OttoDestruct
December 14th, 2007, 02:58 AM
First off, let me just say that I really shouldn't get credit for this. All the information is already here, it just so happens that it took quite a bit of searching and messing around.
Also, if anyone sees anything blatantly incorrect feel free to correct. I'm still very new to Linux, and this is my first howto.
Whats a dongle
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3750/donglethumbnc6.jpg
The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector is an accessory, developed jointly by Nintendo and Buffalo Technology, which allows Nintendo DS and Wii users without a Wi-Fi connection or compatible Wi-Fi network to establish one via a broadband-connected PC. Inserted into the host PC's USB port, the connector functions as a wireless access point for the Nintendo DS and Wii, permitting the user to connect to the Internet to play Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games and various other online functionality.
The problem with the Nintendo dongle is that it is... well... Nintendo. Or rather Buffalo. Oh nevermind. Basically all you need to know is that due to it being extremely proprietary it is very hard to get to work under Linux. No matter how you go at it, its going to be pretty roundabout getting the thing to work. I've read around and some people suggested using hacked drivers for other similar devices and messing with kernel modules. Really, it just sounded like a big headache. The easiest solution is "buy a wireless router." I happen to be a college kid cramped for space though, not to mention routers are banned on campus and can get your internet revoked. So we're going to be fixing the original problem instead of inventing a new wheel.
The Solution
The easiest (and so far only) way I've found to get the dongle working is to install VirtualBox. Again, like I said at the start of this 'howto', most of this stuff isn't mine. And quite frankly, I don't think I could write it decently even if it was. There is a great guide by P4man on the forums here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=603661) going over how to get VirtualBox installed.
Seeing as I don't have a copy of Vista, I can only comment on the procedures for an XP installation of Virtualbox. Make sure you are also installing the version of VirtualBox that supports USB. Just follow the guide until you get to the portion about integration, as that is all optional. If you really want to, go ahead, but it isn't necessary. The bits about shared folders are optional as well. Once you get a working XP virtual machine, make sure that it is properly connected to your network! You should be able to browse the internet on the virtual machine no differently than a non virtual machine. (If you have problems with this, I honestly don't know enough about networking or VirtualBox to help, but feel free to ask anyone else who does know).
Ok, I got a VirtualBox XP running now what
The next shoutout goes to domino for his post over here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2082674&postcount=11) detailing how to get USB working with VirtualBox. I'm going to rewrite his directions, though, as I am not sure they are very clear on what EXACTLY to do.
1) Go to System > Administration > Users and Groups
2) "Add group" with the name usbfs, and give permission to all the users that need access. Close out of the group manager.
3) Open a terminal and do the following:
sudo gedit /etc/fstab
add the following to the end:
# 85 is the USB group
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=85,devmode=664 0 0
Save and close
4) Reboot
Connect your Nintendo adapter, start up VirtualBox and go into the Settings of the machine you created. Go to the USB settings, and Click the little USB icon with the green plus sign to add a device filter, and select the "Nintendo Wifi USB connector". Hit ok and start up the machine into Windows. If there are no errors right away, you're probably already golden! Wait for it to boot up, and Windows should pop up an annoying wizard saying it found new hardware. Go ahead and cancel it. Inside the virtual machine, download the latest nintendo drivers for XP from Nintendo here (http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/wfc/en_na/customersupport/downloadUSB.jsp), and install them. It should install, and you can stare at your nice and shiny new drivers. What are you waiting for, test it out! Use your Wii / DS to connect to the dongle as normal and follow the instructions given. Now we just need Smash Brothers Brawl to come out!
So there you have it.
Pros:
The Nintendo Dongle works in Linux with the official Nintendo drivers (well... sort of Linux)
No messing with the kernal
No messing with hacked drivers
No wireless router necessary
Cons:
Any time you want to use the dongle you have to be running VirtualBox
The dongle has a small transmitting range.
Also, if anyone sees anything blatantly incorrect feel free to correct. I'm still very new to Linux, and this is my first howto.
Whats a dongle
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3750/donglethumbnc6.jpg
The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector is an accessory, developed jointly by Nintendo and Buffalo Technology, which allows Nintendo DS and Wii users without a Wi-Fi connection or compatible Wi-Fi network to establish one via a broadband-connected PC. Inserted into the host PC's USB port, the connector functions as a wireless access point for the Nintendo DS and Wii, permitting the user to connect to the Internet to play Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games and various other online functionality.
The problem with the Nintendo dongle is that it is... well... Nintendo. Or rather Buffalo. Oh nevermind. Basically all you need to know is that due to it being extremely proprietary it is very hard to get to work under Linux. No matter how you go at it, its going to be pretty roundabout getting the thing to work. I've read around and some people suggested using hacked drivers for other similar devices and messing with kernel modules. Really, it just sounded like a big headache. The easiest solution is "buy a wireless router." I happen to be a college kid cramped for space though, not to mention routers are banned on campus and can get your internet revoked. So we're going to be fixing the original problem instead of inventing a new wheel.
The Solution
The easiest (and so far only) way I've found to get the dongle working is to install VirtualBox. Again, like I said at the start of this 'howto', most of this stuff isn't mine. And quite frankly, I don't think I could write it decently even if it was. There is a great guide by P4man on the forums here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=603661) going over how to get VirtualBox installed.
Seeing as I don't have a copy of Vista, I can only comment on the procedures for an XP installation of Virtualbox. Make sure you are also installing the version of VirtualBox that supports USB. Just follow the guide until you get to the portion about integration, as that is all optional. If you really want to, go ahead, but it isn't necessary. The bits about shared folders are optional as well. Once you get a working XP virtual machine, make sure that it is properly connected to your network! You should be able to browse the internet on the virtual machine no differently than a non virtual machine. (If you have problems with this, I honestly don't know enough about networking or VirtualBox to help, but feel free to ask anyone else who does know).
Ok, I got a VirtualBox XP running now what
The next shoutout goes to domino for his post over here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2082674&postcount=11) detailing how to get USB working with VirtualBox. I'm going to rewrite his directions, though, as I am not sure they are very clear on what EXACTLY to do.
1) Go to System > Administration > Users and Groups
2) "Add group" with the name usbfs, and give permission to all the users that need access. Close out of the group manager.
3) Open a terminal and do the following:
sudo gedit /etc/fstab
add the following to the end:
# 85 is the USB group
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=85,devmode=664 0 0
Save and close
4) Reboot
Connect your Nintendo adapter, start up VirtualBox and go into the Settings of the machine you created. Go to the USB settings, and Click the little USB icon with the green plus sign to add a device filter, and select the "Nintendo Wifi USB connector". Hit ok and start up the machine into Windows. If there are no errors right away, you're probably already golden! Wait for it to boot up, and Windows should pop up an annoying wizard saying it found new hardware. Go ahead and cancel it. Inside the virtual machine, download the latest nintendo drivers for XP from Nintendo here (http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/wfc/en_na/customersupport/downloadUSB.jsp), and install them. It should install, and you can stare at your nice and shiny new drivers. What are you waiting for, test it out! Use your Wii / DS to connect to the dongle as normal and follow the instructions given. Now we just need Smash Brothers Brawl to come out!
So there you have it.
Pros:
The Nintendo Dongle works in Linux with the official Nintendo drivers (well... sort of Linux)
No messing with the kernal
No messing with hacked drivers
No wireless router necessary
Cons:
Any time you want to use the dongle you have to be running VirtualBox
The dongle has a small transmitting range.