question for linux users

[Rallispec]

okay.. i think i'm going to install linux (redhat 7.2 most likely) on my laptop-- becuase i use it the most so it would kind of force me to learn how to use it... and save my main computer for win2k so it wouldnt mess up games or anything like that and wouldnt have to mess with a dual boot.

a few questions before i start though for anybody using linux... does anybody know if there is any wireless support or drivers for my my wireless NIC for linux? i'd hate to load it up and then realize that i can't get online.

 

[Derango]

Well...if you posted what wireless NIC you were using...it would be a little easier to figure out if it will work.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: Derango
Well...if you posted what wireless NIC you were using...it would be a little easier to figure out if it will work.

Linksys WPC11 ver. 3

i cant find any non-windows drivers on the linksys webpage.

 

[bizmark]

I installed Mandrake 8.2 on my laptop a few weeks ago. I'd recommend it over RedHat for the new user. It sensed all of my hardware and installed everything perfectly. I don't have a wireless LAN, though. But it did take care of my 10/100 NIC without a problem.

I found a howto on wireless networks and Linux: link

From looking at that, I'd say you may not have much of a problem finding drivers, depending on which NIC you have.

 

[Nemesis77]

Maybe this will be of assistance?

EDIT: Damn, too slow! Well, here's some more

 

[bizmark]

this page has a linux driver for your card.

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: bizmark
this page has a linux driver for your card.

AHh... its hidden down at the bottom.. i didnt see that.

thanks everyone. :-D

 

[yakko]

You could always look here.

 

[manly]

Most likely the wlan-ng driver that Linksys links on their site is not the latest. So grab it from the official source (do a Google search). wlan-ng is essentially the official open source driver project for Intersil Prism2 chipset based wireless clients.

When I was using such a device (D-Link DWL-650) I had no luck getting the wlan-ng drivers working. Luckily, the open-source orinoco_cs drivers (for Lucent Orinoco clients) also works for Prism2 devices. Furthermore, Orinoco is the most popular wireless client and the orinoco_cs drivers have been integrated into the standard kernel. So most current distros ship w/ Orinoco support "out-of-the-box".

So for Red Hat, you just need to modify some config files in /etc/pcmcia to get Orinoco wireless LAN support up and running. In short, if you're unable to get the wlan-ng drivers (the preferred native drivers) working for the WPC11, give the orinoco_cs drivers a try.

This short thread might be helpful. Finally, you might as well use Red Hat Linux 7.3, which is the latest release.