Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Extensions => TCE Q&A Forum => Topic started by: alanl on March 24, 2012, 09:17:41 PM

Title: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 24, 2012, 09:17:41 PM
I`m just setting 4.4 up and I want to connect with a Trendnet TEW-424UB usb unit.
I`ve never used it with tinycore before and I noticed that there is a bunch of wifi
programs.  Which one should I use and how do I set it up.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 24, 2012, 11:06:55 PM
looks like it's an ADMtek/Infineon adm8211 device.  Drivers for this device may be found in wireless-3.0.21-tinycore.tcz

So you can use " wifi.tcz " which will download all dependencies it needs to connect to an access point. 
Only other possible requirement is firmware..? 


Once downloaded simply select the wifi icon or type " sudo wifi.sh " and follow the prompts to connect to an access point
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 25, 2012, 04:01:23 PM
Thanks for your help coreplayer2.
I installed wifi and all it`s deps .  Has a nice icon on wbar.
However all I get is "no devices found".
It`s a usb stick type of thing and it works ok on w98 in this computer.
What`s the next step to get it working?  Do I have to mount it and if so
how do I do it?
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: maro on March 25, 2012, 04:48:21 PM
It would help us with the troubleshooting to know the precise ID of the device in question and also know how your TC system reacted. For the former I'd suggest to install the 'usb-utils.tcz' extension and run lsusb -v > lsusb.log (and then attach the resulting file here). For the latter I'd suggest to attach the result of dmesg > dmesg.log (after the 'wifi.tcz' extension had been installed).

It is quite likely that there is just the correct firmware missing, and in most cases the 'dmesg' output contains a hint to that effect. But without knowing ALL the details as suggested above that is just a hunch.
Title: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 25, 2012, 08:12:39 PM
Hopefully the dmesg log will shed some light on the missing link
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 25, 2012, 10:27:37 PM
Here the two files as requested.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: Rich on March 25, 2012, 10:37:15 PM
Hi alanl

Does your machine have a wired network adapter? If so, unplug the cable, reboot, and try the wireless again.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: maro on March 26, 2012, 01:26:11 AM
At least in my view the story is pretty clear: the device in question (with USB device ID '0457:0163') will most likely require the 'ndiswrapper.tcz' extension (and use of a Windows driver).

My first stop was this page (http://linux-wless.passys.nl/query_hostif.php?hostif=USB) (scroll down to 'TEW-424UB v. 2') with a rather clear indication that no Linux driver is know. For a "second opinion" I went here (http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/Main_Page), and searched for the device ID. As so often the same device ID shows up with different badges. One of them (http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/Thomson_WLG-1500A) contains a further link (http://www.wikidevi.com/wiki/TRENDnet_TEW-424UB_v2), which matches the name from the OP (albeit showing the ID as unknown). Nevertheless the situation seems pretty clear: not one of all these "siblings" has a reference to a working Linux driver and the only suggestion found is to to use a Windows driver (via 'ndiswrapper').

As there are already several threads in this forum how to use said extension I'd like to suggest to use the 'search' function to find them.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 26, 2012, 10:50:15 AM
There are three different revisions of this device can you believe it.  In v2 apparently they used Silicon Integrated Systems chips??  Not sure which version uses the adm8211 chip.. Anyhow the xp driver wrapper may work but I think I'd get a new supported device, I mean it's better to have a device that's supported running efficiently than using a wrapper of an xp driver which may or may work well.. right?
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 26, 2012, 08:49:03 PM
Thanks very much for all the help.  I`ll take a look at the advice and
see what I can do.  I tried running install on wine but there was a lot
of missing files.  Maybe I`ll try to get it going on wine.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: Rich on March 26, 2012, 09:09:15 PM
Hi alanl
I think you are complicating the problem by adding wine to the mix. I suggest you follow maros advice and search
the forum on how to setup ndiswrapper and use a Windows driver.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 27, 2012, 11:21:00 AM
I think it would be beneficial to have a list of known working working wifi/usb devices?? 
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: Rich on March 27, 2012, 12:21:09 PM
Hi coreplayer2
You could always start a USB-wireless page on the Wiki, list your device, possibly with a link back to a thread (if one exists)
on the forum that dealt with that device. Place a note on that page requesting others to add to that list.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 27, 2012, 12:49:14 PM
ok I guess I can do that..  will investigate.   I have a couple of wifi devices to start it with.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 27, 2012, 04:12:35 PM
I searched ndiswrapper and got 2 results...both posts from
this thread!   :)
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: Rich on March 27, 2012, 05:09:26 PM
Hi alanl
Don't use the search box on the top right of this page. Go to the search page by clicking on the search link on the
top left of this page (next to Home) and try again.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: roberts on March 27, 2012, 05:57:19 PM
I think it would be beneficial to have a list of known working working wifi/usb devices??
I have been promoting suggesting this since last October!
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,11685.msg61965.html#msg61965
as it would help me improve wifi.sh
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: roberts on March 27, 2012, 06:11:52 PM
Using ndiswrapper is usually fairly simple from the command line.
$ sudo -s
# ndiswrapper -i /mnt/sda1/tce/your-windows-wireless.INF
# modprobe ndiswrapper
# exit

$ wifi.sh

Note: the -i option is to try to install the Windows driver, make sure both parts, usually two files are at the same path that you specify with the -i option. If you have your Windows directory mounted you specifiy the actuall path to your Windows wireless files. Otherwise copy them to a static location.

HTH
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on March 29, 2012, 09:02:03 PM
Thanks Robert.
I followed your instructions but I don`t have any .inf files
just .dlls.
I ran  $ wifi.sh and it said...must be root.
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on March 29, 2012, 09:07:23 PM
Unzip your driver package for WindowsXP  and there will be some DriverName.cat, DriverName.sys. and definitely an DriverName.inf file

at the command line enter $:  sudo wifi.sh   
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: alanl on April 01, 2012, 09:07:00 PM
Success!  Thanks to all for the help.  I would never have
 worked it out by myself......Alan. :)
Title: Re: 4.4 wifi setup
Post by: coreplayer2 on April 01, 2012, 09:10:26 PM
Cool   glad you got it worked out  8)