Wifi on Debian on a Dell D630

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kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre -  
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre -
Hello everyone,

Here it is, I installed a Debian Etch on a Dell D630, and I can't seem to "get" the wifi.
I searched on Google...
Initially, I managed to set up at least something to have Internet (I am using Static IP)... :
by editing /etc/network/interfaces
Vi /etc/network/interfaces
and adding:

iface eth0 inet static
address 10.0.0.2
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.0.0.1

All this found in an article online...
but impossible to configure the wifi..
I did find this information.. but I admit I don't quite understand:

The WIFI: Intel 3945ABG Wireless Card
As you may have noticed, almost everything works in stable and in sid the display is perfect. The only thing missing is the wifi ...
To install it, run an apt-cache search for each of the packages in the list below and copy their precise name and version so you can install them later:

firmware-ipw3945
ipw3945d
ipw3945-modules
network-manager
network-manager-gnome
Then apt-get install each of these modules!
Let's load the module into the Linux kernel:
modprobe ipw3945
And there you go, your Wifi module is ready to be configured!

I don't quite understand what is being asked here..
that is to say:
I do an apt-get search firmware-ipw3945
and it just comes back to the line without saying anything more...
(no precise name ..etc.. )

following other links .. I downloaded the package:
ipw3945-modules-2.6-k7_2.6.18-4+etch3_i386.deb
(found here: https://packages.debian.org/fr/etch/ipw3945-modules-2.6-k7
and I unpacked it with
dpkg -i package name.deb

it didn't yield anything...

I'm a bit lost here ..
and I must admit.. you will also have noticed that I am a novice ... ;-)
I have plenty of good will .. but this is hard ...

I'm open to any help

Thank you in advance

KafAr
Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 7.0

15 réponses

mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
Your card is supposed to be recognized directly, no need to install anything other than of course the wireless-tools package. Just follow this tutorial, I did it with exactly the same card, on Kubuntu (therefore on a Debian derivative):
http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet 11210 configuring wifi on linux

Good luck
2
mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
In any case, when I try to edit it, it gives me a message saying that it is in use or that a previously edited version has "crashed"...

It's probably because you're using vim, and it sees a .swp file. Vim always creates such a file to avoid losing your work in case it crashes (or the computer does). It then offers to recover it when opening (R for recover). It appears that for some reason your file is edited in the future, likely due to a false manipulation of your system's date. There are two options: either we delete the .swp file, or we try to change its date with touch. As root
touch /etc/apt/.sources.list.swp

If that doesn't work:
rm /etc/apt/.sources.list.swp

I insist on the fact that the file is named /etc/apt/sources.list and not /etc/apt/sources.List. Under Linux, the distinction between lowercase and uppercase letters is real; those are two different files.

KafAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search ipw3945
ipw3945-source - Source for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver
ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-6-xen-686 - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver modules for Linux 2.6.18 on i686
firmware-ipw3945-di - Binary firmware for IPW3945
ipw3945d - Binary userspace regulatory daemon for Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG cards

(I can't believe it!!! even though I tried 50 times yesterday to do:

apt-cache search firmware-ipw3945 => Without any result (on the line with nothing else...)
and now... it works!! :


It's normal; under Ubuntu and Debian the packages differ a bit. You have two methods to install ipw3945 support:

1) If you decide to compile a module, you will need to install ipw3945-source and module-assistant (and then you can load your module with a modprobe). As root:
aptitude update aptitude safe-upgrade aptitude install module-assistant ipw3945-source module-assistant module-assistant auto-install ipw3945 modprobe ipw3945

2) Otherwise, you can directly install firmware-ipw3945-di (under Debian Lenny the package is called firmware-iwlwifi, just refer to the name given by apt-cache)
aptitude update aptitude safe-upgrade aptitude install firmware-ipw3945-di

((in any case, I must also mention that yesterday, I had managed to download everything (manually by searching via Google... )

No, no, wrong approach, we should download packages manually as little as possible. You should always use aptitude to install a package as much as possible, because on one hand you will benefit from future updates, and on the other hand, the packages are signed (unless you accepted a key indicating that you trusted them).

KafAr:/home/kafar# uname -r
2.6.26-1-686


No, no, that's normal. It's just to check your kernel version. Indeed, a driver is usually compiled for a specific kernel, so the versions need to match. That's one of the advantages of using module-assistant because Debian recompiles a module corresponding to your kernel whenever there is an update.

So you might ask me: but it’s strange, the firmware-ipw3945 package is a wifi card driver, it should depend on the kernel and be called module-ip3945-2.6.26-1-686. Yes, but no, in fact this package is not a driver. As I mentioned in my message <1>, your card is directly supported by the kernel.

The only thing you are installing is firmware, which is the only "non-free" part of the driver for primarily legal reasons (I’ll skip the details). This part being non-free and Debian being definitively a distribution of hardcore free software enthusiasts, it was decided that this part would not be integrated into the kernel. Particularly, people who do not have this wifi card were not necessarily favorable to having a "blob" (a common term meaning: a piece of binary that does something a bit mysterious) in their kernel. That's why it installs separately and not by default.

Under Ubuntu, they don't have as many scruples because installation has to be user-friendly, so they prefer to include non-free stuff that may not be necessary for the distribution to work properly and directly on most PCs. And that's why the ipw3945 package doesn't exist...

Any idea??

Once you have completed the installation of ipw3945, you should just follow the tutorial I indicated in <1>:
http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet 11210 configure wifi under Linux

If you get stuck, report back to me the commands requested at the end of the tutorial.
http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet 11210 configure wifi under Linux#still in difficulty

Good luck
1
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Hi,

I can't (or we can't) edit the message, so I will copy and paste the summary while correcting 1 or 2 errors:

I. Install the firmware for the wifi card and configure its /etc/network/interfaces file:

1: run:
# apt-cache search 3945

The response should include:
firmware-iwlwifi - Binary firmware for Intel Wireless 3945 and 4965

If the response is the one above: Proceed to step 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otherwise check the repositories (by editing /etc/apt/sources.list (I use vim /etc/apt/sources.list))
Comment out the existing ones by adding a # in front of each line and add, for example:

## base
deb http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free

## security
deb https://www.debian.org/security/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src https://www.debian.org/security/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free

## multimedia
deb https://www.debian-multimedia.org/ lenny main

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Run the command
#apt-get install firmware-iwlwifi
then
#modprobe iwl3945

II. Edit the /etc/network/interfaces file and create the corresponding lines for the wifi card if necessary:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless-essid Your_Network_Name
wireless-key S:your_passphrase*
* (Without the S if it consists only of numbers (to be confirmed)

III. Start the connection to test:

# sudo ifup wlan0

I think this is more or less complete, synthetic and without error... (I think)

See you soon
.
KafAr
1
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Hello,
and thank you for your response..
I followed the beginning of the tip regarding the Wi-Fi card configuration and I'm not really making progress:
sudo aptitude update => Ok
sudo aptitude safe-upgrade => Tells me that "this aptitude doesn't have super Cow Power" ...
sudo aptitude install wireless-tools => Ok

In short, I think that since 2 out of 3 steps went well.. maybe ...

But when I do an Iwconfig (or an ifconfig) => No Wi-Fi card recognized...

How could I manually find the drivers for the Intel3945abg card and install them??

Thank you again.

KafAr
0
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
I tried another trick I found while searching
(again and again.. in parallel I'm looking.. I hope no one will hold it against me.. and I specify that if I find it, I will come and explain exactly how I did it...)
Anyway, I tried to do:
apt-get install ipw3945d firmware-ipw3945 ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-6-686 (that's indeed the version of my kernel)..

(it looks a lot like what I was trying yesterday..)
but the result is:
E: Unable to locate package Ipw3945d

Is there something special to do to find the package??

KafAr
0
mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
sudo aptitude safe-upgrade => It tells me that "this aptitude does not have super Cow Power"

This means that it does not understand what you typed after aptitude (here, safe-upgrade), which is normal if you are using Ubuntu Feisty or an older version. It is probably an old version of aptitude; instead, type:
sudo aptitude upgrade


How can I manually find and install the drivers for the Intel3945abg card??

Ah yes, indeed I skipped over that; under Ubuntu there is indeed a package ipw3945 to install (which contains the module we are interested in). Then iwconfig is supposed to find the card. Of course, the module you are trying to install must correspond to your kernel version. Normally, if you perform an update, you will have a kernel (linux-image...) and a module (ipw3945...) that match. You will then need to reboot into this kernel.

Please report back the result of:
apt-cache search 3945 apt-cache search linux-image | grep linux-image | grep 686 uname -r

Good luck
0
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Good evening MamieMando,

Thank you again for these responses...
I just wanted to clarify one detail in case it makes a difference, it's not Ubuntu, but Debian...

Then, yesterday (or the day before yesterday (sorry, but at the moment .. )) I finally reinstalled the very latest version of Debian (500-i386) to see if there was a difference..

There was a big difference at boot already ..: when it searches for network hardware, it recognizes my WiFi card unlike version 4.
However, it asks me, if I choose this network device, to insert a media (cd, usb or other) that can contain the drivers ..

Anyway ..

I juggled a bit, to redo the same experiments as on version 4, and I think I will now wait to gather a bit more information, and a "guide" before continuing .. because otherwise .. by trying to do everything and nothing .. I won't even know what I have done or not ..

So there you go .. I would appreciate some help ...

To go back to your response, I am posting here the responses to what you asked:

First, I must clarify that it is impossible (or almost) for me to access the file /etc/apt/sources.list..

In any case, when I try to edit it, I get a message saying that it is in use or that a previously edited version has "crashed" ..

E325: WARNING
Found a swap file by the name "/etc/apt/.sources.List.swp"
owned by: root dated: Sun Feb 15 21:48:10 2009
file name: /etc/apt/sources.List
modified: YES
user name: root host name: KafAr
process ID: 13991
While opening file "/etc/apt/sources.List"
dated: Sun Feb 15 22:38:53 2009
NEWER than swap file!

(1) Another program may be editing the same file.
If this is the case, be careful not to end up with two
different instances of the same file when making changes.
Quit, or continue with caution.

(2) An edit session for this file crashed.
If this is the case, use ":recover" or "vim -r /etc/apt/sources.List"
to recover the changes (see ":help recovery").
If you did this already, delete the swap file "/etc/apt/.sources.List.swp"
to avoid this message.
"/etc/apt/sources.List" 4L, 282C

By just pressing Ok
I can still access it, and I can see its content...

I actually wanted to make sure that it wasn't looking for the sources on the CD.....

So ... to come back .... :

KafAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search ipw3945
ipw3945-source - Source for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver
ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-6-xen-686 - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver modules for Linux 2.6.18 on i686
firmware-ipw3945-di - Binary firmware for IPW3945
ipw3945d - Binary userspace regulatory daemon for Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG cards

(I can't believe it!!! even though I tried 50 times yesterday to do:

apt-cache search firmware-ipw3945 => No results (in the line with nothing else ...)
and now .. it works!! :

KafAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search firmware-ipw3945
firmware-ipw3945-di - Binary firmware for IPW3945

((Anyway, I must also specify that yesterday, I had managed to download everything (manually searching via Google ... ) I had managed to do an apt-get install for all, however, it was impossible afterwards to do a modprobe ipw3945 ))

I'm posting here the link I refer to in order to attempt this installation, since even laptop:
http://www.equanux.net/index.php?2008/07/05/97-debian-on-laptops-dell-d630

Back to the point:

So to summarize, the requested apt-cache searches give me the following responses:

KafAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search ipw3945
ipw3945-source - Source for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver
ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-6-xen-686 - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (ipw3945) driver modules for Linux 2.6.18 on i686
firmware-ipw3945-di - Binary firmware for IPW3945
ipw3945d - Binary userspace regulatory daemon for Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG cards

KafAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search linux-image | grep linux-image | grep 686
linux-image-2.6-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6-openvz-686 - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-2.6-vserver-686 - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6-xen-686 - Linux 2.6 image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-1-openvz-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-vserver-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-xen-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-image-686-bigmem - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-openvz-686 - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-vserver-686 - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-xen-686 - Linux image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-image-2.6-686 - image of the Linux kernel version 2.6 for PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-686 - image of the Linux kernel for PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4

KafAr:/home/kafar# uname -r
2.6.26-1-686

Is this serious, doctor??
Any idea??

I hope to have your help again soon.

KafAr
0
djagh Posted messages 230 Status Membre 96
 
Hello,
could you type in a console as superuser "lspci" and "iwconfig" and then copy and paste it here, remembering to replace your key with *? ;-)
0
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Hello there.

After restructuring the system to start on "good" foundations...
Things have slightly changed... (I'm not sure if it's for the better... (though...)

So after a clean reinstall of Debian 5, I decide to "retest" the commands we did yesterday...
and the result:
KafAAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search ipw3945
KafAAr:/home/kafar#

(the same as a few days ago.... meaning: return to the line...)

But when I do an iwconfig, I see that my Wi-Fi card is recognized!! (I think..):
KafAAr:/home/kafar# iwconfig

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wmaster0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"KafArnaOm"

Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Tx-Power=0 dBm
Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2352 B
Encryption key: My PassPhrase (it can be letters and numbers, right?)
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

I just want to point out 2 details:
ESSID:"KafArnaOm" => That’s the name of the network, right??
My PassPhrase => It can be letters and numbers, right?? because my password is like that....

So I decide to continue with the tutorial you provided the link to.

To enter the information, I go to:
vim /etc/network/

# This file describes the network interfaces available on your system

# and how to activate them. For more information, see interfaces(5).

# The loopback network interface

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface

allow-hotplug eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 10.0.0.2
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.0.0.1

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 10.0.0.2
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.0.0.1
address 10.0.0.2
wireless-key My PassPhrase
wireless-essid KafArnaOm

"/etc/network/interfaces" 26L, 501C

Everything looks good...
just..
Unable to connect...

if someone can help me at this stage....

I post here the results of the last commands as requested in the tutorial:

KafAAr:/home/kafar# ifconfig

eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00.00.00.OO (My card number)

inet addr:10.0.0.2 Bcast:10.0.0.255 Mask:255.255.255.0

addr inet6: fe80::21c:23ff:fe2e:707d/64 Scope:Link

UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1

RX packets:10 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0

TX packets:40 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0

collisions:0 lg file transmission:1000

RX bytes:1197 (1.1 KiB) TX bytes:5998 (5.8 KiB)

Interrupt:17

lo Link encap:Local Loop

inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0

addr inet6: ::1/128 Scope:Host

UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1

RX packets:43 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0

TX packets:43 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0

collisions:0 lg file transmission:0

RX bytes:3829 (3.7 KiB) TX bytes:3829 (3.7 KiB)

KafAAr:/home/kafar# iwconfig

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wmaster0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"KafArnaOm"

Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated

Tx-Power=0 dBm

Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2352 B

Encryption key: 0000-OOOO-0000.......
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0

Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0

Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

KafAAr:/home/kafar# route -n

Kernel IP routing table

Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface

10.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 eth0

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

KafAAr:/home/kafar# cat /etc/resolv.conf

domain Trendnet

search Trendnet

nameserver 10.0.0.1

KafAAr:/home/kafar# nslookup www.google.fr

Server: 10.0.0.1

Address: 10.0.0.1#53

Non-authoritative answer:

www.google.fr canonical name = www.google.com.

www.google.com canonical name = www.l.google.com.

Name: www.l.google.com

Address: 74.125.43.147

Name: www.l.google.com

Address: 74.125.43.103

Name: www.l.google.com

Address: 74.125.43.99

Name: www.l.google.com

Address: 74.125.43.104

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

KafAAr:/home/kafar# ping -c2 www.google.fr

connect: Network is unreachable

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

cat /etc/network/interfaces
=>

# The loopback network interface

auto lo

iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface

allow-hotplug eth0

iface eth0 inet static

address 10.0.0.2

netmask 255.255.255.0

gateway 10.0.0.1

auto wlan0

iface wlan0 inet static

address 10.0.0.2

netmask 255.255.255.0

gateway 10.0.0.1

address 10.0.0.2

wireless-key My PassPhrase
wireless-essid KafArnaOm

KafAAr:/home/kafar# cat /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

cat: /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf: No such file or directory

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

I also include the response to another command requested by djagh (thanks also for your participation):
KafAAr:/home/kafar# lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 0c)

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0c)

00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)

00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)

00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)

00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)

00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 6 (rev 02)

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f2)

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)

03:01.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. Cardbus bridge (rev 21)

03:01.4 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02)

09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5755M Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 02)

0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

there you go ....
I hope for your help...

Thank you in advance, and again, thank you.

KafAr
0
djagh Posted messages 230 Status Membre 96
 
Hi, well your card is recognized, yes your ESSID is indeed your network name and yes your password should be a mix of numbers and letters, in fact it's your WEP or WPA key.
Well this reminds me of the same problem I had which I solved by installing "wicd" instead of "network manager", apparently it's a bug with network manager and several of us have this issue, I'll share the link to my discussion on another forum where I solved my problem, by the way this site is one to keep in your favorites if you're starting out with Debian ;-)
http://www.debian-facile.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=905
0
mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
Report the result of:
dpkg -l | grep module-assistant ipw3945-source lsmod | grep 3945 iwlist wlan0 scan 
In /etc/network/interfaces, put your ESSID in quotes and respect the case. Also put your WEP key without separators (for example, you should type 1234567890ABCDEF and not 12:34:56:...).

If iwlist does not detect anything, the card is poorly supported, try compiling a module with module-assistant. If iwlist detects your wireless network, but iwconfig reports not associated, it means you are unable to authenticate. Either your key is incorrectly entered, or you forgot to press your association button (for example, if you have a Livebox) or the card is poorly supported (in this last case, I refer you to the compilation of a module via module-assistant).

Good luck
0
kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Good evening everyone,

Good evening Djagh, thank you for this info and for your link that I will keep dearly and which I need to read more thoroughly...
As for wicd... I admit that the app itself isn’t bad (to avoid the commands...)... it is meant for managing network connections, in fact...
But the result is unequivocal:
No wireless networks detected. :-(

Good evening Mamiemando, thank you again for your help.
Before reporting my results here, I just wanted to revisit a detail that has been on my mind since yesterday:
In fact, even after the "clean" reinstall I did last night before posting, the sources.list file is empty... desperately empty...
And I also have this issue when I try to recreate it

So
KafAAr:/home/kafar# dpkg -l | grep module-assistant ipw3945-source
grep: ipw3945-source: No such file or directory

(I just did an apt-cache search ipw3945 but it’s the same as yesterday... just a line without any comment...°

KafAAr:/home/kafar# lsmod | grep 3945
iwl3945 78772 0
firmware_class 6816 2 pcmcia,iwl3945
mac80211 139680 1 iwl3945
led_class 3908 1 iwl3945
cfg80211 21576 2 iwl3945,mac80211

KafAAr:/home/kafar# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning : Network is down
KafAAr:/home/kafar# ifup eth0
ifup: interface eth0 already configured

In /etc/network/interfaces the Essid is correctly quoted and the case is respected.
My WEP key is indeed in the format you mentioned (but not quoted)

Based on what you said and given the results I’m getting, am I understanding correctly? :
iwlist detects my wifi network and just indicates that the network is not okay
iwconfig states Not associated, and based on these two principles it would be an authentication issue... is that right??

What troubles me is the wifi card's firmware that I have NEVER installed and which I believe is more than necessary for this to work.
(The other day, when the apt-cache search ipw3945 returned results, I started reinstalling, and since then, the result of this command is always the same: AT THE LINE :-(
I read somewhere the other day that the firmware was necessary....
And at boot of the machine, I see a line mentioning the wifi card and the firmware not present (once again it means it is indeed recognized (besides, at the very beginning of the Debian installation, during network selection, it is also one of the possible choices, but it asks me to install the firmware from removable media.... ))

To return to your last remark Mamiemando:
I have no association button; it’s a simple router/wifi connected to a cable modem, for me, it would rather be a support issue for the card.

Well... that’s where I am... and my workdays these days end late and don’t leave me much time in the evenings to do tests...

Next week should be better...

Thank you again for your help... I look forward to reading you all again very soon.

KafAr
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mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
iwlist detects my wifi network and just indicates that the network is not okay.

Currently, iwlist does not detect it because it says that your card is off. If you are on a laptop with a switch, check that it is turned on. Apparently, the wlan0 card is not activated.
sudo ifconfig wlan0 up sudo iwlist wlan scan


iwconfig shows Not associated, and based on these two principles, it would be an authentication issue... is that right??
Yes, but here you can't even identify since your card seems to be off.

What bothers me is the wifi card firmware that I have never installed and which I believe is more than necessary for it to work.

Yes, just to be sure, install it. That might explain your problem.

(The other day, when the apt-cache search ipw3945 returned results, I decided to reinstall, and since then, the result of this command is still the same: AT THE LINE :-(

That depends on your repositories configured in /etc/apt/sources.list. There's a good chance it is in a non-free repository. Look for a Debian tutorial for ipw3945 on Google.

And at boot time, I see a line mentioning the wifi card and the firmware not present.

That confirms that your module is probably well built, but it lacks the firmware. You should be able to install it with aptitude.

To return to your last remark Mamiemando:
I don't have an association button, it’s a simple router/wifi connected to a cable modem, for me, it would rather be a support issue for the card.


Okay. In fact, the association button is a convenience for managing MAC address filtering (the physical address of the card). Make sure that such filtering is not enabled on your router.

Good luck.
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kafarnaum Posted messages 16 Status Membre 1
 
Good evening everyone,

First of all, I would like to thank you again for your help and the perseverance you have shown in assisting me.

You may have understood from the tone of the sentence that the problem is resolved... and I will come back to that.

Last night, before going to bed, I decided to put another hard drive in the laptop and install another Debian 500 to see (I thought the problem was due to using a non-stable version (Lenny), so I turned to another version.

This evening, coming home from work (and after reading your comments several times today, Mamimando...), I told myself that I needed to persist and FIND...

In short... I first started the machine and quickly became disheartened when I noticed that the apt-cache search problem from yesterday was still present...
So I stopped to think and wondered what could have been different the other time when this command found packages::
and I thought it was the repositories listed in /etc/apt/sources.List

I went back to find the links for the non-free Debian Lenny that I had found on a site and added them to my sources.List file.

From that moment on, everything accelerated:
the command apt-cache search ipw3945 gives nothing, however:
KafAAr:/home/kafar# apt-cache search 3945
firmware-iwlwifi - Binary firmware for Intel Wireless 3945 and 4965

From there, I then did an apt-get install firmware-iwlwifi
(in fact, I followed the beginning of this tutorial (just the box):
http://www.freenux.fr/Installer-sa-carte-wifi-PRO.html )

but at this stage, still no wifi...

I carefully checked that on my router the MAC address filtering was not set to static IP (because that was the case... so many blunders...)

I edited my interfaces file and filled it in as follows:
auto wlan0

iface wlan0 inet dhcp

wireless-essid KafArnaOm

wireless-key my passphrase

and it still doesn't work....

KafAAr:/home/kafar# sudo ifup wlan0

Error for wireless request "Set Encode" (8B2A):

invalid argument "my passphrase".

Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.1

Copyright 2004-2008 Internet Systems Consortium.

All rights reserved.

For info, please visit http://www.isc.org/sw/dhcp/

wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801

wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801

Listening on LPF/wlan0/00:1c:bf:ad:83:b1

Sending on LPF/wlan0/00:1c:bf:ad:83:b1

Sending on Socket/fallback

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 13

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 19

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 12

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 9

No DHCPOFFERS received.

No working leases in persistent database - sleeping.

if-up.d/mountnfs[wlan0]: waiting for interface lo before doing NFS mounts (warning).

but looking carefully at the message I realize the message:

Error for wireless request "Set Encode" (8B2A):

invalid argument "my passphrase".

and it's then that an argument from Mamimando comes to mind:
to prefix the passphrase with an S:
That's what I immediately did in my /etc/network/interfaces file
and bingo!!!:

KafAAr:/home/kafar# sudo ifup wlan0

Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.1

Copyright 2004-2008 Internet Systems Consortium.

All rights reserved.

For info, please visit http://www.isc.org/sw/dhcp/

wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801

wmaster0: unknown hardware address type 801

Listening on LPF/wlan0/00:1c:bf:ad:83:b1

Sending on LPF/wlan0/00:1c:bf:ad:83:b1

Sending on Socket/fallback

DHCPDISCOVER on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 4

DHCPOFFER from 10.0.0.1

DHCPREQUEST on wlan0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67

DHCPACK from 10.0.0.1

bound to 10.0.0.2 -- renewal in 288551 seconds.

if-up.d/mountnfs[wlan0]: waiting for interface lo before doing NFS mounts (warning).

KafAAr:/home/kafar#

In short, I didn't just want to pass and simply say... : it's good, it works.. thanks.. so here it is.. I'm telling a bit...

To finish, I will summarize everything in 3 main steps, as I recall it, hoping not to forget anything, to configure the Intel 3945ABG wifi card:
I also hope that people will not hesitate to correct me and elaborate if necessary.

I make this summary only to try to "synthesize and get to the point", and at the same time, I will do a copy/paste at home for a reminder, especially since I will need it to do it "properly on my dual boot hard drive...

I. install the firmware for the wifi card and configure its /etc/network/interface file as mentioned below. Here’s what needs to be installed now:
To do this:
1:
# apt-cache search 3945

firmware-iwlwifi - Binary firmware for Intel Wireless 3945 and 4965

If the response is the one above: Go to step 2
Otherwise, check the repositories (by editing /etc/apt/sources.List) and replace them if necessary with others like:

## base
deb http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib non-free

## security
deb https://www.debian.org/security/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src https://www.debian.org/security/ lenny/updates main contrib non-free

## multimedia
deb https://www.debian-multimedia.org/ lenny main

2. run the command

#modprobe iwl3945

II. Edit the /etc/network/interface file and create lines corresponding to the wifi card if necessary:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless-essid Your_Network_Name
wireless-key S:your_passphrase*
* (Without the S if it’s only numbers (to be confirmed)

III. Launch the connection to test:

# sudo ifup wlan0

For me, everything went this way.

Once again, I thank you Mamimando and Djagh for your participation and your help.

See you soon
.
KafAr
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mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 937
 
Last night, I decided before going to bed to put another hard drive in the laptop and to install another Debian 500 just to see (I thought the problem was due to the fact that I was using an unstable version (Lenny) so I switched to another version.

No, that's actually what I'm using ^^

Tonight, when I got home from work (and after reading your comments several times today Mamimando...) I thought that I should persist and FIND...

Excellent philosophy ^^

/etc/apt/sources.List

No! /etc/apt/sources.list

prepend the passphrase with an S:

I said that ^^ Blast :-) But I don't remember saying such a thing ^^

wireless-key S:your_passphrase*
* (Without the S if it's only numbers (to be confirmed)


In fact, for me if the key is a string, you can put it in quotes and it's presumably a WPA key that you're configuring in /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf (WEP keys are usually given in hexadecimal). I think you got this hint from a tutorial because I didn't know this syntax.

Actually, I think what needs to be remembered is that
- if the required ipw3945 packages are not available in apt-cache, you surely need to add the non-free repositories
- once the drivers are installed (firmware, module etc...), you just need to not mess up when entering the key :-)

Again, I thank you Mamiemando and Djagh for your participation and your help.

But it's only natural ^^ I hope you enjoy using Linux. I also thank you for your very detailed feedback :-)

Good luck
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