan_for_preferred(None)
File "./gtkwifi", line 1336, in scan_for_preferred
status.load_device_info()
File "./gtkwifi", line 119, in load_device_info
adaptordict = self.get_adaptordict()
File "./gtkwifi", line 401, in get_adaptordict
adaptor_scan_string = commands.getoutput("iwlist " + info['device'] + " scan")
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/commands.py", line 44, in getoutput
return getstatusoutput(cmd)[1]
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/commands.py", line 54, in getstatusoutput
text = pipe.read()
IOError: [Errno 4] Interrupted system call


What exactly is wrong here?

[saltydog]

I'm getting this same issue w/ Hoary. Any ideas?
Yes. You need to:

sudo apt-get install python-gnome2-extras

[saltydog]

This is my feedback:

- installed on IBM ThinkPad X31 with Hoary
- installation: no problem
- program use: perfect!

Many thanks to the author. I am just missing a deb package..

[benplaut]

it's not working for me...

i have a Thinkpad T40 with an Atheros A/B/G, and it can't seem to A) scan for networks | or B) use DHCP (not sure on static IP).

i have a hunch that it is trying to connect to a utility that is connecting to the card, instead of directly to the card. when i use the primitive Gnome network tool to connect (which it does, always), and then use GTKwifi, it shows (in GTKwifi) that it has scanned and found my network, and is connected (it isn't), but it can't find any of the other six in range.

when just using command line, iwlist ath0 scan finds things, but with sudo, it says it doesn't support scanning!

any suggestions? all of the profile managers i have used have similar problems ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

[_cashel]

Yes. You need to:

sudo apt-get install python-gnome2-extras


I managed to get that installed. I'm having trouble getting it to run though.

[wildcard]

I've encountered NO issues with this on using an Intel 2200 b/g wireless card. Even stores keys. About my only complaint (and this is a REEEEEAAAAALLLLY minor one) is the size of the applet in my tray (name of network and signal strength %)-would it be possible to have just an icon and have the name and signal strength appear on mouse-over instead?

Good job! Things like this are why I love this OS.

[sebflipper]

Yes. You need to:

sudo apt-get install python-gnome2-extras
I tried that command but I get the error:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Package python-gnome2-extras is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or is only available from another source
E: Package python-gnome2-extras has no installation candidateAny chance the author or someone that has already had ago at installing this applet could write a quick installation guide for noob's like me? ;-)

--EDIT--
I managed to get it working, heres my real basic guide, if anyone is in the position I was:
1. Download python-gnome-extras (http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/suser-guru/rpm/packages//Libraries/python-gnome-extras/python-gnome-extras-2.10.1-1.guru.suse93.i686.rpm) to the desktop
2. Right click the desktop and press Open Terminal
3. Type: sudo -s and enter your password
4. Type: cd Desktop
5. Type: ls and double click the python-gnome-extras file you just downloaded, then right click it and press Copy
6. Type: alien -i followed by a space and then paste the python extras file name followed by enter, to install the python extras package
7. Download gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2 to the desktop, if you haven't already
8. Right click the gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2 file on the desktop and press Extract Here
9. Go back to the Terminal window and type: ls double click the gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2_FILES folder and right click and press copy
10. Type: cd followed by a space and paste the folder name in
11. Repeat 9&10 to get into the gtkwifi-x.xx folder
12. Type ./install.py to install
13. Type shutdown -r now or just restart your system
14. When your back in again, right click a panel and press: Add to Panel, scroll down and select: Wireless Connection Manager and if your wireless card is setup, all should be well :-)

[bsoft]

I tried that command but I get the error:
Any chance the author or someone that has already had ago at installing this applet could write a quick installation guide for noob's like me? ;-)

--EDIT--
I managed to get it working, heres my real basic guide, if anyone is in the position I was:
1. Download python-gnome-extras (http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/suser-guru/rpm/packages//Libraries/python-gnome-extras/python-gnome-extras-2.10.1-1.guru.suse93.i686.rpm) to the desktop
2. Right click the desktop and press Open Terminal
3. Type: sudo -s and enter your password
4. Type: cd Desktop
5. Type: ls and double click the python-gnome-extras file you just downloaded, then right click it and press Copy
6. Type: alien -i followed by a space and then paste the python extras file name followed by enter, to install the python extras package
7. Download gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2 to the desktop, if you haven't already
8. Right click the gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2 file on the desktop and press Extract Here
9. Go back to the Terminal window and type: ls double click the gtkwifi-x.xx.tar.bz2_FILES folder and right click and press copy
10. Type: cd followed by a space and paste the folder name in
11. Repeat 9&10 to get into the gtkwifi-x.xx folder
12. Type ./install.py to install
13. Type shutdown -r now or just restart your system
14. When your back in again, right click a panel and press: Add to Panel, scroll down and select: Wireless Connection Manager and if your wireless card is setup, all should be well :-)

With the new version (1.06), replace step 7 with:

Download gtkwifi-1.06.deb to the desktop.

And replace steps 8-13 with:

sudo dpkg -i gtkwifi-1.06.deb

[sebflipper]

With the new version (1.06), replace step 7 with:

Download gtkwifi-1.06.deb to the desktop.

And replace steps 8-13 with:

sudo dpkg -i gtkwifi-1.06.deb
Hehe I knew there was an easier way to do it, just wasn't sure on the commands.

[routerstu]

is there a way to uninstall this? I had a working wep connection with aironet, after install its broke!!!!!

thanks

[whyameye]

The applet doesn't seem to be working correctly. Specifically, the applet correctly finds 2 routers. When I try to switch from one to the other, I lose the link and I cannot get back to either one without going to the command line and using ifdown wan0 then ifup wan0.

1 router is encrypted and the other is not. I have put in the correct encryption.
the driver is ndiswrapper with a Realtek 8180 chipset in the wireless card.

If I switch between the two routers using command line tools, everything works.

Also, I am wondering (as is the person in the post just above this) how the daemon that this must use would be uninstalled, if I choose to uninstall it.

Thanks,

-John

[bsoft]

is there a way to uninstall this? I had a working wep connection with aironet, after install its broke!!!!!

thanks

Simply remove the panel applet. GTKWifi doesn't run in the background unless the applet is on your panel.

[poofyhairguy]

the driver is ndiswrapper with a Realtek 8180 chipset in the wireless card.


This is off topic, but I hate that card with all my soul.......

[whyameye]

This is off topic, but I hate that card with all my soul.......

All your soul, eh? That's quite intense. I'm surprised the card doesn't just blow up from all that bad karma your sending. :-)

Another quick question: I have the impression this applet has a way to store keys? I need to store different keys for different routers. How do I do this? If I use the Gnome applet to set a key for one router, it gets set for all of them.

Thanks,

-John

[ChamPro]

First off, thanks bsoft (Brian Cairns) for a great applet. This is BY FAR the best WiFi applet I've seen. Ubuntu should make this one standard for the next release.

Secondly, I'm running it on a Dell Inspiron 8600 with an Intel 2200 B/G card (using the ipw2200-1.0.6 drivers) with no problems.

Thanks!

[dabear]

Ok, here's a bug. I am using ndiswraper with my INPROCOMM IPN2220 Wireless LAN Card.

On bootup, the applet says "3Com 100%", but I cannot connect to the Internet nor my other PCs. If I doubleclick the applet the "select access point" pops up, without finding any wireless router. To solve this, I went to gnomes "networking" -> default gateway device -> wlan0 (which normally is selected, but not since I Installed gtkwifi) -> OK. Now ehen selecting "refresh" in the "select acess point"-menu, my access point shows up. Pressing reconnect and I am connected to the internet again

[bonifacio]

Just as the title describes my type of wireless network. I already keyed in the keys but there is no way I found to edit the SSID. Thus I couldn't connect to my network :( I'm guessing that the missing SSID info is what's causing it?

[banditti]

I may be an idiot, but I cannot find those python packages. Please advise.

[bekamyn]

So, I found you app, which looks nice however I'm having some trouble and I'm not sure if it's the app or my wireless card.

Hardware: Orinoco Card
Driver: kernel 2.6.10 patched with dragorn monitor mode patch.


I've got the application installed and running in the Gnome panel. The card is listed in your app as eth1 which is correct. However your app and 'iwlist scan' both report that scanning is not supported for the Orinoco.

Is this true or am I missing something as I thought the Orinoco supported this mode? I have verified the card will work in monitor mode with Kismet. I've searched kismetwireless and the forums here and haven't found otherwise. Right now I'm thinking that scanning is something different then monitor mode.

Please advise me in the error of my ways.

[poofyhairguy]

Is this true or am I missing something as I thought the Orinoco supported this mode?

You got monitor mode to work. You need scaning to work. If you can figure out how to do that, I would pay you for the howto.

[bekamyn]

After doing some reading that's kinda what I figured. The scanning <> monitor mode. So, my post really was off-topic to the program as it's working fine.

[joshchernoff]

thank you so much
I have had a hell of a time to get wep to work this wireless tool in the network andmin
but when I put the key in the app you made I can talk to the dhcp on my router finely
this has saved me a hole lota problems because I share my router with the hole building apts
i live in
allso I just installed it with
sudo dpkg -i gtkwifi.deb
but it didn't put a link in my apps list by it's self is thare a better way to install?

[jakev383]

I am having a weird problem with the GTKWifi applet. I have an Orinoco B/G Gold card, and actually have it working in 5.04! Anyway, in searching for a wireless applet that lets me change between the 7 AP's I use for work installed GTKWifi. Seems to work great, with the exception of connecting/disconnecting constantly. I've added it to my panel, and have it starting on boot-up. I can get it to connect to my AP here, but it's constantly going from 'AP1 51%' to '0%'. I normally wouldn't care about aesthetics much, but the network is also intermittant while this is going on.
Anyway ideas? Maybe the default network manager (auto-installed with Ubuntu) is conflicting? If so, I hate to ask, but how do I remove the default one?
Thanks in advance.

[tread]

I had some problems with GTKWifi too .. pity, it looks like a really nice app! Still, I started using wifi-radar (http://www.bitbuilder.com/wifi_radar/) and its working like a charm so far.

[jakev383]

To anyone who has gotten this to work for them: did you uninstall the default net applet that comes with Hoary? If so, how did you do this?
Sorry for asking silly questions, but my next step is to start writing a scipt to get my wireless working right!
Thanks in advance.

[gotmonkey]

I looks like I am having the same problems as some of you.

I installed gtkwifi 1.06 and it's dependencies. I try to use the panel applet and it finds my access point, but won't connect. It keeps giving me a dhcp failure. I have seen in other posts that the built in network-admin tool could be causing conflict.

I have several access points that I need to connect to, can someone help me get the gtkwifi working proper?

thanks

[nocturn]

I looks like I am having the same problems as some of you.

I installed gtkwifi 1.06 and it's dependencies. I try to use the panel applet and it finds my access point, but won't connect. It keeps giving me a dhcp failure. I have seen in other posts that the built in network-admin tool could be causing conflict.

I have several access points that I need to connect to, can someone help me get the gtkwifi working proper?

thanks

I had problems with gtkwifi too so I switched to wifi-radar. Not what you where asking for, but maybe it helps.

[gotmonkey]

I had problems with gtkwifi too so I switched to wifi-radar. Not what you where asking for, but maybe it helps.

Hey nocturn,
I looked at wifi-radar, it looks pretty good. This might sound strange, but I typically prefer packages. I have compiled software in linux before, but the problem is removal. Is there a way to remove compiled software from your system?

I can convert the wifi-radar rpm to deb, do you know of a place where I could find a package for pygtk2?

[nocturn]

Hey nocturn,
I looked at wifi-radar, it looks pretty good. This might sound strange, but I typically prefer packages. I have compiled software in linux before, but the problem is removal. Is there a way to remove compiled software from your system?

I can convert the wifi-radar rpm to deb, do you know of a place where I could find a package for pygtk2?

There is a Debian package on the site (http://master.grad.hr/~ivoks/ubuntu/).

You can uninstall compiled programs by going back to the source folder (maybe you need to run ./configure again if you deleted the original folder) and typing 'make uninstall'.

You can also generate your own debian packages (simplified, no dependencies) with checkinstall.

All dependencies should be in synaptic (maybe you need to enable universe).

[ChamPro]

GTKWifi has worked wonderfully for me except for one network. My college campuses wireless network has lots of Access Points on the single network and GTKWifi sees them all as seperate networks. Even if I try to connect to one of them, I can't get connected. I'm not sure why... I was able to connect to the network back in Warty.

Wifi Radar doesn't work for me at all. Even with the simplest, non WEP, single AP networks. I guess it doesn't like Intel 2200 B/G cards.

[bertimus]

I just installed GTKWifi 1.06 on Hoary with a Linksys WMP54GS (thru ndiswrapper) and it's working great!

I had only one hiccup so I'll outline what I did here. It's really simple, but It might be of use to someone else.


Open a terminal window for use later
Use Synaptic to install the GTKWifi dependencies
Download the gtkwifi-1.06.deb package from http://sourceforge.net/projects/gtkwifi/
Install the package:
$ sudo dpkg -i /path/to/gtkwifi-1.06.deb
REBOOT:
$ sudo shutdown now -r


It took me a minute to figure out I needed to reboot. After installing the package, my network went down and the Gnome Panel froze. ](*,) I thought somehow installing the package failed. The Gnome Panel was useless so luckily I had a terminal window open and was able to reboot gracefully.

After rebooting GTKWifi showed up in the Panel and away I went.

[ssck]

hi brian,

thanks for writing this.excellent piece of software.just what i need.

regards

[bertimus]

I just installed GTKWifi 1.06 on Hoary with a Linksys WMP54GS (thru ndiswrapper) and it's working great!

I had only one hiccup so I'll outline what I did here. It's really simple, but It might be of use to someone else.


Open a terminal window for use later
Use Synaptic to install the GTKWifi dependencies
Download the gtkwifi-1.06.deb package from http://sourceforge.net/projects/gtkwifi/
Install the package:
$ sudo dpkg -i /path/to/gtkwifi-1.06.deb
REBOOT:
$ sudo shutdown now -r


It took me a minute to figure out I needed to reboot. After installing the package, my network went down and the Gnome Panel froze. ](*,) I thought somehow installing the package failed. The Gnome Panel was useless so luckily I had a terminal window open and was able to reboot gracefully.

After rebooting GTKWifi showed up in the Panel and away I went.


Well, here's an update (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=43197) on my journey through wireless networking.

GTKWifi is great. Wireless on Linux is not.

[linuxconsult]

Hi,

I have a problem with the wireless applet. When I run it as a normal user the applet isn't seeing a wireless card. When I run it as root it is seeing the wireless card. Sudo is setup correctly. When I run gtkwifi run-in-window there is no error.

I use debian sid...

Do you have any idea what could cause this?

I just found out that running sudo gtkwifi run-in-window works...

But how can I make the applet on the gnome bar to work?

[DFreeze]

I've had a hassle finding that out, too. It appears in the 'add to panel' list (right click on the panel you want to add it to), somewhere at the bottom. It's called 'Wireless Network Monitor' or something similar.

Good luck!

[hellwolf]

I'm not Ubuntu user, I use FC4 as my desktop system.

I'm in need of a wireless applet for a long time, and I found the "gtkwifi".
I download the tarball and install it, but didn't work.

So I read your src, and found where the problem is:

........
-385 adaptor_string = commands.getoutput("iwconfig")
+385 adaptor_string = commands.getoutput("/sbin/iwconfig")
........

As shown above, your program strongly depend on the $PATH, I have no knowledge of ubuntu, but in my system, /sbin is not in my $PATH.

where iwconfig is in ubuntu?

[ssck]

I'm not Ubuntu user, I use FC4 as my desktop system.

I'm in need of a wireless applet for a long time, and I found the "gtkwifi".
I download the tarball and install it, but didn't work.

So I read your src, and found where the problem is:

........
-385 adaptor_string = commands.getoutput("iwconfig")
+385 adaptor_string = commands.getoutput("/sbin/iwconfig")
........

As shown above, your program strongly depend on the $PATH, I have no knowledge of ubuntu, but in my system, /sbin is not in my $PATH.

where iwconfig is in ubuntu?


it's in the /sbin folder

[hellwolf]

I've built a RPM for version 1.06 on my FC4 box.
I hope more user that not use ubuntu/debian can use this wonderful applet :grin:

[sent_by_LUG]

I have also found this to be an incredibly usefull app for my laptop, however I would also like to use it with another distro. On my laptop I have Ubuntu 5.04 install and GTKWifi works perfect on it, on the same machine I have Slackware 10.1 installed and installed GTKWifi, however it only works when logged in as root, as an ordinary user all I get is a 0% in the applet and nothing in preferences to indicate that I even have a wireless card!!
If anyone can help I would be greatfull.

[hellwolf]

I have also found this to be an incredibly usefull app for my laptop, however I would also like to use it with another distro. On my laptop I have Ubuntu 5.04 install and GTKWifi works perfect on it, on the same machine I have Slackware 10.1 installed and installed GTKWifi, however it only works when logged in as root, as an ordinary user all I get is a 0% in the applet and nothing in preferences to indicate that I even have a wireless card!!
If anyone can help I would be greatfull.

I think you have the same problem I had on my fc4 box, you can patch the source yourself as I told above.

[themonkman]

bsoft, thanks for such a great utility! Gnome (and Linux in general) has been waiting long enough for this. I'm running Hoary on an older Dell Inspiron 4000, using a Netgear WG511 .11g card. I've tried several other access point utilities before, like wifi-radar, with no success. Your's is the first to work right out of the gate from .deb package. Bravo!

The only thing I wondering if it's in your plans to add a signal strength indicator inside the applet as well. If not, could you suggest a decent substitute applet or utility?

[PaulBillett]

I must still be missing something.

This tool looks like it has everything needed but I can’t find a place to manually enter an SSID. I need to connect to my corporate network that does not broadcast the SSID and although GTKwifi manager sees it’s mac address it will not allow me to connect without entering one.

I hope I’m missing the button to do that. If so LMK, if not, think about working it into the next version.

So far only the latest KWIFIMANAGER works on this network (only distributed on the new knoppix DVD). You GNOME guys can’t let that go unanswered!

Paul Billett
www.paulbillett.com

[xhaker]

New really FIXED version here! \\:D/

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=49148

[Sally]

This looks lovely.

Any issues using it with PPC? :razz:

[ploum]

I gave it a try a here's my advice :

pros :

- really nice, well integrated, etc.. I like it

cons (this includes improvments ideas):

- doesn't seem able to handle wired network. A simple idea : etablish priorities between network cards. No need to distinguish between wireless and wired cards. So you always choose the card with the highest priority. -> This improvment can lead to handle different profiles for different wired networks ! It would be so great !

- for some ESSID, you want to be able to configure a static IP/gateway instead of DHCP.

- a dropdown menu with available networks (wired or not) would be also cool to overide the priority !

bugs :

- it says that dhcp failed. But it has worked ! (I've got a new IP, from the dhcp pool and was connected, so DHCP has worked ! )

- it doesn't display the quality/power of my link. But I have a Prism54g chipset and perhaps the driver doesn't handle this.


Good works :-)

[colutti]

Hi

I have a suggestion for you. It seems to me that the program executes iwlist each 5 seconds. And it causes freenzing sometimes and a unecessary work of the computer. My suggestion is, once that a connection established, it can stop do search for networks or it let the user choose if want or not that the programa scan when connected. Another suggestion is that the program ca let the user configure the time for the scanning. And you can just add a button in a drop down box like "Search for network now", so the user can configure something like 60-seconds refresh and use the drop down box to execute the scanner.

Sorry for my bad english ... :) And ou made a REALLY GOOD program!!!!

Rafael Colucci

[gtoddv]

I am having a weird problem with the GTKWifi applet. I have an Orinoco B/G Gold card, and actually have it working in 5.04! Anyway, in searching for a wireless applet that lets me change between the 7 AP's I use for work installed GTKWifi. Seems to work great, with the exception of connecting/disconnecting constantly. I've added it to my panel, and have it starting on boot-up. I can get it to connect to my AP here, but it's constantly going from 'AP1 51%' to '0%'. I normally wouldn't care about aesthetics much, but the network is also intermittant while this is going on.
Anyway ideas? Maybe the default network manager (auto-installed with Ubuntu) is conflicting? If so, I hate to ask, but how do I remove the default one?
Thanks in advance.
I have had a similar experience. I have a Belkin F5D7010_V5. After installing GTKWifi my adapter kept bouncing between 0 and 50. It would then kill all surrounding connections to the wireless network including its own. I couldn't even see my network from any machine that was near the adapter using GTKWifi. As soon as I switched back to the applet that installed with Ubuntu, everything was back to normal.

If anyone has a clue as to why this would happen and what to do to fix it, I would greatly appreciate it.

[joelito]

Hi
My suggestion is, once that a connection established, it can stop do search for networks or it let the user choose if want or not that the programa scan when connected.


I vote for this one...


Nice little app by the way

[3x3cvt0r]

is it possible to replace name of the wireless network in the panel to just an icon and just have the name pop out as a "tooltip"?

[David Queiros]

This GTKwifi doesnt work on dapper does it? I used it on breezy and never had any problems. Here the icon says 2networks but none appears.
I have searched but havent found anything.

[JLB]

I can confirm this behavior on a current dapper installation. On a wifi network with hidden ssid's and WEP, gtkwifi will "see" (in my case...) 7 networks, but will not display them when you click on the icon. Hence I cannot configure the AP's and enter a WEP key or add them to my list of preferred networks. I have not found a workaround to this. using the 1.09 version from the sourceforge site. Not a problem using breezy.

Regards!

JL

[chuvisco]

This GTKwifi doesnt work on dapper does it? I used it on breezy and never had any problems. Here the icon says 2networks but none appears.
I have searched but havent found anything.

I'm having the same problem in Dapper (using v 1.09 from Sourceforge). This looks like a useful tool, though. Keep up the good work!

[SangreDeThor]

Hello i downloaded the newest version off the sourceforge page, it downloads a .deb file, i extrat it and 2 tars are there. i extract those and in the data tar, nothing is comes out, in the control tar post***.py files are there, nothing about an install.py, what do i do to install. i just got ubuntu and have never used linux before so please explain easily, also i am running breezy. thank you

[SangreDeThor]

Hello, i have managed to install it by doing sudo dpkg -i Filename.deb....but.. i dont see an icon for it anywhere to run, so i opened up terminal and typed gtkwifi it then said run in window mode, so i did this: gtkwifi run-in-window
now it is doing stuff but i cant close the window can i? or will i lose my connect, how do i get it to go in my menu so i can just click it? it is throwing these error messages also, what do they mean
FF:00:FF:00:FF:00 / managed
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12021 Terminated dhclient "wlan0" 2>&1 >>/dev/nullWarning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12060 Terminated dhclient "wlan0" 2>&1 >>/dev/null
(GTKWifi:11981): Bonobo-WARNING **: Never got frame, control died - abnormal exit condition
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12204 Terminated

so whats happening? thanks

[FryerFox]

Hello, i have managed to install it by doing sudo dpkg -i Filename.deb....but.. i dont see an icon for it anywhere to run, so i opened up terminal and typed gtkwifi it then said run in window mode, so i did this: gtkwifi run-in-window
now it is doing stuff but i cant close the window can i? or will i lose my connect, how do i get it to go in my menu so i can just click it? it is throwing these error messages also, what do they mean
FF:00:FF:00:FF:00 / managed
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12021 Terminated dhclient "wlan0" 2>&1 >>/dev/nullWarning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12060 Terminated dhclient "wlan0" 2>&1 >>/dev/null
(GTKWifi:11981): Bonobo-WARNING **: Never got frame, control died - abnormal exit condition
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
Warning: Unknown AP mode on network 'william' (00:13:10:FE:5C:38)
00:13:10:FE:5C:38 / managed
/bin/sh: line 1: 12204 Terminated

so whats happening? thanks

You need to add it to the panel.

Right-click on the panel and click on "Add to panel", then select the wireless applet from the network section.

[jatilq]

installed the latest version, but it does not work for my wireless card. AR5005G Atheros. It makes it so wireless does not work at all.

[l.tambiah]

I'm having the same problem in Dapper (using v 1.09 from Sourceforge). This looks like a useful tool, though. Keep up the good work!
I also receive this issue, I think it is not gaining access to the icon files so it can display them.

[danderson3]

I can't successfully download the .deb file for 1.0.9
from SourceForge - gtkdpkg complains the file is bad
or unreadable ( checked permissions - all ok). I can't
find any source files either...

any ideas?

[l.tambiah]

I have just checked the download at sourceforge and it downloaded with no issues.

[axle]

Hi, it seems that the sourceforge install is corrupt still. I was able to
get it installed by apt-get however and it seems cool. I have it running in the panel, and it seems that it knows what wifi connection im on, as on roll-over, it pops up saying that im connected and gives me my ip... but the ssid is blank, and when i open the full panel, it doesnt have my network on it.... (im using ndiswrapper with a broadcom card, everything works great as far as connectivity, and i am on the wifi connection as I am typing this. Wifi-radar also sees my full network and ssid.. so i dont know why this one isnt.... )

Sorry for all the jabbering!

Thanks

[jstroot]

hey all,
I'm using the native bcm43xx drivers for my broadcom card, and had no issues installing gtkwifi. The native drivers have all sorts of problems with the network applets (nm-applet and netapplet), and this one is not excluded.

My problem is that gtkwifi does not show all of the networks that are there.
I verified this by checking other laptops whose wireless is working (Evil tricksy hobbitses!!!! We hates them precious!!)

Any ideas?

[ExMachina]

Wow. this app looks great!
im getting a 100gb hdd for my laptop soon. Pure ubuntu install this will definatly be on there. Since ive yet to figure how to connect to wifi with ubuntu yet

[raja]

Hi, it seems that the sourceforge install is corrupt still. I was able to
get it installed by apt-get however and it seems cool.

I too am not able to install it from sourceforge. How did you get it with apt-get ?

Thanks

[desp]

This project seems to be pretty dead.

It is a shame, since it used to work perfectly in Breezy.

Now in Dapper, apart from the missing icons and the fact that wireless networks are not listed, it does not work so well anymore. I kept getting disconnected and reconnected at random intervals.

[kpkeerthi]

Yeah it doesn't work in dapper.

[desp]

I got gtkwifi to work in Dapper by using the latest CVS version (1.10), which seems to still be in development.

I do not know the status of the project, whether development has stopped or not, and therefore I also do not know when or if this version will be released, so use it at your own risk.

To get the latest development version:

1. Open a terminal and create a directory in your home folder which will contain the gtkwifi source files from CVS:
mkdir build
cd build 2. Login to CVS[1]:
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@gtkwifi.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/gtkwifi login
When prompted for a password, press ENTER to give an empty password.

3. Get the gtkwifi sources from CVS:
cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@gtkwifi.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/gtkwifi co -P gtkwifi
4. Replace the "1.09 versions" of the program with the "1.10 versions":
sudo cp gtkwifi/gtkwifi /usr/bin/gtkwifi
sudo cp gtkwifi/gtkwifi-settings-client /usr/bin/gtkwifi-settings-client
5. That's it. You can now start gtkwifi as usual and the available networks will be shown in Dapper as they were in Breezy. Also the missing icons in the settings dialog will be shown correctly.

I hope this helps.

[1] If after executing this command you get a message in the lines of "cvs: command not found", you will have to install it first with the following command:

sudo apt-get-install cvs

[lostinthemountains]

I would also be interested in knowing whether the gtkwifi project is alive or dead, as I have started making some modifications for my own use. I've started from the 1.10 version in CVS, and so far I've disabled multiple wep keys (my card/driver doesn't like them), and also stopped it scanning while connected, as this causes a minor connection glitch during heavy data transfer. I'm currently working through the gui code to make these switchable. If it's ok with bsoft and xhaker, I'll post my updates to this thread when they've confirmed, and I'm satisfied with the code. My eventual aim is to add WPA support, but don't hold your breath!

[markusp1970]

I have a Gateway loptop with wifi, how can i inalbe a wifi card. GTK shows a wifi card but it's "disable".

[MTZeon]

How about adding to this already excelent software the support for xsupplicant for those nasty PEAP wireless connections? :)

[alanfranz]

no answer from the original developers? I'm interested in this app myself, and I can help out with development. If anybody is interested and/or has already begun making modifications, and we get no answer from developers, well we could just start another project based on this one.

anyone interested, please contact me!

[lassegs]

Yeah, lets get this project up to speed. The applet is great today, and it makes Ubuntu so much easier both for regular and more advanced users. How about implementing this in edgy or edgy+1?

Mine is working, but its a little buggy. Sometimes it only shows one network even though I know theres two networks active in range (shows only my neighbours, not mine), and to fix that i have to reload it for the network to show up.

[fantasai]

Hey! Don't fork the code just yet! The developers are still active, they just don't seem to track SourceForge's web interface (or this forum) much. Send them an email, I'm sure they'd welcome any help.
Their email addresses are listed on
http://gtkwifi.sourceforge.net/
Please, talk to them first!

[Charles Hand]

I'm using ipw3945 without ndiswrapper - using the Intel driver. nm-applet works normally. There are two APs in range, one WEP and one open. I can connect to either AP using nm-applet.

gtkwifi doesn't show anything in Preferred Networks, Secure Networks or Hidden Networks. The Wireless Card tab is garbled thus:

eth1 Unknown device 4222(rev 02)
Card ID:00:13:02:40:bb:70

of of
Card ID:ror fetching inte

Warrning: Warning:
Card ID:g:: error fetchin

Some Some
Card ID:error fetching in

[nothingxs]

I can't get this thing running, and the 1.09 .deb package file just won't install -- so I haven't bothered trying to use this, yet. From what I've seen, however, it seems like it'd make a great addition to my system. Someone should get this project up to speed!

[bornakke]

Brilliant. Took me less than 3 min. to install and thereby fix the wireless problems i have been troubleshooting for nearly a week.:KS

Keep up the good work!

[patrickfromspain]

This is just great. It works perfect on Debian Etch. On my laptop, I basically only use wifi connection. And for that, at the moment, gtkwifi is perfect. Once network manager fixes the need for a passwork every time, it will be much better than gtkwifi (as it handles wired connections too).. until then, gtkwifi suits my need much better than Network Manager.

Great to see version 1.10

[keith11]

I am using intel proset wireless 2200 b/g and gtkwifi works fine for me.

[Wowl]

I've installed the .deb but how do I find/load the app?

[bayle]

I've installed the .deb but how do I find/load the app?

Just run gtkwifi run-in-window from the terminal or add it at startup programs. ;)

[bayle]

Whoops, doubled post, sorry. :)

[Henry Rayker]

does this still list the ssid next to the signal strength for anyone? For me, I just have the signal strength...but I'm running this under enlightenment dr17, not GNOME...

[Frem]

Bless you, bsoft! This tool is pure amazing. It's easy to use and it does what it's supposed to. Good job. :-D

does this still list the ssid next to the signal strength for anyone? For me, I just have the signal strength...but I'm running this under enlightenment dr17, not GNOME... I don't get it either, but I don't really care. Panel space is good. I'm using it in XFCE4 with XFapplet. (http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/panel-plugins/xfce4-xfapplet-plugin)

edit: Oops, just realized I pulled up 3 month old thread. Sorry about that.:oops:

[Gladier]

love the app

worked first up (1.10 with deb)

only a few things to change and this will be a killer app

1)its not very clear how to add this to the panels if your using xfce
2)wpa/wpa2 functionality is a must - was a huge disappointment not to see wpa functionality
3) this should be integrated into the ubuntu repositories.

[Frem]

only a few things to change and this will be a killer app

1)its not very clear how to add this to the panels if your using xfce
2)wpa/wpa2 functionality is a must - was a huge disappointment not to see wpa functionality
3) this should be integrated into the ubuntu repositories.

Feature requests! In which hordes of users demand additional functionality. We shall come to your doorstep with sharp objects, and flaming objects, and sharp, flaming objects! Just kidding. Actually, I've got some also.

I completely agree with the encryption request. I'm definitely going to need support for it when I go back to school. Ideally, the app would allow you specify custom wpa supplicant config files for each network or something, as some wifi spots have some really bizarre settings required. (Is this possible? I noticed that there's no sudo password prompt. Even NetworkManager demands a password. It's magic!)

Um, the default icons are sorta ugly (No offense). I grabbed a bunch from Jimmac (http://jimmac.musichall.cz/i.php?i=NetworkManager) and edited them to work with the app first thing. All tangoish and whatnot, though slightly less descriptive than the default. I think they're GPL, but I'm not sure, so I've got no idea if I'm violating some sort of license by posting a link to my edits here (http://ninjafrem.googlepages.com/gtkwifi-img.tar.gz).

...And this app has a nasty tendency to not do anything if the wifi connection drops. It's not the fault of GTK wifi, it happens regularly when I'm connecting from the command line. But the applet should definitely make some sort of effort to reconnect. I'm also offline when I log in for the first time. Auto reconnection would be a very good feature.

Not complaining or anything, I love GTK wifi. These are just suggestions to improve it. :-)

[t0nedef]

I love what you have done here, but do you think you could include wpa support? it always asks for a wep-key. Or will it just work if i type my wpa key? i dunno, i'll give it a shot. I've been looking for something to replace their current setup. meh

no, doesn't work, but no worries, i made it so mine works automatically from boot.