(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

I know somewhere in this forum is the answer to this question, but the amount of info is overwhelming and I’m not sure where to go. I have a Linksys WUSB11v4, I’m running Puppy 2.12 and I have the driver files for it also. What do you think is the best way to get this adaptor working? What do I need to download or is there a link that will help a novice like me.

Thanks,
Russ

Hi RussA
I can't be very much help as I am away from home and don't have much computer access.
Do a search on 'ndiswrapper'. This is the module that will make use of the windows driver files. That should get you started.
Cheers
Geoff

Your wifi adaptor has an ALi chipset, for which there is no native Linux driver, so you must use ndiswrapper.
If your Windows driver comes in the form of an .exe file, you must first extract the contents of this .exe in Windows to obtain the .inf / .sys / .cab driver files.

Thanks for the replies, I have extracted those files were shouild I put them?

Hi RussA
I'm here for a moment!!
Just put them anywhere, it is not really important because you are going to have to point 'ndiswrapper' at them and tell 'ndiswrapper' to use them. Just remember where you put them .
Just enter 'ndiswrapper' into the console and it will give you a list of the possible parameters. You should be able to work out how to use it.
Keep asking, somebody will respond.
Geoff

Geoff, thanks for the help. Here is what I did in console.
I copied this from console, hope you can follow.

sh-3.00# cd /mnt/hda1/Drivers/
sh-3.00# ls
lspmusb.cat m4301a.sys netusb.sys vnet58l.sys vnetusbl.sys
lspmusb.inf mdusb.out netusbxp.sys vnet58lx.sys vnetusbxp.sys
lspmusb.sys netrfm2k.cat PRISM9x.SYS vnetu9xl.sys winxp
m4301a.cat netusb.inf prismxp.sys vnetusba.sys WUSB11v4.inf
sh-3.00# ndiswrapper
install/manage Windows drivers for ndiswrapper

usage: ndiswrapper OPTION
-i inffile install driver described by 'inffile'
-a devid driver use installed 'driver' for 'devid'
-r driver remove 'driver'
-l list installed drivers
-m write configuration for modprobe
-ma write module alias configuration for all devices
-mi write module install configuration for all devices
-v report version information

where 'devid' is either PCIID or USBID of the form XXXX:XXXX,
as reported by 'lspci -n' or 'lsusb' for the card
sh-3.00# ndiswrapper -i WUSB11v4.inf
installing wusb11v4 ...
sh-3.00# ndiswrapper -l
installed drivers:
wusb11v4 driver installed
sh-3.00# modprobe ndiswrapper
sh-3.00#
sh-3.00#



When I check with Network Wizard it shows no active connection or drivers loaded. What do I do next?

Thanks,
Russ

Hi Russ,
I had the same problem using ndiswrapper in console. You might try it this way. Go to Puppy network setup and click "load driver". Click on "load a windows driver". Direct the wizard to your drivers folder where the inf and sys files are located. Back at setup look for the wlan button and enter your network settings. Hope this helps.

after you run the "modprobe ndiswrapper" command then run "iwconfig" and see if your connection appears.

I have a built in rt2500 wireless modem and when the network wizard does not report a wireless connection I go to the xterm window and do the modprobe ndiswrapper then iwconfig commands then I run the network wizard again and the wireless connection show up. I also added the modprobe ndiswrapper and iwconfig commands to /etc/rc.d/rc.local and now it starts when I start my machine.

I hope this helps too. I am new also to commands and such.

Thanks Bobby & Sailor, this is the result.


sh-3.00# ndiswrapper -l
installed drivers:
wusb11v4 driver installed
sh-3.00# modprobe ndiswrapper
sh-3.00# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

sh-3.00#

What do I need to do next?

Sailor, cant find that button in setup.

Russ

Thanks for the help that worked well when I booted with Puppy 2.13.

Russ

I use the Linksys WUSB11 wireless adapter in 2.13 and had no problem loading the at76_usb driver. It works wonderfully.