Gentoo installation with wireless

charlie0313 · 08-07-2008, 12:15 PM

I'm installing Gentoo with the minimal x86 cd. My computer uses wireless to get to the internet. lspci shows that the card is there. ifconfig -a doesn't and iwconfig doesn't so I can't configure the settings for something that isn't detected. Is there a module I need to load? Do I need to specify any boot parameters? Has any one else had this problem? Any suggestions would be great, because I am stuck.

thanks

johnson_steve · 08-07-2008, 01:00 PM

lspci just shows what hardware is connected to the PCI bus it doesn't mean that the hardware is recognized or that there are drivers for it. also since you have to configure the network twice: once for the install and again afterwards it would be much easier to just plug it in for the install. BTW it is impossible for anyone to give you any real help because you don't say what card you want to configure. please post the output of lspci.

jomen · 08-07-2008, 02:46 PM

Yes - the output of "lspci -v" would give information on what card you have.
You might just need to load the appropriate module.
To make the install process more easy you should probably - if you at all can do it - use the wired connection using the very probably also present ethernet-card.
I think it's really rare that a computer only has wireless - and using the wired is (just to get started) a _lot_ easier.

You do use the handbook as a reference?
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml

charlie0313 · 08-08-2008, 10:15 AM

I'm not at the machine right now but I know the wireless card is a D-Link DWL G510 rev. b
The nearest twisted pair cable is upstairs and I don't want to move stuff around when the problem can be solved at the keyboard.. I hope.

gruven · 08-13-2008, 01:04 AM

double post, bleh.

gruven · 08-13-2008, 01:05 AM

You can use another distro's livecd to install gentoo with. I usually use Ubuntu because of the wireless support, and then just start with chapter 4 in the handbook.

Also, I think your card uses the Madwifi drivers, and should be included in newer kernels, but probably not on the gentoo livecd.

jomen · 08-13-2008, 01:14 AM

...why do I never think of an easy solution like this one first? My philosophy must be: why make it easy when it can be hard.

(sorry for not adding value and being OT - no answers required)

charlie0313 · 08-14-2008, 07:08 AM

I would have never thaught of that. I already have Ubuntu installed so I'll try bumming off of that.

thanks