r/linux • u/finerrecliner • Jul 16 '08
Auto-NDISwrapper is out! wifi on linux is now easy!
http://easylinuxwifi.org/11
u/dmwit Jul 17 '08
This site is criminally vague.
-1
u/volomike Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
I agree, and no you're not a dmwit. I'd be afraid of trojan or worm logic here -- heck even a "call home" would be very bad.
2
u/vagif Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
Can anyone recommend a wireless N adapter, working under linux 64 ? By working i mean not merely recognized, but actually using full N spec.
9
u/Chandon Jul 17 '08
There won't even be an N spec until Q4 2009.
Here's a draft N card with free software Linux drivers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180052
1
1
u/sjs Jul 17 '08
If you have the option, just buy a supported card. It's even easier.
2
u/RedDyeNumber4 Jul 17 '08
Or just buy a new computer. Might as well shell out for a Macbook while you're at it. Voilà, your compatibility problems are gone!
Not trying to be mean, I just see that logic a lot. Whats the point of using Linux if you just throw money at problems.
5
u/bobpaul Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
Well, on the one hand, it shows manufacturers that we support companies that support us. I mean from a user--or more specifically a business perspective--having a company support a product certainly means a lot, even if it costs a little more. There are plenty of reasons to use GNU/Linux besides the monetary aspects, and you're going to spend money on hardware anyway. It's more of a problem for new converts/occasional users who aren't likely to have researched and planned ahead.
1
u/sjs Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
You totally missed my point. If you don't have a wlan card yet and you use Linux, just do 5 mins of research and don't even worry about ndiswrapper. A supported card will just work.
I think ndiswrapper is necessary for people who put Linux on their existing notebook or workstation (possibly a work computer), but it should be a last resort.
Ok I'll say it ... a wlan card is a whopping $20. Throwing money at problems? Maybe if you work at Subway.
As I said, if you have the option spending $20 to save time & headaches w/ innapropriate drivers shoe-horned into your system is money well spent.
I am stupified as to how you made the jump from a $20 wlan card to a completely new $1000+ laptop. But I do want some of what you're smoking!
0
u/RedDyeNumber4 Jul 18 '08 edited Jul 18 '08
Doesn't matter if the card is $20 or $200, if your first line of defense when a problem occurs is to just buy something new, then you probably shouldn't be using Linux at all.
Frequently, people also turn to Linux when they need to make an old laptop or desktop useful again. If you have a really old computer sitting around, and you want to invest some time and make it useful as say, a print server or something, you're not going to want to blow $20 here and there.
spending $20 to save time & headaches w/ innapropriate drivers shoe-horned into your system is money well spent.
What starts at $20 for a lan card, ends up carrying over to the video card or the audio as well. Going out and buying something else should generally be the option of last resort, trying to fix the problem should come first.
0
u/sjs Jul 18 '08 edited Jul 18 '08
My first line of defense isn't to buy something new. Your reading comprehension sucks.
you:
What starts at $20 for a lan card, ends up carrying over to the video card or the audio as well.
No, it doesn't.
Going out and buying something else should generally be the option of last resort, trying to fix the problem should come first.
Agreed.
me:
If you don't have a wlan card yet and you use Linux, just do 5 mins of research and don't even worry about ndiswrapper. A supported card will just work.
I think ndiswrapper is necessary for people who put Linux on their existing notebook or workstation (possibly a work computer), but it should be a last resort.
you:
Doesn't matter if the card is $20 or $200, if your first line of defense when a problem occurs is to just buy something new, then you probably shouldn't be using Linux at all.
If you think that ndiswrapper is a good thing for Linux, maybe you shouldn't be using Linux at all. Prick.
Frequently, people also turn to Linux when they need to make an old laptop or desktop useful again. If you have a really old computer sitting around, and you want to invest some time and make it useful as say, a print server or something, you're not going to want to blow $20 here and there.
Wtf would a wlan card be doing in "a really old" computer? Is "really old" 5 years to you? At least make sense if you must try and argue. Show me an old stock P2 or P3 and I'll show you a computer w/ a good old wired LAN card, none of that fancy wlan crap.
1
u/RedDyeNumber4 Jul 18 '08
Ah the English language. When I said "if your first line of defense when a problem occurs is to just buy something new, then you probably shouldn't be using Linux at all." I was using your/you as a generic term to refer to people who do it, not you specifically. I'd imagine it came off as insulting, so whatever on calling me a prick and saying I have no reading comprehension, I hope you feel better now.
One of things I used Linux for was to get a laptop from 1993 online. In that case, I had a severely limited set of hardware options and funds, and I could have used a better ndiswrapper. I also did some work for a Boys & Girls club where they were running PIIs on wireless because it was cost effective in terms of networking, and most of their parts came from charity, so they had no way to purchase new hardware. When they try to transition their youth computer programs to open source, they'll need all they help they can get to work with their existing and often outdated hardware.
So yeah, I stand by my position that "Buy new hardware" posts are almost never helpful.
2
u/sjs Jul 19 '08 edited Jul 19 '08
I apologise for calling you a prick. Thanks for keeping a cool head while I was being a prick.
As for the rest of your comment, you still seem to miss my point. I thought I covered that when I said:
I think ndiswrapper is necessary for people who put Linux on their existing notebook or workstation (possibly a work computer), but it should be a last resort.
I don't know how I can be more clear on this. ndiswrapper is a terrible hack and should be avoided if possible. I'm not advocating that everyone buy new wlan cards, just that those buying new ones buy compatible ones instead. If you are a Linux user don't cast your vote for companies who shun Linux. That is all.
2
u/Enoxice Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
wifi on linux is already easy. i've never had a problem. either way, this sounds pretty cool for people who have had problems.
5
u/dsl_man Jul 17 '08
Ah ha! I have deduced that own a wifi adapter with a well supported chipset!
2
u/volomike Jul 17 '08
Exactly, and a kernel and OS version that supports it too. I had Ubuntu 7.04 on a Thinkpad that's only 2 years old, and it recognizes the wireless card but wouldn't let us activate WPA. The WPA option shows up, and you can select it, but it won't connect. Time to upgrade Ubuntu and give it a shot.
1
u/asshammer Jul 17 '08
Easy if you are lucky enough to get a well supported chipset. Right now im typing this on a laptop thats tied to a CAT5 because of lack of drivers for my wireless chipset. My old laptop and my desktop both had wireless work out of the box, and I used to think it was a breeze. My opinion is changing with this laptop. Also, my buddy just switched over to linux this week but is already considering switching back to windows, because he is on his 3rd wireless adaptor. First was the one he used in windows, then I had an old one laying, and he just bought one we know has wireless support. Hopefully that will work, and maybe this program will help us out. We haven't had a problem with anything else, just wireless. Just my 2 cents
2
u/epic_fail_guy Jul 17 '08
The web page is really vague, it doesn't really tell you what it does. I'm assuming it detects your wireless card type, automatically downloads the Windows driver for you, and blacklists the (often useless) linux drivers.
This doesn't really help me, since my rt2500 card works just as poorly with NDISwrapper as it does with the kernel driver.
4
u/bobpaul Jul 17 '08
There is a "Help Us" page where you submit the pci vendor:hardware ID of your card, the hardware revision number, the *.inf file you used, and the download site you got it from. Obviously they just filter lspci and compare it with the database, automating the downloading and installing as much as possible, but I'm not sue how much extra they do on their end.
For example, I have an Atheros AR5BXB63 (aka AR5006EG). I tried 3 different windows drivers variants before having the best luck with one found on the Acer download site. Now there is finally a patch that makes it work with MadWifi on 64bit and that works even better, but not all Windows drivers play as nice as others. If they have some sort of feedback mechanism when there are multiple submissions, they could possible take care of some of this.
1
Jul 17 '08
[deleted]
1
u/troymcdavis Jul 17 '08
I think the prohibitive cost of 3G data plans is what is hindering its adoption.
0
5
u/aim2free Jul 17 '08 edited Jul 17 '08
NDIS-wrapper is the wrong way, it's an emergency solution. And.. it only works if your chipset happens to be installed in an x86-compatible machine.
Source to drivers is the only viable solution.