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Ndiswrapper on a LiveCD Mini-HowTo |
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Disclaimer: Because ndiswrapper uses Windows drivers results may vary. |
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Before this project I had never touched ndiswrapper, there is a little |
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bit of magic and a good portion of luck involved in getting it to run. |
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1. Installation |
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Due to some kernel dependencies I was unable to emerge the ndiswrapper |
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package (version 1.2 at the time of this writing) from my stage 1 and |
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had to move it to stage 2. Once there it installed just fine. Also be |
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sure to add the wireless-tools package to your stage 1. |
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2. Kernel Options |
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There are several Windows drivers that are known to work with |
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ndiswrapper, a list can be found here |
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http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/List |
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Several of the cards require minor tweaking of a few kernel options to |
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work properly. One of the more common changes is disabling the 4k_Stacks |
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option. Other than that things are pretty straight forward. |
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3. Driver Preparation |
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Download the Windows Drivers from the manufacturer, if you are unsure |
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refer to the link above for a list of drivers. If you are unsure of the |
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revision of the wireless card that you are using (note: chipsets can |
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change between revisions), then from a shell execute the command lspci |
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-v and find your card on the list if it is detected. This will verify |
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which chipset you are using. Place the drivers into a folder, note that |
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you only need to include the .inf and .sys files. |
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4. Overlay |
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Add a directory to your build using the livecd/root_overlay in stage 2, |
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for example /usr/wireless. |
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5. Starting wireless |
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After your fresh new build boots up, move to a command line then: |
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lspci -v <<-verify that your card has been detected |
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cd /usr/wireless <<-The location of your Windows drivers |
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ndiswrapper -i <FILE_NAME> <<-Note this is the INF file, in previous |
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versions you left off the .inf extension I have only been able to get it |
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to work by leaving it on |
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ndiswrapper -l <<-This will list off the loaded driver |
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modprobe ndiswrapper <<-Adds your module |
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iwconfig wlan0 essid <YOUR SSID HERE> |
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iwconfig wlan0 key <YOUR WEP KEY HERE> <<- Only if you use WEP |
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encryption |
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dhcpcd wlan0 <<-If you use DHCP |
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For a static IP |
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net-setup wlan0 <<-Follow the prompts for a wireless configuration |
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6. Verification |
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Iwconfig wlan0 <<-This should now show the information for the |
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associated AP |
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Ifconfig <<-Should list wlan0 with activity on the Tx: and Rx: |
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I hope this helps out, as of today I have only tested it with a Linksys |
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WMP54Gv4 wireless card running 128-bit WEP, but it runs great and is |
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very stable with the above configuration. |
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Paul |
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