What wireless device works best with Linux?

joej1216 · Post by **joej1216** » 2007/04/21 03:13:38

I just switched from Windows XP to CentOS. I cannot get my wireless device working. It is an SMC EZ Connect that is a few years old. Is there a good 'driver' site I can search for a Linux-friendly driver?

TIA,

joej1216

Lenard · Post by **Lenard** » 2007/04/21 12:23:27

Try visiting the ndiswapper site: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page

As a suggestion add Dag's site to your yum configuration (in any case);

http://dag.wieers.com/rpm/FAQ.php#B

And if ndiswrapper is needed try: yum install dkms dkms-ndiswrapper

It helps if you know the model number of the wireless device or have the Windows driver (the SMC CD/floppy) for the device.
Some wireless devices do not need ndiswrapper as they have native Linux drivers available, but you may need the firmware files for the device. Or you may need for example the madwifi driver, it is impossible to say since you have not provided the model number of your wireless SMC device.

joej1216 · Post by **joej1216** » 2007/04/26 02:55:18

I'm an idiot when it comes to Linux - I understood about 20% of your answer.

yum configuration?

try: yum install dkms dkms-ndiswrapper?

I need a Linux Primer reference or something - I have not been successful in installing any new apps on my CentOS PC. I find the sites, download what I think I need but when I install it always gives an error that a package is needed.

My install uses something other than yum - I think.

Help!

TIA,

Joej1216

Lenard · Post by **Lenard** » 2007/04/26 11:56:22

Nope if you have CentOS installed then you have yum. Since you posted in the CentOS5 Network Support I will assume that you have CentOS5. Here is a quick check to see if yum is installed, type from the console or xterm session;

rpm -qa yum

If you get back something like for example;

$ rpm -qa yum
yum-3.0.5-1.fc6

Then follow the advice from the link: http://dag.wieers.com/rpm/FAQ.php#B and type something like;

rpm -Uhv http://apt.sw.be/packages/rpmforge-release/rpmforge-release-0.3.6-1.el5.rf.i386.rpm

This is an example, if you have a different version of CentOS or the 64-bit version then modify as suggested from Dag's site above. Hints(typed commands):

cat /etc/*release
uname -a

When done (the command prompt returns) the rpmforge-release package is installed the next step is to type as root;

yum install dkms dkms-ndiswrapper

If you get any errors then post them. Now all you have to do is install the Windows driver for your wireless interface for ndiswrapper to use, follow the instructions from the ndiswrapper wiki;

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/Installation#Install_Windows_driver

You can find the driver (hopefully) by looking through the known working list:
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/List

A yum primer: http://www.centos.org/docs/4/html/yum/
The manuals: http://www.centos.org/docs/5/

sallyxi · Post by **sallyxi** » 2008/02/21 06:05:36

[quote]
joej1216 wrote:
I just switched from Windows XP to CentOS. I cannot get my wireless device working. It is an SMC EZ Connect that is a few years old. Is there a good 'driver' site I can search for a Linux-friendly driver?

TIA,

joej1216[/quote]

wow,a new device called Centos can substitue Windows XP?? revolutionary,huh

CentOS