Ubuntu Wiki

This page describes how to set up your Compaq W200 multiport adapter.

At present you must download source and compile the kernel module yourself. There is an open bug ([https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.15/+bug/29971 29971]) to include the module precompiled in Dapper - although it is regarded as beta by the Orinoco driver project, there is no other way to get the W200 working.

Prerequisites

To successfully setup the adapter you must already be connected to the internet.

The following packages are required:

• cvs
• build-essential
• gcc-3.4 (gcc-3.4-base on ubuntu 6.06)
• cpp-3.4
• linux-headers-XXX

Where XXX is your hardware type - to find this out run

uname -r

To install these all in one go you can use this line if you're using ubuntu 5.04 or 5.10.

sudo apt-get install build-essential cvs linux-headers-`uname -r` gcc3.4 cpp3.4

In Ubuntu 6.06 you will need this line

sudo apt-get install build-essential cvs linux-headers-`uname -r` gcc-3.4-base cpp-3.4

BR In either case you will also need the latest orinoco drivers, these can be downloaded from a cvs repository by running

cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.savannah.gnu.org:/cvsroot/orinoco co orinoco

Installing the Driver

We now need to compile and install the driver, run

  cd orinoco
  make
  sudo make install

Downloading the firmware

The next thing is to download the windows firmware. There is a nice script to help us with this.

  cd firmware
  ./get_ezusb_fw

Putting the firmware in the right location

The firmware needs to go in the same folder as other firmware, on ubuntu 5.04 and 5.10 this is in /lib/hotplug/firmware.

sudo cp orinoco_ezusb_fw /usr/lib/hotplug/firmware

On Ubuntu 6.06 you can copy it in the correct place like so:

sudo cp orinoco_ezusb_fw /lib/firmware/`uname -r`/

Activating the Adapter

We now need to load the driver into the kernel so we can take advantage of it.

  sudo modprobe -v orinoco_usb

Now you should be able to start configuring and using your adapter, but before you do, we should setup the driver to be automatically loaded every time we start the computer up. Open a text editor using sudo and edit /etc/modules

Now add a new line at the bottom of the file

orinoco_usb

Configuring wireless

Before configuring the card you should switch the adapter on by pressing fn and F2. If the adapter has a green light showing then it's switched on.

We can now start configuring the card, using System -> Administration -> Networking. You should read WiFiHowto to find out how to do this if you're not sure.

Troubleshooting

Odd things can happen after the adapter's DHCP lease runs out; I've seen the keyboard stop working on Breezy. That it was the wifi was confirmed by hitting Fn-F2 twice, once to switch the wifi off and once to switch it back on; keyboard works again, wait thirty seconds and it gets a new address. Similar things can happen coming back from suspend or hibernate.

So, if in doubt: Fn-F2 to switch the adapter off (green light goes out), Fn-F2 to switch it back on (green light goes on)!

If after rebooting the wireless adapter stops working, then restarting the wireless interface may fix it.

sudo ifdown eth1
sudo ifup eth1

(Your internal Ethernet adapter will typically be eth0.)

If you've recently updated Ubuntu and wireless has stopped working then follow the steps from "Installing the Driver" onwards.

CategoryDocumentation CategoryNetworking.