Help elderly newbie with wifi

[tonydi]

So here is my problem I am an grey haired ultra newbie and have just managed to get Debian running quite well on a Tecra 8100 Toshiba laptop. I can get a network connection with a network cable but cannot get my Proxim Orinco Wireless card model 8420_WD to work
After reading many posts and following many broken links I am close to giving up. This is my last attempt and my first post. Following stickys advice I show below the output from various utitlities. I dont know how to find out which chipset is installed in the card :-

uname 2.6.18-6-686


ifconfig :-
lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:8 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:560 (560.0 b) TX bytes:560 (560.0 b)

pccardctl :-

Socket 0:
no product info available
Socket 1:
product info: "Agere Systems", "Wireless PC Card Model 0111", "", ""
manfid: 0x0156, 0x0003
function: 6 (network)




lsmod :-

Module Size Used by
nls_iso8859_1 4256 1
isofs 32540 1
udf 73124 0
savage 28448 2
drm 61332 3 savage
rfcomm 34712 0
l2cap 21760 5 rfcomm
bluetooth 46020 4 rfcomm,l2cap
ppdev 8676 0
lp 11012 0
button 6672 0
ac 5188 0
battery 9636 0
dm_snapshot 15552 0
dm_mirror 19152 0
dm_mod 50232 2 dm_snapshot,dm_mirror
loop 15048 0
snd_ymfpci 57472 1
gameport 14632 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_ac97_codec 83104 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_ac97_bus 2400 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 38368 0
snd_mixer_oss 15200 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 68676 3 snd_ymfpci,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_opl3_lib 9920 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_hwdep 8836 1 snd_opl3_lib
snd_page_alloc 10184 2 snd_ymfpci,snd_pcm
snd_mpu401_uart 8064 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_seq_dummy 3844 0
snd_seq_oss 28768 0
snd_seq_midi 8192 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7008 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
tsdev 7520 0
snd_seq 45680 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_mid i_event
floppy 53156 0
pcmcia 34140 0
firmware_class 9600 1 pcmcia
snd_timer 20996 4 snd_ymfpci,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq
snd_rawmidi 22560 2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
parport_pc 32132 1
snd_seq_device 7820 6 snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_mid i,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
parport 33256 3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
psmouse 35016 0
rtc 12372 0
serio_raw 6660 0
snd 47012 15 snd_ymfpci,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_os s,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uart,s nd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_d evice
pcspkr 3072 0
donauboe 14560 0
irda 162588 1 donauboe
i2c_piix4 8268 0
soundcore 9248 1 snd
i2c_core 19680 1 i2c_piix4
yenta_socket 24460 4
rsrc_nonstatic 11840 1 yenta_socket
crc_ccitt 2240 2 donauboe,irda
intel_agp 22204 1
agpgart 29896 2 drm,intel_agp
pcmcia_core 36852 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
shpchp 33024 0
pci_hotplug 28704 1 shpchp
evdev 9088 1
ext3 119240 1
jbd 52456 1 ext3
mbcache 8356 1 ext3
ide_cd 36064 1
cdrom 32544 1 ide_cd
ide_disk 14848 3
generic 4868 0 [permanent]
piix 9444 0 [permanent]
uhci_hcd 21164 0
usbcore 112644 2 uhci_hcd
ide_core 110504 4 ide_cd,ide_disk,generic,piix
thermal 13608 0
processor 28840 1 thermal
fan 4804 0

lspci :-

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03)
00:05.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
00:05.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:05.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
00:05.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)
00:07.0 Communication controller: Agere Systems 56k WinModem (rev 01)
00:09.0 IRDA controller: Toshiba America Info Systems FIR Port Type-DO
00:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 20)
00:0b.1 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 20)
00:0c.0 Multimedia audio controller: Yamaha Corporation YMF-744B [DS-1S Audio Controller] (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. 86C270-294 Savage/MX-MV (rev 11)


lspcimia :-

Socket 0 Bridge: [yenta_cardbus] (bus ID: 0000:00:0b.0)
Socket 1 Bridge: [yenta_cardbus] (bus ID: 0000:00:0b.1)
Socket 1 Device 0: [-- no driver --] (bus ID: 1.0)


Any help or advice much appreciated

Best wishes

Tony

[danielsmw]

tonydi,

It would seem that you should find the device in the output of lspci, but it doesn't look like it's there. Have you had any problems with this device before? Could it be a hardware issue?

If it isn't a hardware issue, it could be a compatibility one. If you really are a newbie, I'm surprised you're using Debian - it's generally a more difficult distro to get up and running. I would normally say that Ubuntu and Fedora are easier to get going and generally have better compatibility, if not just because of their huge community base.

Personally, I never have much luck with wireless in Linux, in general; I always end up having to configure ndiswrapper. Any way, check your hardware, and good luck. Sorry I couldn't help more! (Hopefully someone else can!)

[waterhead]

Hi, maybe I can be of some assistance.

Like danielsmw pointed out, we should see the device in the output of lspci. Unless this is a USB device. Please tell us exactly what type of device it is. If it is a USB wireless, use this command.

lsusb

I also don't see a driver for it being loaded. Here is a list of possible driver modules that your card may use.

orinoco_cs      PCMCIA/CompactFlash cards in sockets supported by the
                Linux PCMCIA driver, except Symbol Spectrum Trilogy V3
spectrum_cs     PCMCIA/CompactFlash cards using Symbol Spectrum
                Trilogy chipset, version 3
orinoco_plx     PCMCIA cards in PLX9052 based PCI adaptors
orinoco_tmd     PCMCIA cards in TMD7160 based PCI adaptors
orinoco_nortel  PCMCIA cards in Nortel and Symbol PCI adaptors
orinoco_pci     Prism 2.5 based PCI/MiniPCI cards

I just helped someone install the driver for a USB card that uses the same driver family. You may want to read it through.

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/wir...lp-please.html

There is also a page that has a lot of info for your type of card.

orinoco - Linux Wireless

I believe yours is an Agere type card and requires firmware to be downloaded and installed.

But, the card first needs to be seen by the system, otherwise nothing else will work. Let me know if this is an internal, PCMCIA or USB card, and we can procede from there.

[tonydi]

Sorry I didnt mention that it is a PCMCIA card.
Thanks for your time and inout

Tony

[waterhead]

The fact that your device isn't being seen by the operating system is troubling. I would like you to try something:

First remove the card from the computer, and reboot
Then enter this command in a terminal.

tail -f /var/log/messages

Make a note of the last line that it prints out. Now insert the card into the computer. Copy and post the messages that are output after inserting the card.

I'm just fishing here, but I am hoping it will tell me something.

[tonydi]

Dear Paul

Many thanks for you interest and support

after card removal tail etc gives


debian:/home/tony# tail -f /var/log/messages
Oct 11 10:13:55 localhost kernel: ide: failed opcode was: unknown
Oct 11 10:13:55 localhost kernel: hdc: ATAPI reset complete
Oct 11 10:18:00 localhost syslogd 1.4.1#18: restart.
Oct 11 10:18:34 localhost kernel: pccard: card ejected from slot 1
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): starting (version 2.16.1), pid 336 0 user 'root'
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/et c/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only configuration source at position 0
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/r oot/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 1
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/et c/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 2
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/va r/lib/gconf/debian.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 3
Oct 11 10:19:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/va r/lib/gconf/defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 4
Oct 11 10:21:55 localhost popularity-contest: unable to submit report to http://popcon.debian.org/cgi-bin/popcon.cgi.

Reboot then insert card no screen messages but a repeat of tail etc gives

debian:/home/tony# tail -f /var/log/messages
Oct 11 10:23:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): GConf server is not in use, shutting down.
Oct 11 10:23:19 localhost gconfd (root-3360): Exiting
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): starting (version 2.16.1), pid 3724 user 'root'
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory" to a read-only configuration source at position 0
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): Resolved address "xml:readwrite:/root/.gconf" to a writable configuration source at position 1
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 2
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/var/lib/gconf/debian.defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 3
Oct 11 10:23:23 localhost gconfd (root-3724): Resolved address "xml:readonly:/var/lib/gconf/defaults" to a read-only configuration source at position 4
Oct 11 10:23:32 localhost kernel: pccard: PCMCIA card inserted into slot 1
Oct 11 10:23:32 localhost kernel: pcmcia: registering new device pcmcia1.0


now lspci gives :-

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03)
00:05.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
00:05.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:05.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
00:05.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)
00:07.0 Communication controller: Agere Systems 56k WinModem (rev 01)
00:09.0 IRDA controller: Toshiba America Info Systems FIR Port Type-DO
00:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 20)
00:0b.1 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 20)
00:0c.0 Multimedia audio controller: Yamaha Corporation YMF-744B [DS-1S Audio Controller] (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. 86C270-294 Savage/MX-MV (rev 11)

I hope this gives you some clues. I am most grateful

Thanks

Tony

[waterhead]

I think that you should download and install the firmware for this card. I have a link to it in my previous post. Also check for firmware error with this command.

dmesg | grep firmware

[waterhead]

Here's the link again.
orinoco - Linux Wireless

I had figured out previously that you needed the Agere firmware, so download it from here:
http://marc.info/?l=orinoco-devel&m=...835610877&q=p3

Unpack it and rename the orinoco.fw file to "agere_sta_fw.bin". Then copy it into the /lib/firmware folder.

[tonydi]

OK Thanks that all seemed to work but still no activity from card here is output from lsmod
kdebian:/home/tony/Desktop/Downloads# lsmod
Module Size Used by
nls_iso8859_1 4256 1
isofs 32540 1
udf 73124 0
savage 28448 2
drm 61332 3 savage
rfcomm 34712 0
l2cap 21760 5 rfcomm
bluetooth 46020 4 rfcomm,l2cap
ppdev 8676 0
lp 11012 0
button 6672 0
ac 5188 0
battery 9636 0
dm_snapshot 15552 0
dm_mirror 19152 0
dm_mod 50232 2 dm_snapshot,dm_mirror
loop 15048 0
snd_ymfpci 57472 1
gameport 14632 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_ac97_codec 83104 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_ac97_bus 2400 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 38368 0
snd_mixer_oss 15200 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 68676 3 snd_ymfpci,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_opl3_lib 9920 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_hwdep 8836 1 snd_opl3_lib
snd_page_alloc 10184 2 snd_ymfpci,snd_pcm
snd_mpu401_uart 8064 1 snd_ymfpci
snd_seq_dummy 3844 0
snd_seq_oss 28768 0
snd_seq_midi 8192 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7008 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
tsdev 7520 0
pcmcia 34140 0
snd_seq 45680 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_m idi_event
parport_pc 32132 1
parport 33256 3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
snd_timer 20996 4 snd_ymfpci,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq
firmware_class 9600 1 pcmcia
snd_rawmidi 22560 2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
floppy 53156 0
snd_seq_device 7820 6 snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_m idi,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
rtc 12372 0
psmouse 35016 0
serio_raw 6660 0
snd 47012 15 snd_ymfpci,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer _oss,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uar t,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_time r,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
donauboe 14560 0
shpchp 33024 0
pcspkr 3072 0
irda 162588 1 donauboe
pci_hotplug 28704 1 shpchp
intel_agp 22204 1
soundcore 9248 1 snd
yenta_socket 24460 4
rsrc_nonstatic 11840 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 36852 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
crc_ccitt 2240 2 donauboe,irda
agpgart 29896 2 drm,intel_agp
i2c_piix4 8268 0
i2c_core 19680 1 i2c_piix4
evdev 9088 1
ext3 119240 1
jbd 52456 1 ext3
mbcache 8356 1 ext3
ide_cd 36064 1
cdrom 32544 1 ide_cd
ide_disk 14848 3
generic 4868 0 [permanent]
uhci_hcd 21164 0
usbcore 112644 2 uhci_hcd
piix 9444 0 [permanent]
ide_core 110504 4 ide_cd,ide_disk,generic,piix
thermal 13608 0
processor 28840 1 thermal
fan 4804 0

I really do appreciate your support

Tony

[waterhead]

Did you reboot after adding the firmware?