After having installed Ubuntu 10.04 successfully on my EeePC 900a I also wanted to use it on my EeeBox B202 which is used as a kind of media centre.
The installation of Ubuntu 10.04 on the EeeBox was not a big issue, but unfortunately the WiFi did not work out of the box. The EeeBox B202 is using the Ralink RT2860 WiFi chipset which apparently worked out of the box with Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10 but not with 10.04.
After some reseach I found the solution. This is probably also working for other machines using the Ralink RT2860.
This manual is largely based on Chris Barker's description, please see
http://www.ctbarker.info/2010/05/ubuntu-1004-wireless-chipsets-and-wpa.html
Here the description step by step:
Step 1
Download latest RT2860 driver source code from Ralink
Go to http://www.ralinktech.com/
Klick on Software
Klick on Linux
Download the driver „RT2860PCI/mPCI/CB/PCIe(RT2760/RT2790/RT2860/RT2890)“ dated 01/29/2010, version 2.3.0.0
You need to enter a name and an email and press accept to download
Attention, there is a new driver available since July 2010:
Download the driver "RT2860PCI/mPCI/CB/PCIe(RT2760/RT2790/RT2860/RT2890)“ dated 07/16/2010, version 2.4.0.0
When you download the new driver you need to rename the downloaded file from
2010_07_16_RT2860_Linux_STA_v2.4.0.0.tar.bz2
to
2010_07_16_RT2860_Linux_STA_v2.4.0.0.tar
So actually you need to remove the '.bz2' ending. After that you can double-click the file and 'File Roller' can open it.
Step 2
Open and extract the downloaded file to your Home directory. Accept the standard folder and to not change the name
Attention, it is a source of later problems if you do not extract the new directory to your home directory. It must really be in the home directory so that the following commands work.
Open a terminal window
Step 3
Code:
gedit ./os/linux/config.mk
Use the find command to locate HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT and make sure it is set to y for yes. It should look like this when finished:
HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=y
Use the find command to locate HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT and make sure it is set to y for yes. It should look like this when finished:
HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=y
Close and save this file.
Step 4
Code:
gedit ./common/cmm_wpa.c
You will get a message that the character encoding was not recognised, choose „Western“ and press „Retry“
Use the find command to locate MIX_CIPHER_NOTUSE. Replace the entire line (keep on one line) with this code:
WPA_MIX_PAIR_CIPHER FlexibleCipher = WPA_TKIPAES_WPA2_TKIPAES;
Attention, please make sure you do not leave a part of the original comment after the line break. This is a source of potential later problems.
Step 5
Now we need to compile a new module, in order to do so we first need to have "gcc" installed. If it is not yet installed please do so by following the steps as below. In order to install gcc you need to have a wired internet connection or 3G internet connection at least.
Go to System
Go to Administration
Klick Synaptic Package Manager
Look for „gcc“ and choose it to be installed if it is not yet there
After successfully installing gcc please execute the following commands step by step in a terminal window.
Code:
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo ifconfig wlan0 down
sudo rmmod rt2860sta
Step 6
Rename the old rt2860sta.ko driver file to rt2860sta.ko.dist using:
Code:
sudo mv /lib/modules/2.6.*/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2860/rt2860sta.ko rt2860sta.ko.dist
Attention: you need to replace the * with the actual directory name of your kernel, please check the folder name with Nautilus.
Step 7
Code:
sudo depmod -a
sudo modprobe rt2860sta
After you issue the previous command you should see the Desktop top panel wireless icon come to life as it tries to connect. You will be prompted for a WPA password. Give it a little while and it should connect.
Not sure this command is necessary but you can use if the Wireless isn’t started automatically.
sudo ifconfig wlan0 up
Step 8
Okay at this point you have made a lot of progress and should be happily surfing.
But, and this is a biggie, what happens if you reboot? Unfortunately, you are back at square one without the RT2860 driver being loaded after a reboot. To remedy this situation, continue with step 9.
Step 9
Open a terminal window
Code:
cd 2010*
cd os
cd linux
sudo cp rt2860sta.ko /lib/modules/2.6.*/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2860/
Attention: you need to replace the * with the actual directory name of your kernel, same as step 6
Step 10
Update your modules boot file with the following command:
Code:
gksudo gedit /etc/modules
Add the „rt2860sta“ on a line at the end of the file and close and save the file.
Step 11
Reboot and check to see that you are now automatically connecting to your wireless network!
I hope it works for you as well
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