Get your Wifi Working LiveCD or HD install - PC-BSD Forums

sqlpython · #1 08-04-2012, 08:14 AM

The key to this is that BSD has a Wifi module for you..All are not available..
AS is the Creedo of BSD "Do it Yourself"
Ok I got it working.......with LiveCD the method will translate easily to your HD install.
The key is to have a Module available for your Wifi. Not all Wifi cards are represented in BSD.
To check look at the live cd in /media/cdrom0/boot/defaults/loader.conf file...
....Go down to the section marked "Network Drivers"
....Read through carefully as the Wireless drivers by name are mixed in through about 100 lines..
I hope this is of a help to someone.
I posted here based on my question regarding my Networking forum Wifi Intel 5100AGN query

Command Line Manual Method and is good for LiveCD
First look at your Network config in a Terminal/Konsole to see what is recognized..
AS root from here on...

Code:

su
whoami

...should read

Code:

root

..Now check Network conections

Code:

ifconfig -a

Should see something like below the first line will vary..
As it may be reflective of an attempt to set up the Wifi mine was a iwn0 reflecting the iwn5000fw module.
I changed my #s to inet, ether, bssid as they are mine for security.
REMEMBER the first Check may not display the wlan0 and so we will Create it below.

Code:

iwn0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 2290
	ether 00:55:55:55:55:55
	nd6 options=29<PERFORMNUD,IFDISABLED,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
	media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect mode 11ng
	status: associated
re0: flags=8802<BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
	options=389b<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,VLAN_MTU,VLAN_HWTAGGING,VLAN_HWCSUM,WOL_UCAST,WOL_MCAST,WOL_MAGIC>
	ether 00:55:55:55:55:55
	nd6 options=29<PERFORMNUD,IFDISABLED,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
	media: Ethernet autoselect (10baseT/UTP <half-duplex>)
	status: no carrier
lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 16384
	options=3<RXCSUM,TXCSUM>
	inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 
	inet6 550::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0xb 
	inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 
	nd6 options=21<PERFORMNUD,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
wlan0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
	ether 00:55:55:55:55:42
	inet6 5580::554:55:5500:3f55%wlan0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0xc 
	inet 195.177.1.145 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.2.255
	nd6 options=21<PERFORMNUD,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
	media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet OFDM/54Mbps mode 11ng
	status: associated
	ssid GreyDog channel 6 (2462 MHz 11g ht/20) bssid 58:58:55:55:55:55
	country US authmode WPA2/802.11i privacy ON deftxkey UNDEF
	AES-CCM 2:128-bit AES-CCM 3:128-bit txpower 15 bmiss 10 scanvalid 450
	bgscan bgscanintvl 300 bgscanidle 250 roam:rssi 7 roam:rate 64
	protmode CTS ampdulimit 64k ampdudensity 8 -amsdutx amsdurx shortgi
	wme roaming MANUAL

On the LiveCD look here to find your wifi module /media/PCBSD/boot/kernel.
Mine for the Intel 5000AGN is iwn5000fw.ko
As I also used iwn0 to create the wlan0 device
And I loaded it as in a Konsole/Terminal as root as in #1 below

#1

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 create wlandev iwn0

......now try another

Code:

ifconfig -a

......now you should see a wlan0 displayed

...... Next bring down any connection to the wifi..

#2

Code:

ifconfig iwn0 down

#3

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 down

......next load in your Wifi module
#4

Code:

kldload iwn5000fw.ko

......Now bring up the interfaces again to light your wifi. If you have a light it should go on..
#5

Code:

ifconfig iwn0 up

#6

Code:

ifconfig wlan0 up

...
...Now if you have have a WPA or WEP security and password to your network call up the PCbsd GUI Settings and use Networking.
..Once started you will see the wlan in your Network Manger below the HardWire NIC..
..Highlight it and click configure. Now the Wireless Congiguration comes up Click on Scan and then Your Router.
..Once you have choosen your Router/BSSID Click Add To Profiles and then Edit it.
..When On Edit pop up make the appropriate choices for WEP/WPA /Advanced Tab for DHCP or Static most are DHCP
.. Mostly follow your nose as you know your settings to your own Router Wifi.

If you want you can alternatively configure the Router via steps #7 & #8 below but they are not necessary if you use the GUI.
Plus they may not work as advertised...

#7

Code:

wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

#8

Code:

dhclient wlan0

Now so you Don't have to do all that every time..
Once installed to the Hard Drive PcBSD may be configured as Below as root user.
Appropriately Use your own Module names, Password and Router/BSSID Name.
Setup For Automatic Wireless Connection
If needed, load driver modules in /boot/loader.conf.

Code:

if_iwn5000fw_load="YES"
Create /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf with SSID and PSK.
network={
        ssid="GreyDog"
        psk="Mypassword"}

Modify /etc/rc.conf to create wlan0 and connect:

Code:

wlans_urtw0="wlan0"
ifconfig_wlan0="WPA SYNCDHCP"

On startup, FreeBSD will automatically connect.

I did this Late and in a Hurry as I now type from the Wifi connected PCBSD liveCD.
So, any errors post and I will edit.. all I know is It didn't work, Now it does and I can Repeat it through the above steps.

peterlong · #2 08-19-2012, 01:32 AM

Thanks for sharing - very easy to follow!

sqlpython · #3 08-20-2012, 04:30 AM

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