Using USB WIfi adapter on Debian 16-July-2014 image

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1

Is there an easy way to use a Wifi adapter on Debian? My definition of easy is that you plug it in and it works.

I’ve searched the web and have found several solutions that involve installing kernel modules, but I don’t want to go that route.

I’ve tried several USB Wifi adapters this morning. lsusb finds them, but wicd-curses reports “No wireless networks found.”, but
there are many in the area.

–Mark

2

Is this the "console" or "lxde"... As the 'console' doesn't include
any firmware for wifi either.. But stick with Atheros based usb
chipsets.

Regards,

3

It’s the lxde image. I have a Atheros AR9271. I’m running with external 5V supply.

Is there something special that needs to be configured first?

–Mark

4

It's wicd, when it takes hold of eth0, you can't use it for wlan0..

Your device (wlan0) should show up under

/sbin/ifconfig -a

I usually just put wlan0 in /etc/network/interfaces

Regards,

5

ifconfig -a doesn’t list wlan0.

What do I put in /etc/network/interfaces?

–Mark

6

humm.. i wonder if we are missing some newer firmware..

can you dump your pastebin and model via "lsusb" for me.

dmesg | pastebinit

Regards,

7

lsusb

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0cf3:9271 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9271 802.11n
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

http://paste.debian.net/110285/

I switched to the 10-July-2014 image an am having the same results.

Thanks…

–Mark

8

Ah.. missing firmware:

[ 18.225450] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Firmware htc_9271.fw requested
[ 18.250536] usbcore: registered new interface driver ath9k_htc
[ 18.766269] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Failed to get firmware htc_9271.fw
[ 18.778499] usb 1-1: unregistering interface 1-1:1.0
[ 18.779261] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: USB layer deinitialized
[ 18.779401] usb 1-1: usb_disable_device nuking non-ep0 URBs

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/htc_9271.fw

Regards,

9

Hum, it should have been installed.

https://github.com/RobertCNelson/omap-image-builder/blob/master/scripts/chroot.sh#L754

The "lxde" image here should work..
http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack_Debian#2014-07-16

Regards,

10

Well, that was the image I was using, so I reflashed it and now it working (mostly). I tried the 10-July image and it doesn’t work.

The mostly part is the campus uses enterprise authentication, so I’m still not able to connect, but at least I can see the access points now.

I’m heading home where the wifi is much simpler. I hope it works there.

–Mark

11

Well, I took the USB Wifi adapter home to a Beagle running the 16-July-2014 image and the wicd-curses doesn’t see my access point.

Details:
Running off of external 5V.

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0cf3:9271 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9271 802.11n
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

ip addr
1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN
link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
inet6 ::1/128 scope host
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: eth0: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state DOWN qlen 1000
link/ether c8:a0:30:ac:70:61 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
3: usb0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state UP qlen 1000
link/ether e6:bd:12:ae:62:dc brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
inet 192.168.7.2/30 brd 192.168.7.3 scope global usb0
inet6 fe80::e4bd:12ff:feae:62dc/64 scope link
valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
4: wlan0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc noop state DOWN qlen 1000
link/ether 60:02:b4:86:90:fd brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

dmesg: Debian paste error

12

Hi Sir,

I want to interface usb wif dongle to AM335xEVM, i have DLINK DWA131E1 usb dongle.
how can i start, and even opkg is not working on AM335xEVM but internet using LAN connection is fine.

Regards,
ASIF.