University of North Texas Computing and Information Technology Center

Linux Operating System

These instructions will guide you through the process of installing and configuring your wireless ethernet adapter. These instructions are intended for Linux Operating Systems. Depending on which version of Linux you have installed, your adapter installation and configuration may vary from these standard instructions.

This document assumes that you have experience in configuring and installing Linux applications. The document is a general guide to assist you in the installation process.

Step 1 - You must have the following to complete the installation

A. A Linux distribution installed on your computer, ie.. Mandrake, SuSe, RedHat, Debian, etc...

B. An 802.11b device.

C. The Linux driver for your particular 802.11b device.

Step 2 - Install the 802.11b device.

The 802.11b device must be installed in your computer. The device will either be plugged into an available PCMCIA slot, attached via a USB cable to your PC, or built-in such as in a tablet PC.

Step 3 - Install the needed operating system files and drivers

Ensure that your operating system has the necessary files.

Depending on what options you have installed on your linux computer, you may need to install additional files, or perhaps re-compile the kernel. These steps are beyond the scope of this document. Support may be obtained thru the official websites of your Linux distribution

Mandrake Linux

SuSe Linux

RedHat Linux

Debian Linux

Ensure that the Linux device drivers are installed.

Step 4- Edit The Wireless Configuration for Your 802.11b Device

Determine the correct files that need to be edited for your 802.11b device. Again these files will vary depending on your device and Linux distribution. Support may again be obtained thru the official websites of your Linux distribution.
Edit the appropriate files manually with a text editor, or use a tool. Some Linux distributions have GUI to assist in configuring these devices.
To view current TCP/IP settings, type ifconfig and look at your wlan0 entry. If your card is recognized, information will appear for it as well as any other installed network cards.
Configure Your 802.11b device to use DHCP
Specify eaglenet as your SSID, or Network Name
Ensure Managed Mode is Active, not AD HOC mode. This can be accomplished by editing the configuration files.
Do Not Enable WEP
Do Not Specify a Channel, Frequency or Rate
After making the above changes you may need to reset your device for the change to be effective. You can enter ifconfig wlan0 up at the command prompt.

Step 5 - Connect to the Network

Open your Web browser and attempt to connect to any Web site. The Eaglenet wireless network Authentication screen should appear. If not, you may have one of the following issues:
- Your browser may be set to open a blank page. Try visiting any Web site (URL).
- You may not be within a wireless coverage area.
- Your card may not be properly installed.
If the Eagelnet wireless network Authentication screen appears, enter your EUID and password.