prism GT wireless card configuration

aquarian · n00b Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 14

Hi!
i googled about on how to install my SMC2835W (prism GT based) , but i'm getting a litlle dizy now.
i've compiled the prism54 kernel module, and puted the firmware in /usr/lib/hotplug/firmware/is13890

so what do i have to do now?
do i need iwconfig tool? i can't emerge it, coz of this error in portage:

ACCESS DENIED open_wr: /usr/src/linux-2.6.8-gentoo-r1/sound/pci/snd-es1968.mod.c
sound/pci/snd-es1968.mod.c: Permission denied
make[4]: *** [__modpost] Error 1

i'm using kernel 2.6.8-gentoo-r1

please help, i'm a newbie....

aquarian · n00b Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 14

#ifconfig eth1, gives this output:
eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:B4:00:00:00
BROADCAST 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:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:11

ok so i supose that i only need to configure my network settings, wep key , etc... how do i do that? can anyone give me a link to some howto or information about this?

UberLord · Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:18 pm Post subject:

firmware should go in /lib/firmware

http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Wireless_Configuration_and_Startup
is a good starting point

aquarian · n00b Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 14

hi.
the cards module is OK, and i've emerged net-wireless/wireless-tools.

iwconfig eth1 gives me this:

eth1 NOT READY! ESSID:"LinuxNode"
Mode:Managed Channel:11 Access Point: 00:00:00:00:00:00
Tx-Power=31 dBm Sensitivity=0/200
Retry min limit:0 RTS thr=0 B Fragment thr=0 B
Encryption key:C392-9DF0-5A33-9B06-4C0B-C76E-F2 Security mode:restricted
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

i puted in /etc/conf.d/wireless the following:

key_LinuxNode="C3929DF05A339B064C0BC76EF2 enc open"
preferred_aps=( "LinuxNode" )

is this correct??
i can't start net.eth1
i really don't understand whatt to do next, please help. my wireless router has a dhcp server, so what do i have to do to finish the configuration?

gmalleus · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:45 am Post subject:

First off, i think your done, i can't be sure but anyways. You have a a wired network card installed? edit /etc/conf.d/net and make sure iface_eth1="dhcp" is in there. Then.

aquarian · n00b Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 14

hi do you have a card equal to mine? did you get it to work??
i'm having a problem with firmware, please look here:

https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=277810

gmalleus · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject:

Sucess, I got my card configured, and I don't know what was up with thelights they work now. First off I don't know if all these kernel options are necessary, this is what I have...

Card: SMC2835W
Kernel: gentoo-dev-sources v. 2.6.10-r2

Secondly, I had some problems with the yenta_socket if built in to the kernel so I compiled it as a module and loaded it with the modules.autoload in the /etc dir. I built in every thing else

Using the 2.6 kernel as stated above, in the Bus Options, In PCCARD support, I built in:
PCCard (PCMCIA/CardBus)
16-bit PCMCIA Support
32-bit PCMCIA Support
and as a module - CardBus yenta-compatible bridge support

I also built in under PCI Hotplug Support
Support for PCI Hotplug

Under Device Drivers->Networking Support
Enable Networking Support
Enable Network Device Support
Under WirelessLan (non-hamradio)
built in
Intersil Prism GT/Duette/Indigo PCI/Cardbus
Note I Did not enable PCMCIA network device support

I believe that is all I did in the kernel.

I emerged:
wireless-tools
prism54-firmware

In /etc/conf.d/net I have
iface_eth0="dhcp"
iface_eth1="dhcp"

this allows both my wired nic (eth0) and wireless (eth1) to recieve dhcp.
i had already done an "rc-update add net.eth0 default" for my wired nic. The directions I found said to do "ln -s /etc/init.d/net.eth0 /etc/init.d/net.eth1" and thendo and "rc-update add net.eth1 default"

did a quick "/etc/init.d/pcmcia restart" inserted my card and everything seemed to work...

Questions pm me.
_________________
You Can Do Anything You Set Your Mind To When You Have Vision, Determination, And An Endless Supply Of Cheap Labor.

aquarian · n00b Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 14

Hi!
i found out that the SMC2835W as 3 versions. the first two versions work on linux, the v3 (mine) isn't suported. the SMC2835W v.3 as the following Part. Number 99-012084-338. the pcmcia card with version 3 has also a blue picture. DON'T BUY THIS CARD, IT ISN'T SUPORTED BY PRISM54 DRIVER.
if you do a "lspci -vn" you will find a "Default PCI ID" 1260:2890 . this indicates it is a prism chipset. however it doesn't indicate wich one goes in the card, in version 3 of SMC2835W the chipset is Xbow/Javelin AND NOT THE prism GT as in version 1 and version 2.
DON'T BUY THIS CARD, IT WON'T WORK.... and you will only notice the diferent versions by checking the part number, and the label in the card is in blue. in the box there isn't any information at all about the version.

if anyone as information on prism Xbow/Javelin chipset, please post it!

this is a link to SMC2835W v.3 site (notice the new blue label):
http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_CAN&pid=573