Enabling USB wifi modem in Ubuntu

[Nyght]

Wicd does NOT display an option to switch from broken wifi mini to the "working" usb modem. By all accounts the modem is supposed to work with ubuntu but ubuntu does not want to work with me. I don't know why there is no device manager and I don't care... I just want the bloody OS to work with the modem so I can access my wireless networks. Z/Z

[electroman6913]

open a terminal and type "sudo iwconfig" and view your network connections. If your device is listed type "sudo iwconfig <wlan<device number>> up. Then see if it comes up in your network manager.

[Nyght]

Thanks electroman. Sounds like something I tried before but I'll try it again. Z/Z

[jayd512]

Take a look through this page.
Post back with the results. Someone should be able to help.

[Nyght]

I'll put this page in my bookmarks and reply when Linux is installed again (lost all my data including both OS's when I decided to "experiment" a little while ago). Just did a little (very little) research to see if switching to Mint was wise. I was skeptical at first but by all accounts it is a very well-rounded and adaptable distro... if it is any good for pen testing is yet to be seen BUT being a noob it should be an ok way to get my feet wet... nonetheless I am under great time restraints so taking it slow and steady is not really an option. That's enough of my life story

My first computer pre-dates ms-dos, had 128k total memory and had amazing features like "text-to-analog tv screen" and "Executes BASIC (as in the language) programs with only 10s of thousands of perfectly typed lines of code" and "records data to magnetic cassette tapes" and I had less trouble with that computer than I have had with Linux... mostly because my first computer did not come with any false advertising as to how hard it was to use and my 128k computer came with manuals (something that no OS comes with the last I checked).

In any case... Thanks Jay... I'll post any results I get. Z/Z

[jayd512]

my 128k computer came with manuals (something that no OS comes with the last I checked).

Open a terminal...

man command

vimtutuor

Browser URL:
LinuxCommand.org: Learn the Linux command line. Write shell scripts.

[electroman6913]

Yes Mint is a good distro for beginners, I would suggest that if you are gonna experiment you do in in a virtual box. And as far as pen testing you should check out backtrack 5

[Nyght]

Oddly enough I actually knew many linux distros came with tutorial documents built-in... I forget where I saw it mentioned... I appreciate the command reminder. My computer usage skills have been stunted since 3.1 was released

[Nyght]

Hi again electro... I started with BT 5 UNTIL I tried using a wireless modem then I spent many months on many forums getting no advice from the BT forum and the "wrong" advice from every other forum because they were unfamiliar with the restrictions of using BT 5 (everyone assumed I was using Ubuntu I believe and tried to help based on how an Ubuntu user would fix the problem) ... I don't remember all the restrictions BT 5 has but I do know synaptic, the updater and the network manager do not appear to function and well as numerous bugs with wicd and user switching.

A nightmare I do not care to relive until I am more familiar with Linux. Z/Z