Re: Wireless on new laptop

Ubuntu has a NetworkManager applet comparable to knetworkmanager, which is the the applet used in many KDE distros.

Are you using iwconfig to configure your wireless or some other graphical tool. The manager applets I've seen sometimes require a '0x' before the encryption key and some don't. iwconfig does not accept '0x' prefix when setting the key. If you use a gui app, you need to make sure the right encryption modes are set.

I'm pretty darn sure the chipset you have supports wep 64/128 (aka 40/104). I spent a lot of time working on the wireless when i first put linux on my laptop. I came to the conclusion that broadcom chipsets suck and my next laptop would use an intel chiipset.

-j


----- Original Message ----
From: Dazed_75 <lthielster@gmail.com>
To: Main PLUG discussion list <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 2:39:07 PM
Subject: Re: Wireless on new laptop



On 3/19/07, Anthony Boynes <aboynes@msasolutions.com> wrote:
Dazed_75 wrote:
> HP dv6000 dual booting Vista and ubuntu 6.10 (I will write up that
> story Monday). Wireless is an Intel 3945abg which is supposed to work
> "out of the box" with ubuntu 6.10
(driver=ipw3945) but does not seem
> to be. I think I have a clue but would appreciate if someone could
> tell me if I am correct or all wet.
>
> I only use WEP on my WRT54GL with HyperWRT (yes, I know how weak it

> is) mostly to reduce the burden in my TiVo. Anyway, I have not been
> able to get the HP to connect wirelessly. I suspect the 3945 does not
> support WEP based on this:
>
> larry@lapdog2
:~$ sudo iwlist eth1 encryption

> eth1      2 key sizes : 40, 104bits
>           4 keys available :
>                 [1]: <correct digits snipped> (104 bits)
>                 [2]: off
>                 [3]: off

>                 [4]: off
>           Current Transmit Key: [1]
>           Security mode:open
>           Authentication capabilities :
>                 WPA
>                 WPA2

>                 CIPHER TKIP
>                 CIPHER CCMP
>           Current key_mgmt:0xBFE42568
>           Current cipher_pairwise:0xBFE42568
>           Current cipher_group:0xBFE42568

>
> I suspect that may also be why it shows the Security mode as open. If
> the problem is no support for WEP, I can change. I just hate having
> to do it on the TiVo unit. Can anyone confirm for me?

> --
> Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't
> matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss
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The key sizes 40 bits and 104 bits correspond to WEP encryption, so the

card definitely seems to support it.
If that is true, then I see no reason for it not to be working. Can't figure out what I am missing. OTOH, could it be saying that the key I put in is the WEP type (40 or 104 bits) rather than that it supports those lengths because it supports WEP?


If I don't get any other replies, I guess I will try converting everything to WPA.



As for the security mode, from the iwconfig man pages:

"The security mode may be open or restricted, and its meaning depends on
the card used. With most cards, in open mode no authentication is
used and the card may also accept non-encrypted sessions, whereas in

restricted mode only encrypted sessions are accepted and the card will
use authentication if available."
Sounds like words that say it may mean this or it may mean something else. But, yes, I could try restricted just to see if it makes a difference. BTW, there is a big difference between the terms encryption and authentication but a lot of the wireless documentation seems to use the terms sloppily to say the least.



You can manually set the encryption keys and security mode with
iwconfig. I don't know what graphical app ubuntu uses for configuring

wireless.


Anthony
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