WPC11 Version 4!

wormie_dk · 03-02-2004, 11:29 AM

Hi there

I have compiled the driver in RH9. When I run a cardctl -insert RH9 automatically inserts the rtl8180 module file.

After that I have tried running different kinds of wlanup scripts without success.

dmesg | less gives this output:
(snip)
***** RTL8180 Wireless Lan Driver 2003-11-24 loaded *****
PCI: Setiting latency timer of decvice 02:00.0 to 64
wlan0:rtl_alloc_wlandev rtl_alloc_wlandev() in rtl8180_pci_prope().
RTL8180: 02:00.0: region #0 IS a PIO ressource !
divert: allocating divert_blk for wlan0
rtl8180_ioctl_giwessid
rtl8180_ioctl_giwnickname
wlan0: Please use iwpriv to set WEP.
wlan0: Please use iwpriv to set SSID.
RTL8180 WLAN driver version 1.5
(END)

less /proc/rtl8180/status gives this output:
DRIVER STATUS
rtl8180_pci_driver version 1.5 loaded.
The Network is configured as Infrastructure mode
MacAddr = 00:05:5d:9e:3c:00
ioaddr = 0x4000
irq = 9

Wireless Link Status

Link Fail!

channelnumber = 0
beacon period = 100
BSSID = 0x00 0x11 0x22 0x33 0x44 0x55
SSID = realtek2
Capability = 0x00
AID = 0x00

My wlanup script looks like this:
iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 1
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para channel=6
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para networktype=infra
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para preamble=auto
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para basicrates=0x0F
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para oprates=0x0F
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid2scan=realtek2
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid=realtek2
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para authtype=opensystem
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para bssid=0x00:0x0d:0x88:0x20:0xb0:0xfa
iwpriv wlan0 enable

The card starts by flashing both act and link but after some time only link flashes. I have tried outcommenting different iwpriv command with no success.

IWSPY outputs a lot of networks but none of them match my routers mac adress.

I have also tried different ifconfig commands without success and compiled the driver all kinds of different ways.

Please help! The fact that iwspy outputs some networks makes me believe that something is working. The router is a D-link DI-514 and '
WEP is disabled and
SSID broadcast is enabled and
Channel is set to 6

The card work fine with the router under windows xp.

Please help! I am a linux

What should I try next?
I have tried with SuSE linux as well but was unable to compile the driver here.

coindood · 03-02-2004, 02:10 PM

are you running it while root?

wormie_dk · 03-03-2004, 01:18 AM

Yes I have tried running it both as root and a normal user.

ajwans · 03-03-2004, 02:58 AM

Set your msglevel to '1' to get some more debugging info:
iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 1

If you see "TX NORMAL descriptor unavailable" in the logs try this sequence:

(commands prefixed with '>')

1. > iwpriv wlan0 disable
2. > rmmod rtl8180_24x
3. > cardctl eject
4. > apm --suspend
5. eject card manually
6. wake up laptop
7. insert card
8. > modprobe rtl8180_24x
9. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para networktype=infra
10. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid2scan=<your ssid>
11. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid=<your ssid>
12. > iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 1
13. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para encmode=off
14. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para wepmode=off
15. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para authtype=opensystem
16. > iwpriv wlan0 enable
17. > ifconfig wlan0 up
18. > dhclient wlan0

I hope I haven't left anything out there. You shouldn't need to set your channel
under 'infra' mode as the card will scan for an AP.

andy

wormie_dk · 03-03-2004, 02:06 PM

>apm --suspend
Causes :
No APM support in kernel

>cardctl eject
Makes computer beep to times and in var/log/messages:
localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: NET unregister event not supported
localhost kernel: cs: cb_free(bus 2)
localhost /etc/hotplug/pci.agent: PCI remove event not supported

Before trying your list I tried my usual wup script and somewhere in the log Transfer BSSID failed !!! appears.

The TX normal descriptor unavailable keeps repeating. As I could not suspend I am not sure if your suggestion works.

ajwans · 03-03-2004, 07:35 PM

Try doing steps 8-18 from a clean reboot.

andy

lart2150 · 03-04-2004, 12:39 PM

I finaly got my pci card working on debian. some minor notes for other debian users. first get kernel 2.4.20-3 then get version 1.5 kernel for rh 9. the default up script worked just fine for my setup(changing the ssid was all that was needed).

wormie_dk · 03-04-2004, 03:46 PM

8. > modprobe rtl8180_24x
gives modprobe: Can't locate module rtl8180_24x

I tried running cardctl insert before step 8 and could then continue
9. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para networktype=infra
10. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid2scan=<your ssid>
11. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid=<your ssid>
12. > iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 1
13. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para encmode=off
14. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para wepmode=off
15. > iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para authtype=opensystem
16. > iwpriv wlan0 enable
17. > ifconfig wlan0 up
18. > dhclient wlan0

/var/status/messages still gives TX normal descriptor unavailable and dhclient times out.

Would it be an idea to totally reinstall Redhat? Maybe try another linux distribution (Fedora/SuSE)?

coindood · 03-04-2004, 10:21 PM

Ok, guys, since my webspace provider is taking its sweet time getting back up, I'll just post my scripts. I'll get the HOWTO up when my site's back up.

NOTE:
These instructions were done on multiple Debian distrobutions, but should work with little modification on RedHat/Fedora installations. Also, these instructions were done with the SuSE drivers. They are hard to find, so download them from http://www.geocities.com/coindood/drivers.html They have worked for me and most of the other successful users in this thread. The zip file also contains all of the files needed to get it running (ifcfg-wlan0, resolv.conf, wlanup/down, Makefile, etc.) so all you need to do is change the ip addresses and copy them to their respective locations (Look at the Makefile and make sure everything is fine). NOTE: the drivers included in the zip file above work only for kernels 2.4.20 and above! You must download the rtl8180 drivers for kernels 2.4.18 and 2.4.19 from the Reatlek website, the zipped driver will not work!
First make sure your kernel is 2.4.21 or below. No special revisions needed.

wlanup:

Code:

#Load module
/sbin/insmod -f rtl8180_24x.o

#Set SSID
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para networktype=infra
iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para ssid2scan=default

iwpriv wlan0 wlan_para wepmode=off

iwpriv wlan0 msglevel 1

#Enable wireless lan driver
/sbin/iwpriv wlan0 enable

#Configure wlan0 IP address within router bounds
#since my router's address is 192.168.0.1, it is 
#any between 192.168.0.101 - ...168
/sbin/ifconfig wlan0 192.168.0.101
echo "$(/sbin/ifconfig wlan0)"

#change this ip address to the router address
route add default gw 192.168.0.1

If you use route, you need a /etc/resolv.conf file:

Code:

#the Xs stand for the gateway your router goes through
#you can find it in the router stats when you log into it

nameserver XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

Last you need an /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wlan0 file:

Code:

DEVICE=wlan0
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=192.168.0.1
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
PEERDNS=yes
ONBOOT=no
#change the gateway ip to the address of the router

Copy these files to their respective locations, modify the Makefiles to
match your kernel, then type make, and if all is well, type "sh wlanup".
you should see:

Code:

Warning: loading rtl8180_24x.o will taint the kernel: forced load
See http://www.tux.org/lkml/#export-tainted for information about tainted modules
Module rtl8180_24x loaded, with warnings
wlan0     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:40:F4:93:4A:38
          inet addr:192.168.0.101  Bcast:192.168.0.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:100
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
          Interrupt:10 Base address:0xd800

Don't worry about the warning (it's because the priv_part.o file is compiled against another kernel). Type in dmesg, and if all is well again, then the last lines should look like this:

Code:

RTL8180: Select a BSS and Join it at channel 6.
RTL8180: ----------------------------------------------------------
RTL8180: wlan0 Link status:
RTL8180:    Channel number = 6
RTL8180:    beacon period = 100
RTL8180:    BSSID = 0x00:0x0d:0x88:0x9f:0xd1:0xd3
RTL8180:    SSID = default
RTL8180:    Capability = 0x21
RTL8180:    AID = 0x01
RTL8180:    Operational rate = 0x0F <bit 0~3 = 1~11 Mbps>
RTL8180: ----------------------------------------------------------

If you see that, you are connected!

Email me at coindood@yahoo.com if you get anywhere!

Rukhin · 03-04-2004, 10:44 PM

Hello all.

First of all, this is a great thread for those of us new to Linux. I have been working my way
through the history of this thread, and it has been a great help. Now, I (think that I) have only one more hurdle to go, and I was hoping to get some help on it.

I have a Netgear MA521 (Realtek 8180 chipset) wireless card on RedHat 9.0 standard distro. I have downloaded and compiled the drivers (without a problem) and I have configured my "wlanup" and 'wlandown" scripts to include the priv_part.o file. Now, when I execute the "wlanup" script, my Lnk light blinks sporadically and I still am unable to access the net (perhaps it is a config. issue at this point)? I also prepared a "wlan0-ifcfg" network script as suggested, and still no dice.

So, I am asking this community if they have any other ideas. Help would be GREATLY appreciated!

coindood · 03-05-2004, 08:22 AM

Post your scripts.

Are you using dchp in your script? Try logging in to your router, and check the stats to see the gateway ip. Post your ifcfg-wlan0 file, and do you have a resolv.conf file? If not, get the gateway ip address with

Code:

nameserver XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

and replace the Xs with the gateway ip.

Rukhin · 03-05-2004, 10:47 AM

I've been banging my head against this card for a week...I almost give up and post a request for help...and it works FIVE MINUTES after I post!

Now, I have to config. the card so that it starts/stops during booting/halting.

Which way do I go for configuring my init. files to do this (again, with RH 9.0 and Netgear MA521)? Help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Rukhin

baoluanle · 03-05-2004, 11:11 AM

Hi guys, Thanks for all of your help! I am a new convert and have been lurking in the background for the past day reading your messages and finally got my rtl8180 to work on my RH8 box. My first question to you is where do I put wlanup/wlandown to have my wlan0 automatically initialized before logon and disable after shutdown! Thanks guys!

coindood · 03-05-2004, 09:06 PM

Tightcode · 03-10-2004, 12:53 AM

Well I am not offering one for free, actually I am not offering one at all but I did find them for $8.00 (actually a shade less):
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...675&dcaid=1688

I found this thread by looking for linux support for the card. Looks like I won't be upgrading the stock SuSE 9.0 2.4.21 kernel to 2.6 anytime soon (if I decide to order this card)

I have an IBM laptop with unsupported builtin mini-pci card. And the supported mini-pci card from another IBM thinkpad won't work on it, IBM's got a bios block, nice folks.

Cheers everyone,

TightCode