nightmorph 10/05/24 20:36:52 Modified: hb-net-wireless.xml Log: Redo the wireless handbook. Wifi on linux has come a long way in the last ten years. I recommended graphical clients as the easiest, fastest way to join wifi networks *before* trying command line tools like wpa_supplicant and wireless-tools. Bug 320567.
Revision Changes Path 1.17 xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml file : http://sources.gentoo.org/viewvc.cgi/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml?rev=1.17&view=markup plain: http://sources.gentoo.org/viewvc.cgi/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml?rev=1.17&content-type=text/plain diff : http://sources.gentoo.org/viewvc.cgi/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml?r1=1.16&r2=1.17 Index: hb-net-wireless.xml =================================================================== RCS file: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml,v retrieving revision 1.16 retrieving revision 1.17 diff -u -r1.16 -r1.17 --- hb-net-wireless.xml 15 Apr 2009 07:28:50 -0000 1.16 +++ hb-net-wireless.xml 24 May 2010 20:36:52 -0000 1.17 @@ -4,38 +4,69 @@ <!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license --> <!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> -<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml,v 1.16 2009/04/15 07:28:50 nightmorph Exp $ --> +<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/handbook/hb-net-wireless.xml,v 1.17 2010/05/24 20:36:52 nightmorph Exp $ --> <sections> <abstract> -Wireless isn't straightforward. Hopefully we'll get you working! +Wireless configuration can be tricky. Hopefully we'll get you working! </abstract> -<version>8.1</version> -<date>2009-04-15</date> +<version>9.0</version> +<date>2010-05-24</date> <section> <title>Introduction</title> <body> <p> -Currently we support wireless setup either by <c>wireless-tools</c> or -<c>wpa_supplicant</c>. The important thing to remember is that you configure for -wireless networks on a global basis and not an interface basis. +Wireless networking on Linux is usually pretty straightforward. There are two +ways of configuring wifi: graphical clients, or the command line. </p> <p> -<c>wpa_supplicant</c> is the best choice, but it does not support all drivers. -For a list of supported drivers, <uri +The <e>easiest</e> way is to use a graphical client once you've installed a <uri +link="/doc/en/?catid=desktop">desktop environment</uri>. Most graphical clients, +such as <uri link="http://wicd.sourceforge.net";>wicd</uri> and <uri +link="http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager";>NetworkManager</uri>, are +pretty self-explanatory. They offer a handy point-and-click interface that gets +you on a network in just a few seconds. +</p> + +<note> +<c>wicd</c> offers a command line utility <e>in addition</e> to the main +graphical interface. You can get it by emerging <c>wicd</c> with the +<c>ncurses</c> USE flag set. This <c>wicd-curses</c> utility is particularly +useful for folks who don't use a gtk-based desktop environment, but still want +an easy command line tool that doesn't require hand-editing configuration +files. +</note> + +<p> +However, if you don't want to use a graphical client, then you can configure +wifi on the command line by editing a few configuration files. This takes a bit +more time to setup, but it also requires the fewest packages to download and +install. Since the graphical clients are mostly self-explanatory (with helpful +screenshots at their homepages), we'll focus on the command line alternatives. +</p> + +<p> +You can setup wireless networking on the command line by installing +<c>wireless-tools</c> or <c>wpa_supplicant</c>. The important thing to remember +is that you configure wireless networks on a global basis and not an interface +basis. +</p> + +<p> +<c>wpa_supplicant</c> is the best choice. For a list of supported drivers, <uri link="http://hostap.epitest.fi/wpa_supplicant";>read the wpa_supplicant -site</uri>. Also, <c>wpa_supplicant</c> can currently only connect to SSIDs -that you have configured. +site</uri>. </p> <p> <c>wireless-tools</c> supports nearly all cards and drivers, but it cannot -connect to WPA only Access Points. +connect to WPA-only Access Points. If your networks only offer WEP encryption or +are completely open, you may prefer the simplicity of <c>wireless-tools</c>. </p> <warn> @@ -54,8 +85,7 @@ <p> <uri link="http://hostap.epitest.fi/wpa_supplicant";>WPA Supplicant</uri> is a -package that allows you to connect to WPA enabled access points. Its setup is -fairly fluid as it is still in beta - however it works fine for the most part. +package that allows you to connect to WPA enabled access points.. </p> <pre caption="Install wpa_supplicant"> @@ -67,6 +97,13 @@ <c>wpa_supplicant</c> to work. </impo> +<note> +Depending on your USE flags, <c>wpa_supplicant</c> can install a graphical +interface written in Qt4, which will integrate nicely with KDE. To get it, run +<c>echo "net-wireless/wpa_supplicant qt4" >> /etc/portage/package.use</c> as +root before emerging <c>wpa_supplicant</c>. +</note> + <p> Now we have to configure <path>/etc/conf.d/net</path> to so that we prefer <c>wpa_supplicant</c> over <c>wireless-tools</c> (if both are installed, @@ -98,7 +135,7 @@ which ships with <c>wpa_supplicant</c>. </p> -<pre caption="an example /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf"> +<pre caption="An example /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf"> <comment># The below line not be changed otherwise we refuse to work</comment> ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
