how to install wifi in debian?

[MRG123]

---

I recently switched from ubuntu/mint to debian, and I cant seem to get my wifi drivers to work. its a generic wifi usb that ubuntu, mint, and chakra have been able to automatically detect and install. is there a tarball that has all the generic drivers for ubuntu, that I can install in debian so I can get my internet connection working? thanks...

[MikeTbob]

Start here please and post your results.
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/wir...tart-here.html

[reed9]

Unlike Chakra, Ubuntu, or Mint, Debian does not include any non-free software. Many wireless chipsets rely on non-free firmware which must be installed. (Or more rarely non-free drivers.)

WiFi - Debian Wiki

[lindylex]

MRG123, what is the hardware? Can you tell us the brand and model please?

[MRG123]

This is what I got when I typed in lshw let me know if you need more info:

nk STA
  *-network:0
       description: Wireless interface
       physical id: 2
       logical name: wlan0
       serial: 00:a1:b0:df:06:8d
       capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes ip=192.168.1.103 multicast=yes wireless=Ralink STA
  *-network:1 DISABLED
       description: Wireless interface
       physical id: 3
       logical name: wlan1-wlan0
       serial: 00:e0:4c:a0:2e:f8
       capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
       configuration: broadcast=yes multicast=yes wireless=802.11b/g

This is running off a mint partion so I could use the net while I figured it out in debian btw...

[dE_logics]

Post the output of lsusb.

More importantly, boot up Mint/Ubuntu without the wireless usb, then plug it in, and then post the output of dmesg.

[MRG123]

lsusb:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1d57:0008  
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 148f:3070 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2870/RT3070 Wireless Adapter
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 058f:6361 Alcor Micro Corp. Multimedia Card Reader
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8174 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

dmesg:
[  126.012696] device disconnected
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[  126.012818] device disconnectedlsusb:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1d57:0008  
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 148f:3070 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2870/RT3070 Wireless Adapter
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 058f:6361 Alcor Micro Corp. Multimedia Card Reader
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8174 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
[  126.012822] device disconnected
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[  126.012872] ERROR! H2M_MAILBOX still hold by MCU. command fail
[  126.012877] device disconnected
[  126.012879] device disconnected
[  126.012882] device disconnected
[  126.012938] device disconnected
[  126.012941] Retry count exhausted or device removed!!!
[  126.012944] device disconnected
[  126.012947] Retry count exhausted or device removed!!!
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[  126.023602] ERROR! H2M_MAILBOX still hold by MCU. command fail
[  126.023607] device disconnected
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[  126.125660] device disconnected
[  126.125665] ERROR! H2M_MAILBOX still hold by MCU. command fail
[  126.205500] #
[  126.215812] #
[  126.226187] #
[  126.236563] #
[  126.246150] #
[  126.251479] #
[  126.256495] #
[  126.261797] #
[  126.269219] #
[  126.277898] #
[  126.282919] RTUSB_VendorRequest failed(-19),TxFlags=0x0, ReqType=IN, Req=0x7, Index=0x1000
[  126.282922] CMDTHREAD_RESET_BULK_IN: Cannot do bulk in because flags(0x100a0542) on !
[  126.283282] ---> RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
[  126.283312] <--- RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
[  127.580163]  RTUSB disconnect successfully
[  174.720069] usb 1-7: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[  174.910151] === pAd = ffffc90005a0d000, size = 504952 ===
[  174.910158] <-- RTMPAllocAdapterBlock, Status=0
[  175.010045] #
[  175.030043] #
[  175.050042] #
[  175.090184] #
[  175.240036] #
[  175.260036] #
[  175.290037] #
[  175.310035] #
[  175.340164] #
[  175.360037] #
[  175.380063] #
[  175.400038] #
[  175.420038] #
[  175.444247] <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
[  175.445786] -->RTUSBVenderReset
[  175.445911] <--RTUSBVenderReset
[  175.470039] #
[  175.490039] #
[  175.510038] #
[  175.530036] #
[  175.560043] #
[  175.580169] #
[  175.600040] #
[  175.630045] #
[  175.650040] #
[  175.680042] #
[  175.700043] #
[  175.720042] #
[  175.750045] #
[  175.780043] #
[  175.800042] #
[  175.820043] #
[  175.843420] 1. Phy Mode = 0
[  175.843426] 2. Phy Mode = 0
[  175.843431] NVM is Efuse and its size =2d[2d0-2fc] 
[  175.860043] #
[  175.890042] #
[  175.910045] #
[  175.930041] #
[  175.945922] 3. Phy Mode = 0
[  175.953049] RTMPSetPhyMode: channel is out of range, use first channel=1 
[  175.953058] MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
[  175.970041] #
[  176.000043] #
[  176.020171] #
[  176.050043] #
[  176.057054] <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
[  176.058543] 0x1300 = 00073200
[  176.628773] ---> RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
[  176.628843] <--- RTMPFreeTxRxRingMemory
[  176.670044] #
[  176.690044] #
[  176.710045] #
[  176.740042] #
[  176.770043] #
[  176.790042] #
[  176.810042] #
[  176.830042] #
[  176.850043] #
[  176.880044] #
[  176.900044] #
[  176.920169] #
[  176.940049] #
[  176.960042] #
[  176.990044] #
[  177.010042] #
[  177.016835] <-- RTMPAllocTxRxRingMemory, Status=0
[  177.018793] -->RTUSBVenderReset
[  177.018916] <--RTUSBVenderReset
[  177.030043] #
[  177.050042] #
[  177.070042] #
[  177.090167] #
[  177.110043] #
[  177.130041] #
[  177.150042] #
[  177.260046] #
[  177.290045] #
[  177.370043] #
[  177.396297] 1. Phy Mode = 0
[  177.396304] 2. Phy Mode = 0
[  177.396310] NVM is Efuse and its size =2d[2d0-2fc] 
[  177.450041] #
[  177.482547] 3. Phy Mode = 0
[  177.488677] MCS Set = 00 00 00 00 00
[  177.560819] <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
[  177.562549] 0x1300 = 00073200
[  177.760045] #
[  177.920171] #
[  178.380039] #
[  178.700036] #
[  178.860579] #
[  179.030037] #
[  179.340037] #
[  182.607262] ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 1(1) BSS returned, data->length = 143
[  182.960045] #
[  183.120171] #
[  183.430046] #
[  183.730384] #
[  183.890045] #
[  184.190045] #
[  184.340046] #
[  187.649627] ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 1(1) BSS returned, data->length = 143
[  187.649878] ==>rt_ioctl_siwfreq::SIOCSIWFREQ[cmd=0x8b04] (Channel=1)
[  188.160026] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
[  243.640124] #
[  786.660116] #

[dE_logics]

Install firmware-ralink package.

[reed9]

You'll need to add the non-free section to your sources.list to install the firmware.

Also that assumes you're using the current stable 6.0, Debian, Squeeze, and not Debian Lenny 5.0.

rt2870sta - Debian Wiki