How do I create a linux home network?

[Acoshi]

I have recently decided that I would make create home network with my laptop as the main hub. Now the issue is that my laptop has WinXp OS while my desktop, that I want to network with, has a Fedora Core 3 (linux OS). I wouldn't have a problem if they were both WinXp but seeing as they are not I have ran into a bit of a problem, even before I started.

I recently bought a Linksys Wireless - B USB Network Adapter for my linux machine. And I will connect the router to my laptop. I was wondering how do I even begin to setup this adapter to allow linux to recognize it?

Thanks in Advance

 

[Leros]

The network adapter should be pretty much plug and play. Linux has always found drivers for all of my hardware.

 

[bersl2]

OK, let me get this straight:
Laptop w/XP connects via ??? to router.
Desktop w/Fedora connects via 802.11b to router.

What's the chipset? See if the output of lsusb gives you something besides Linksys.

 

[Nothinman]

First you need to figure out what chipset the wifi card uses. Some work fine, some work with a little work and some will never work. You need to figure out which category yours falls into.

 

[Acoshi]

How do I figure out what chipset the usb network adapter uses?

 

[Nothinman]

That's the fun part, most vendors make it a PITA to find that information and on top of that some of them will even change chipsets but not change the model of the card. The simpleset thing is simply to use the google Linux search, put in the model of the card and you'll almost always find someone else with that card who either got it working or didn't and will tell you how or why.

 

[Acoshi]

I found out the specific chipset, its ALI M4301. But I couldn't find out how to install it. Can anyone assist me?

 

[bersl2]

Originally posted by: Acoshi
I found out the specific chipset, its ALI M4301. But I couldn't find out how to install it. Can anyone assist me?

Eh... I was not aware that they even made 802.11 chips. There isn't even a trace of native drivers. I see that there is a Broadcom BCM4301, but even then, it doesn't look good. You're going to have to go with ndiswrapper if you want to use this hardware, unless somebody knows more than I do.

I think I'll let those who wish to profess their love for ndiswrapper take over. :laugh:

Edit: Honestly, in the long run, you may wish to consider going with better supported hardware. Ralink and Atheros hardware tend to be liked here, and you can get lists of who sells what using the provided links. And as it says at the bottom of both of those pages, always double-check that you are buying exactly what you think you are; research thoroughly.

 

[groovin]

while most hardware plugs and plays well in fedora (and linux in general), for somethings like wifi adapters i google aroudn to find which cards (and specific versions of) run out of the box. saves a headache later on.

 

[Brazen]

does the hardware show up in the network configuration (I think you type system-config-network in a root console)?

 

[Zelmo3]

Check Sourceforge for ndiswrapper. If I remember right, it's the recommended thing for Linksys USB wireless adapters.
Once you get that working you'll need to set up Samba to interact with Windows on the network.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Zelmo3
Check Sourceforge for ndiswrapper. If I remember right, it's the recommended thing for Linksys USB wireless adapters.
Once you get that working you'll need to set up Samba to interact with Windows on the network.

Not really. ndiswrapper is an abomination. Some Linksys USB adapters are prism and some are ralink. It wouldn't surprise me if there were other supported chipsets in there too.