Howto: Linksys ACX111 chipset (wpc54g v2) via ndiswrapper

[dmizer]

*** Linksys has updated their drivers, and this method is now a REAL pain to get working. ***
*** Continue with the knowledge that this will take effort. ***

Linksys ACX111 chipset (wpc54g v2) via ndiswrapper EDGY, FEISTY, GUTSY, HARDY, IBEX, JAUNTY, or KARMIC

Note: There are NO 64 bit drivers for this card.

Warning! this howto is specific to THIS card. If you have a Linksys wpc54g card, look at the bottom and check which version it is. If your card does not say "ver. 2" then this method can only be used as a guide, not as a howto. Though you may be able to adapt it to your needs.

Preface
==============================================
Unless you're using Dapper, the linksys wpc54g v2 appears at first to work out of the box. And actually, it does work tolerably well for short periods of time. But, if you're like me and spend more than a few hours at a stretch online, you'll run into this pesky little error:

acx: BUG: tx_head:1 Ctl8:0xC0 - failed to find free txdesc

which will eventually consume your resources until you are disconnected. And, since I have not yet found a workable solution to this problem, I reached for my old NDISWrapper howto here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=201633

Also, using the native ACX driver for this card will not allow you to use advanced encryption like WPA.

I had to adapt the guide considerably to make it work here, but it's significantly easier than making it work in Dapper.
==============================================



--Prework--

Remove the card from the PCMCIA slot.

If you have not already done so, enable your multiverse and universe repositories. If you do not know how, take a look here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...ositoriesHowto

Install ndiswrapper.

note: if you've already installed ndiswrapper in prior (most likely unsuccessful) attempts in making this card work, you will need to both remove the ndisgtk package, as well as remove the drivers from the Ndiswrapper module. See this post for instructions on how to remove previously loaded drivers: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...1&postcount=30

For Edgy, use this command.

sudo aptitude install ndiswrapper-common ndiswrapper-utils-1.8

For everything else, use this line instead:

sudo aptitude install ndiswrapper-common ndiswrapper-utils-1.9

also, please do NOT install the ndisgtk package because of this bug: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu...per/+bug/59983

Prepare the windows driver.
1) Create a directory in your home folder called linksys:

cd
mkdir linksys
cd linksys

2) Download the Windows driver from Cisco.

http://homedownloads.cisco.com/downloads/driver/wpc54gv2_driver_utility_v2.02.zip

3) Extract the archive:

unzip wpc54g_v2_driver_utility_v2.02.zip&&cd WPC54Gv2_40826

4) Fix file naming convention problem (Linux is case sensitive and Windows is not, thus requiring this step)

mv tnet1130.sys TNET1130.sys

sed -e 's/tnet1130.sys/TNET1130.sys/' LSTINDS.INF > LSTINDS.new&& mv LSTINDS.new LSTINDS.INF

*note* the above command searches the file LSTINDS.INF for "tnet1130.sys" and replaces it with "TNET1130.sys". you are welcome to simply open LSTINDS.INF with your favorite text editor and make this change manually.

Load the driver into ndiswrapper module.

sudo ndiswrapper -i lsbcmnds.inf
sudo ndiswrapper -i LSTINDS.INF
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper

--Make the arrangement work at boot--

Blacklist the troublesome acx driver

*note* This step is not necessary for Karmic because the ACX module is not included in Karmic.

sudo modprobe -r acx
echo "blacklist acx" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Make the ndiswrapper module load at boot

echo "ndiswrapper" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules

--Check your configuration--

Now insert your card and do the following

ndiswrapper -l

note: this is a lower case L, not an upper case i or the number one.

You should get output that looks something like this:

Installed drivers:
lsbcmnds                driver installed
lstinds         driver installed, hardware present

If not, you may need to go back and review some of the steps or take a look at the wiki here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...ndiswrapper%29, or simply post in this thread and I will be more than happy to assist you.

If all has gone well up to this point, then you can open networking and configure your card. Congratulations, you now have a working wpc54g v2 card!


After word

For troubleshooting, see this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=885847

Footnote on enabling WPA
==============================================
I do not personally have the ability to test WPA encryption. However, multiple sources indicate that this card does indeed work with WPA.

To make this card work with WPA encryption, follow the howto here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=318539
as well as blazerte's additional notes in this post: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...2&postcount=32

If you need more help than is provided by the above two links, I will most likely be unable to assist.
==============================================

version history:
Jan. 22nd '07 - updated the howto for linksys' current driver release for this card.
Apr. 1 '07 - removed needless secondary driver, and tested Feisty beta
Apr. 14 '07 - updated links so they pointed to the new .org tld
June 18 '07 - minor change (typos)
Aug 18 '07 - formally retested feisty
Nov 12 '07 - howto works with gutsy per ffadmraven
Nov 19 '07 - added link for how to remove previously loaded drivers from Ndiswrapper. Some minor formatting and language use changes.
Feb 23 '08 - added footnotes for enabling wpa advanced encryption.
Apr 09 '08 - included easier method of adding ndiswrapper to /etc/modules
May 14 '08 - included easier method of blacklisting native driver; cautionary note about using nano is no longer needed.
Jun 17 '08 - updated linksys ftp url per jshuster and added confirmation that the card works in HARDY
Jun 19 '08 - updated directions on tnet1130.sys case change
Jun 26 '09 - updated linksys ftp url, fixed typo in title, added troubleshooting link
Oct 30 '09 - Howto works with Karmic per iliis. Added a few Karmic specific instructions.
Oct 2 '10 - Updated driver link per poltr1

[dmizer]

The "acx: BUG: no free txdesc left" made it into Feisty at least for the time being.

I have tested this howto in Feisty and it does work with one minor modification. When installing ndiswrapper, the line should read:

sudo aptitude install ndiswrapper-common ndiswrapper-utils-1.9

[brion@cbkidder.com]

For what it's worth, this did not work with my WPC54G v3 card in Edgy.

When I tried to load the INF file via ndiswrapper, I got the following error:
couldn't copy LSBCMNDS.INF at /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper-1.8 line 144.

bummer

[dmizer]

yes.

that's why i put this at the very top of the howto:

Warning! this howto is specific to THIS card. If you have a Linksys wpc54g card, look at the bottom and check which version it is. If your card does not say "ver. 2" then this method can only be used as a guide, not as a howto. Though you may be able to adapt it to your needs.

other versions of this card (the v3 for example) have different chipsets which require different techniques for making them work properly.

sorry.

[darkhacker902]

Ok, I got to sudo modprobe ndiswrapper.

When i enter the command it gives me this:

FATAL: Could not open '/lib/modules/2.6.15-26-386/kernel/drivers/net/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper.ko': No such file or directory.


My card, the linksys WPC54G Ver.2 doesnt even show up in the network window, it used to, but i have tried a LOT of tuts on how to install it, and it doesnt now .


Please help, a bit of a noob here.



Ryan

[dmizer]

that kernel doesn't look like an edgy kernel. if you're using dapper, give this method a shot instead: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...ghlight=wpc54g

[darkhacker902]

that kernel doesn't look like an edgy kernel. if you're using dapper, give this method a shot instead: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...ghlight=wpc54g

How do I find out what version or Kernel Im Running? And how do I update?



Ryan

[dmizer]

How do I find out what version or Kernel Im Running? And how do I update?

well, in your previous post, this line:

'/lib/modules/2.6.15-26-386/kernel/drivers/net/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper.ko'

has your kernel in it: 2.6.15-26-386 ... which looks like a dapper kernel.

you can also find out with this command:

uname -r

also ... system > about ubuntu should give you information about the name as well. it will say something like, "thank you for your interest in Ubuntu 6.06 - Dapper Drake"

you shouldn't have to upgrade yet.

my ndiswrapper howto for dapper drake has been retired, but is located here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=201633 ... you can make that howto work by blacklisting a usb module. if you're interested, i can walk you through it, but i think the method i linked previously will work better for you.

[darkhacker902]

well, in your previous post, this line:

has your kernel in it: 2.6.15-26-386 ... which looks like a dapper kernel.

you can also find out with this command:

uname -r

also ... system > about ubuntu should give you information about the name as well. it will say something like, "thank you for your interest in Ubuntu 6.06 - Dapper Drake"

you shouldn't have to upgrade yet.

my ndiswrapper howto for dapper drake has been retired, but is located here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=201633 ... you can make that howto work by blacklisting a usb module. if you're interested, i can walk you through it, but i think the method i linked previously will work better for you.

Anything I can do to get this working, as I pointed out in the other thread that apparently doesnt work either. I just want to the thing to work....


Ryan

[dmizer]

i have responded in the other thread.