Installing Wireless Drivers

[Rubber_Ducky]

I just recently bought new computer parts and I installed openSUSE 11.2 (the developers version). Right now I have a wired internet plugged in, but I want to use my wireless internet so I can move my computer upstairs. My wireless adapter is a Sabrent Wireless-N 802.11N PCI Adapter With High Speed. This comes with a mini CD with drivers for Windows, Mac, and Linux...but apparently I need to compile the files and put them in a certain location in order for the drivers to be "installed". I am new to Linux and I have no clue how to do this...I have found websites and forum topics that "tell" me how to do this...but I have no idea what they talk about...Could anyone give me dummy instructions on what to do and how to do it?

[waterhead]

Depending on what chips your wireless uses, you may not have to do anything. Most wireless drivers are in the Linux kernel.

We need more detailed information, before we can offer more specific advice. Read through the thread linked to below. It explains the info needed, and how to find it.

Wireless Setup - Start Here

[Rubber_Ducky]

I did that command in the terminal and came up with this:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
00:1a.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) HD Audio Controller
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Port 1
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Port 5
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Port 6
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 90)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JIR (ICH10R) LPC Interface Controller
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) 4 port SATA IDE Controller
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) SMBus Controller
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) 2 port SATA IDE Controller
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G96 [GeForce 9500 GT] (rev a1)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Attansic Technology Corp. Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller (rev b0)
03:00.0 IDE interface: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88SE6121 SATA II Controller (rev b2)
05:00.0 Network controller: RaLink RT2800 802.11n PCI
05:03.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW322/323 (rev 70)

[Rubber_Ducky]

I tried that script that you made...but the code didn't work...here's what it said.

chmod: cannot access `/home/me/WirelessSetup': No such file or directory
me@linux-pb8d:~/Download> ./WirelessSetup
bash: ./WirelessSetup: Permission denied

[gogalthorp]

Looks like you put the file in a directory called Download under you home directory. but Waterhead's instructions assume the file is in your home directory.

chmod +x ~/WirelessSetup

note that the ~ is short hand for the path to your home.

chmod +x ~/Download/WirelessSetup

should work. Also you could use the GUI to change the permissions, but you still need to run from command line to see the output

Also note the ./ indicates that the following is to be found in the current directory this keeps the shell from trying to find the command in the path

[Rubber_Ducky]

I tried moving the file to the root directory...the first command worked but the second still said permission denied...what is the GUI thing that you were talking about?

[gogalthorp]

Just browse to the file and right click and chose properties and permission tab. Note you must be the owner of the file or root.

[waterhead]

I was able to determine the wireless card's chip:

05:00.0 Network controller: RaLink RT2800 802.11n PCI

There are actually two drivers for this. They both need to be compiled from source. One is the proprietary diver from Ralink, I am assuming you need the RT2860PCI driver from this site.

Ralink Technology: Linux

Is this is a PCIe card? It may use the RT3090PCIe driver. You will just need to try them to see if either will work.

The other driver is the open-source driver from the rt2x00 driver package, called rt2800pci. It is only in the developmental GIT library. Instruction for getting that driver can be found here:

Rt2x00 GIT instructions - Rt2x00Wiki

[Rubber_Ducky]

No the wireless adapter comes WITH a mini CD that has the drivers for linux...but I don't know how to install them...

[waterhead]

The stuff on a CD is usually not the best or most current driver available.

What is the name of the driver file on the CD? Is there a README or INSTALL text file in it? Those usually contain instructions.