Configuring Wireless Networks

Wireless networking used to be a pig to configure for Linux, requiring a lot of complicated steps in order to connect to a wireless network. However, Fedora 5 includes a great utility called NetworkManager that makes connecting to and managing wireless networks extremely easy. Thanks to the inclusion of several wireless chipset drivers in the Fedora Linux kernel, it is now very easy to connect to WEP and WPA encrypted wireless networks.

If you have an Intel Centrino-based system then you need to retrieve the latest firmware from http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net, unpack it and copy the contents of the file to /lib/firmware. For Broadcom-based wireless systems, you need to retrieve the fwcutter program to extract the firmware from the relevant driver file. Head on over to http://tinyurl.com/eemyd for full instructions on where to retrieve the driver files and also how to use fwcutter. When you have extracted the firmware, you need to place it in the /lib/firmware directory. After you have a set of firmware files in place, you need to activate NetworkManager in system-config-services as well as NetworkManager Dispatcher.

When these are activated, nm-applet will appear in the notification area of your top panel (see Figure 4.10). This is the applet that handles and monitors network connections.

Figure 4.10. The Network Manager notification applet, shown here already connected to a wireless net.

It is worthwhile rebooting at this point so that Fedora can detect the presence of the firmware. When you have logged back in, click the nm-applet icon in the toolbar to connect to a wireless network. If your wireless access point broadcasts its SSID, it should appear in the list under wireless networks (similar to Figure 4.10). Simply click on the required network and NetworkManager will sense what encryption (if any) is in use and ask you for the passkey. Enter this and Network Manager will start the wireless connection. The passkey will then be stored in the default keyring, so if you have not yet used the keyring, you are asked to create a password. From now on, whenever you log in to Fedora, you will be asked for the key to unlock the keyring.

If for some reason your wireless network does not appear (you might have your SSID hidden), you will have to use the Connect to Other Wireless Network option, which brings up the screen shown in Figure 4.11.

Figure 4.11. Configure your wireless network connection settings using NetworkManager.

NetworkManager can handle WEP and WPA encryption. You are advised to use WPA encryption as it is the stronger of the two.

NetworkManager can also connect to Cisco VPN connections, using the vpnc software. Install this using yum and you will be able to specify connection settings as appropriate, or if you have access to a pre-defined configuration (.pcf file) you can import it directly into NetworkManager.

Related Fedora and Linux Commands

You will use these commands when performing post-installation configuration tasks:

apm Views or uses power management settings and commands

cardctl Controls PCMCIA slots and services

cdda2wav Extracts audio files from audio CDs

cdparanoia Extracts audio files from audio CDs

cdrecord Gets SCSI device information and burns CD-ROMs

chkconfig Controls services at each Linux runlevel

dmesg Views information reported by the Linux kernel

insmod Loads a kernel module into memory

system-config-network Fedora's graphical X client used to detect and configure a modem when configuring a dialup Internet connection

kppp KDE's X PPP connection utility can detect and use a modem

lsmod Views loaded kernel modules

mouseconfig Configures a pointing device for Linux

ntsysv Controls services started when booting Linux

system-config-date Fedora's graphical date and time client

system-config-display Fedora's graphical X configuration client

system-config-soundcard Fedora's graphical sound card configuration tool

system-config-keyboard Fedora's graphical keyboard map configuration tool

system-config-mouse Fedora's graphical pointer configuration tool

sensors Gets the system's power, fan speed, and CPU temperatures

setserial Configures a serial port from the command line

sndconfig Configures a sound card for Fedora from the console