Difference between revisions of "How to install ndiswrapper for the IBM 11a/b/g WLAN adaptor"

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(use IBM 11 a/b/g wlan with ndiswrapper)
 
(Enable wireless status led)
 
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=== Reference system ===
 
=== Reference system ===
*Thinkpad T41p 2373-GHG
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*Thinkpad T41p [[2373-GHG | 2373-GHG]]
 
*Kernel 2.6.13
 
*Kernel 2.6.13
 
*Ndiswrapper 1.2
 
*Ndiswrapper 1.2
*[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/license.do?filename=mobiles/77wc14ww.exe 802.11bg WLAN Mini PCI Express adapter software v 4.1.102.1095]
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*[ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/77wc14ww.exe 802.11bg WLAN Mini PCI Express adapter software v 4.1.102.1095]
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=== Configuration of Ndiswrapper ===
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==== Enable wireless status led ====
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I once had the problem that the wireless led status doesn't come up with loading the driver.
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After a while I figured out that the driver could be configured through a config file that
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is located in ''/etc/ndiswrapper/net5211''.
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When you load ndiswrapper it tells you through messages which config file it uses.
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''wlan0: ndiswrapper ethernet device XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX using driver net5211, configuration file XXX:XXX.X.conf''
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Changing 'gpioPinFunc1|1' to 'gpioPinFunc1|0' in the configuration file should enable the wireless status led.
  
 
=== Advantages of Ndiswrapper ===  
 
=== Advantages of Ndiswrapper ===  
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Note: You can also install the driver from an existing windows system.
 
Note: You can also install the driver from an existing windows system.
Mount your windows partition and locate the *.INF file of the windows driver:  ''find -name NET5211.INF''.
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Mount your windows partition and locate the *.INF file of the windows driver:  ''find -name NET5211.INF''
  
  
 
  [[Category:T41p]]
 
  [[Category:T41p]]

Latest revision as of 15:00, 12 November 2005

Usage of the IBM 11 a/b/g adapter with ndiswrapper:

Because I had massive problems getting the madwifi driver running on kernel 2.6.13 I gave ndiswrapper a try - with impressive success:

Reference system

Configuration of Ndiswrapper

Enable wireless status led

I once had the problem that the wireless led status doesn't come up with loading the driver. After a while I figured out that the driver could be configured through a config file that is located in /etc/ndiswrapper/net5211. When you load ndiswrapper it tells you through messages which config file it uses.

wlan0: ndiswrapper ethernet device XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX using driver net5211, configuration file XXX:XXX.X.conf

Changing 'gpioPinFunc1|1' to 'gpioPinFunc1|0' in the configuration file should enable the wireless status led.

Advantages of Ndiswrapper

  • full power management support (madwifi has no powermanagement support)
  • connection to access points establishes fast (madwifi has problems here / especially with dhcp)

There are also some drawbacks of Ndiswrapper against madwifi. Some features that madwifi allready provides are missing in ndiswrapper.

Installation instructions

Note: You can also install the driver from an existing windows system. Mount your windows partition and locate the *.INF file of the windows driver: find -name NET5211.INF