HOWTO: madwifi

[Griffin3]

This modules is included in the Ubuntu distribution in linux-modules-restricted. It provides support for wireless devices that use the Atheros chipset, such as, say, the D-Link AirPlus DWL-G650.

You only need to rebuild this module if you recompile the kernel in such a way that the version changes. You should change the version if you recompile, else Ubuntu's upgrades will stomp on your image.

1. Make sure networking is set up so that you can apt-get update.
2. Login as root
   

   sudo -s
   #enter password

3. Get what you need to compile the source
   

   apt-get -y install build-essential bin86

4. Compile the module
   

   cd /usr/src
   wget http://madwifi.otaku42.de/madwifi-cvs-current.tar.gz
   tar -xzf madwifi-cvs-current.tar.gz
   apt-get -y install sharutils
   cd /usr/src/madwifi
   make clean
   make
   make install

5. If you are about to reboot anyway, no need to do this (but you can anyway to test your work so far)
   

   modprobe ath_pci

6. Make the change permanent
   

   gedit /etc/modules
   #    add line at end "ath_pci"

7. Configure your new ath0: under System->Administration->Networking, and enjoy!

[Xenus98]

This was clear! Still my Atheros Dlink card was automatically detected, but as you was on this subject, what about a HOW-TO configure WPA-PSK to start up automatically when the card is detected during boot up ?

If you know, I am currently working on that point...

Thanks for any help.

[Griffin3]

Heh, I don't even have mine consistently getting the network cards configured properly every bootup, I have to poke at Admin->Network every other boot. But, time to get it working, I'll see if I can't figure out where these settings are all stored.

[Rob2687]

How can you set up WPA? In the network settings I only see an option for WEP.

Edit: BTW Madwifi works perfectly with my SMCWCB-G. I think it is a pretty new model, I did a quick google and didn't come up with much. I remember there was some compatibility list for wireless cards, what's the link? or somebody just add this card
The only thing is that the status lights don't turn on.

[pau]

what about a HOW-TO configure WPA-PSK to start up automatically when the card is detected during boot up ?

Hi,

maybe this is of help for you

http://www.aei.mpg.de/~pau/amilo_1425_linux_en.html

(look at WPA-PSK)

Hope it helps,

Pau

[munkymonkjr]

grr....follow this step by step and i get

ath_pci not found

[barranco]

grr....follow this step by step and i get

ath_pci not found

Happened the same thing to me but noticed in the echo that produced "make install" that the actual module was copied to the wrong directory lib/modules/2.6.12 when my actual version is "2.6.12-9-386" yours should be the same if you are using breezy, you can check with the following command though:

uname -r

so I copied the /net folder that "make install" created to the appropiate directory and it worked.

FYI: I removed the restricted-modules package to have 3D acceleration, thus had to recompile madwifi.

[dablitz]

i have done the how to to the letter I am using kubuntu 5.10. for some reason the command modprobe cannot be found. is there anything I can do.

[Griffin3]

If you cannot type modprobe and get a response, then (pardon me for being simple) maybe you are not logged in as root? Try sudo modprobe -l

[Xenus98]

Griffin3 : I did it ! WPA-PSK ! ! !

Tonight, I made it. My DLINK DWL-G650 is working in WPA-PSK as I am writing these lines ! I am also using Static IP, not DHCP like a lot of Guides are showing.
And for sure, this was not the more difficult.

So what I did ?
I cant tell which step was exactly missing to me but this is what I did tonight and that make me successful...

1) after a readme a guide I decided to use wpa_passphrase to encode my secret key instead of having it clearly written in my config file (/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf).

=> wpa_passphrase your_SSID your_secret_passphrase_in_normal_text

Ex : wpa_passphrase HyperNetwork OpenTheDoor

This command will generate a brief description of your network in WPA syntax.
The most important line to copy from is the "psk=..." with the Hex numbers.
This is the result of encoding your secret key.

2) Edit your /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf and modify the definition of your network, adding the newly generated psk secret key.

Here is a part of my wpa_supplicant.conf (network and psk key are fictif).
The line starting with a # are just a comment for reader and are not used by the config file.

....

#HERE START THE DEFINITION OF MY WIFI NETWORK....
network={
ssid="HyperNetwork"
proto=WPA
scan_ssid=1
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
# psk="OpenTheDoor"
psk=38144375f57e9bdda07e97ab6a58c3f5cf794fc7d85a83 fca95cc2b7
pairwise=TKIP
group=TKIP
}

3) I also edited the file /etc/network/interfaces to remove any line refering to a WEP configuration previoulsy defined. I also fixed the static neetwork address of the interface. The network 11.2.3.0 is given here as an example. Replace these 3 number by your own local network values. If your AP is doing DNS forwarding, use it in the DNS list as a nameservers, if not, replace the IP by another DNS server.

....

iface ath0 inet static
address 11.2.3.10
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 11.2.3.0
broadcast 11.2.3.255
gateway 11.2.3.1
# dns-* options are implemented by the resolvconf package, if installed
dns-nameservers 11.2.3.1 66.249.93.99


4) Run wpa_supplicant. There is a lot of post on how to do that.
You can run it in the background or in the foreground to help debugging.
That what I did. Example :
=>wpa_supplicant -i ath0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf -D madwifi -w -d
Option -d is for debug, you can start without it first even for simple messages.

to run it in the background, use option -B
=>wpa_supplicant -B -i ath0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf -D madwifi -w


5) Check that your wifi interface (ath0 for me) is up. This will fick a lot of people. If it doesnt want to go up, put it down first, again, and up again. Also, If you like, put down other interfaces that you dont use.
To be sure the interface wifi is down (replace ath0 by the name of your wifi interface)
=> ifdown ath0
put it up now !
=> ifup ath0

and try to ping www.google.com or to surf !!!

Hope it did help anybody !!
Next step for me is to put all this to start at boot time ! )
This should be not too difficult.
See you allll ! !! ! ! !