Greetings everyone! I am currently giving myself a crash course in how to configure a Linux based computer to access a wireless network. I am doing this primarily for a class presentation and demonstration, but also for my own personal enjoyment... I am having some serious issues connecting my node laptops to the access point laptop. I will describe what I am doing below:
Node/client laptops:
IBM 390E laptops with Orinoco Gold wireless nics.
Various operating systems, Windows ME, Redhat 9.0, Lycoris build 71. Will test more later.
Access Point Laptop:
IBM A22E laptop running LocustWorld MeshAP Build 22. (www.locustworld.com)
Orinoco Gold wireless nic and internal 10/100 nic for wan connection.
The problem:
After testing various network cards I finally got the damned MeshAP software to detect both of my network cards properly! It uses the internal land-line nic to get an IP and connection to the WAN so that the wireless nodes can get internet access through it. The MeshAP software is supposed to be giving out DHCP addresses, but I can't get my nodes to connect to the server.
Windows ME OS:
I have been able to get my laptops running Windows ME to connecto the the MeshAP machine. The drivers I have for the Orinoco Gold wireless nics allow me to scan for available wireless networks and it detects all of the settings. It also seems like it is getting a valid IP from the MeshAP system, but it is not getting the gateway from the MeshAP dhcp. So I can't connect to the internet through my MeshAP system.
Redhat 9.0 OS:
I haven't done much testing with this OS yet because it is so damned slow on my old laptop...
Mandrake 9.1 OS:
I might try this one out too, but haven't installed it yet.
Lycoris OS:
I decided to test out the new build of the Lycoris OS to show everyone in my class how Linux can be a viable alternative to MS Windows. I had some trouble getting Lycoris to startup the nic, but I got past that point with some information in the lycoris.org forums. Now the problem is that the wireless nic is defaulting to the wrong wireless network! I am currently operating in parallel to a wireless network we have at my office, and Lycoris has decided to use that one instead. I have attempted to use the iwconfig utility to force it to use the LocustWorld ESSID and Nickname, but when I try to refresh the IP it can't get a new IP from the MeshAP system...
Here are the commands I am trying:
iwconfig eth0 essid "LocustWorld"
iwconfig eth0 nick "10.149.147.177"
iwconfig eth0 mode Ad-Hoc
ifdown eth0
ifup eth0
At this point it starts trying to query the DHCPDISCOVER on the LocustWorld essid that I gave it, but it doesn't find anything... I have also compared both systems to make sure they are running the same settings and no encryption, and that seems to be fine.
So, now for the million dollar question... What am I doing wrong???
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
-Josh
Node/client laptops:
IBM 390E laptops with Orinoco Gold wireless nics.
Various operating systems, Windows ME, Redhat 9.0, Lycoris build 71. Will test more later.
Access Point Laptop:
IBM A22E laptop running LocustWorld MeshAP Build 22. (www.locustworld.com)
Orinoco Gold wireless nic and internal 10/100 nic for wan connection.
The problem:
After testing various network cards I finally got the damned MeshAP software to detect both of my network cards properly! It uses the internal land-line nic to get an IP and connection to the WAN so that the wireless nodes can get internet access through it. The MeshAP software is supposed to be giving out DHCP addresses, but I can't get my nodes to connect to the server.
Windows ME OS:
I have been able to get my laptops running Windows ME to connecto the the MeshAP machine. The drivers I have for the Orinoco Gold wireless nics allow me to scan for available wireless networks and it detects all of the settings. It also seems like it is getting a valid IP from the MeshAP system, but it is not getting the gateway from the MeshAP dhcp. So I can't connect to the internet through my MeshAP system.
Redhat 9.0 OS:
I haven't done much testing with this OS yet because it is so damned slow on my old laptop...
Mandrake 9.1 OS:
I might try this one out too, but haven't installed it yet.
Lycoris OS:
I decided to test out the new build of the Lycoris OS to show everyone in my class how Linux can be a viable alternative to MS Windows. I had some trouble getting Lycoris to startup the nic, but I got past that point with some information in the lycoris.org forums. Now the problem is that the wireless nic is defaulting to the wrong wireless network! I am currently operating in parallel to a wireless network we have at my office, and Lycoris has decided to use that one instead. I have attempted to use the iwconfig utility to force it to use the LocustWorld ESSID and Nickname, but when I try to refresh the IP it can't get a new IP from the MeshAP system...
Here are the commands I am trying:
iwconfig eth0 essid "LocustWorld"
iwconfig eth0 nick "10.149.147.177"
iwconfig eth0 mode Ad-Hoc
ifdown eth0
ifup eth0
At this point it starts trying to query the DHCPDISCOVER on the LocustWorld essid that I gave it, but it doesn't find anything... I have also compared both systems to make sure they are running the same settings and no encryption, and that seems to be fine.
So, now for the million dollar question... What am I doing wrong???
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
-Josh
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