On Fri, Nov 25, 2005 at 12:22:51PM +0100, Nico Gulden wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Hello all, > > I plan to set up a WLAN environment und I'm looking for the right > componenents. I'd like to use the Linksys WPC54GS or WPC54G WLAN > adapter. > > How are your experiences with these devices? Do they work easily with > debian? What chipset do the devices use and what modules or extra > software do I need in order to get it working.
I acquired one of these from a windows using friend (who has sinced switched to Debian!). Getting the device to work was a simple matter of: $ sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper $ sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver.inf $ sudo modprobe ndiswrapper $ sudo sh -c 'echo ndiswrapper >> /etc/modules' Of course, you also have to edit /etc/network/interfaces and bring up the interface -- note that ndiswrapper by default will use wlan0 (not eth?) as the interface name. However, DO NOT BUY WPC54G*. Use free software drivers. Proprietary XP drivers cannot be trusted. They cannot even be trusted to obey FCC regulations -- their use may well be illegal -- there is no way to know. Nor should Linksys/broadcom be rewarded in any way for their unnecessary and counter-productive secrecy. Such rewards only hurt the progress of free software. Note that Linksys has actually written Linux drivers for the Broadcom chipset, but these are not free software. See link: http://linux-bcom4301.sourceforge.net/ There are wireless PCMCIA devices with free software drivers. I do not know of any particular wireless-G cards which have them, but there are wireless-B cards which do (those using the Intersil Prism chipset, at least). See http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/hardware.html for a list which, unfortunately, does not distinguish PCMCIA cards from PCI. There is more information here: http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/#whard If you must buy WPC54G*, at least try to buy one used. Even if this behavior is multiplied, it is not likely to benefit linksys/broadcom in any way, since the used market is probably undifferentiated. While prices of new cards may go up as the used cards leave the market, prices of new or even used linksys cards are unlikely to go up any faster than the market as a whole. The Windows-using masses will just buy competing used cards if they can't find used linksys ones. At least, this will work unless Linux users start buying them new once the used market dries up -- but we can hope that Linux users are not so short-sighted. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
