topic Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux in Operating System - Linux

Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux

Steven E. Protter — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 14:36:51 GMT

Wireless Adapter from Microsoft.

Model MN-520
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/broadbandnetworking/productdetails.aspx?pid=005

Does anybody have this card working properly under any version of Linux.

If so, please state the distribution and provide isntallation steps with as much detail as possible.

I've tried under Mandrake 9.2 and Red Hat 9.0, its recognized but not working properly. No error messages.

Points also awarded for good diagnostic steps.

Rabbits awarded for complete answers after I get it working.

SEP

Re: Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux

Bruce Copeland — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 16:28:35 GMT

SEP

I don't have a microsoft MN520, but I recall that it uses a Prism 2.5 chip, as does my Netgear MA401. The hermes/orinoco drivers in the standard kernels don't do a very good job with these chips. The linux wlan-ng project provides a much better driver. The basic steps for setting up linux wlan-ng with one of these cards is documented on my website:

http://www.cybersym.com/pages/linux-ze4100.html

under PCMCIA and Wifi. I can answer more detailed questions as needed.

Bruce

Re: Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux

Steven E. Protter — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 17:07:07 GMT

Okay Bruce:

Did you have to recompile the kernel to get the driver working?

What distribution of Linux did you use?

Other questions may be posted by Daniel Vaisrub. I posted this for him, those questions should be treated as if they came from me and will be rewarded as such.

SEP

Re: Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux

Bruce Copeland — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 18:15:57 GMT

I use Red Hat 9 with a custom kernel. I did NOT, however, need to rebuild the kernel to get the WiFi card to work. (As indicated on my web page, there ARE some things you do need in the kernel, but I already had those in my kernel config.) You can also make things work using a stock kernel.

Bruce

Re: Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter and Linux

Steven E. Protter — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 21:51:54 GMT

Daniel found another website and got it working.

He promises to post a solution. It was two lines in a configuration file.

Thread closed awaiting Daniel's solution.

SEP