New to Fedora, struggling with wireless

[Matthew Saltzman]

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006, Nick Morrott wrote:

> On 23/11/06, Cecilia Lunardini <cecilialunardini at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I have just installed Fedora 6 on my new laptop,  a
>> Sony VAIO SZ360P/C Notebook with Intel Centrino.
>> While a wired internet connection works, I can not
>> find a way to set up a wireless connection.
>
> <snip>
>
>> So, my question is: is there a step by step, guide on
>> how to set up the wireless?  It has to be very
>> detailed, because I am an absolute beginner and even
>> the most obvious aspects of Linux are not obvious to
>> me.
>
> Cecilia,
>
> Try this guide (for Fedora Core 6) and see if you can follow it
> through (I think the only missing element from a Fedora installation
> to get Centrino wireless working is the Intel firmware that needs to
> be downloaded):
>
> http://www.ces.clemson.edu/linux/fc2-ipw2200.shtml

Most of that guide is for using the latest drivers, not included with the 
stock kernels.  There really shoudn't be a need for that--and it's very 
scary for newbies to think they need to compile kernel modules.  I've 
often used these drivers, but I'm currently using the FC6 stock drivers 
with no obvious issues.

Cecilia-

The only thing you should need to do is grab the firmware RPM from Livna, 
as described at the top of the article, and then reboot.

If you have a wireless kill switch, the article describes (near the 
bottom) how to make sure wireless power is on.

You can check the configuration of your card with System -> Administration 
-> Network (i.e., pull down the System menu, select Administration, then 
Network).  Make sure there is an entry for the card in the Hardware tab 
and an entry in the Devices tab that is of type "wireless" and maps to the 
right hardware device.

The simplest way to handle wireless devices is with NetworkManager.  Once 
oyu have the device properly detected, open the System -> Administration 
-> Services tool.  In the Background Services tab, check NetworkManager 
(so it will start on boot) and start it.  You should see an icon on your 
toolbar (at least if you use GNOME) that you can use to connect to your 
wireless access point.

>
> Nick
>
>

-- 
 		Matthew Saltzman

Clemson University Math Sciences
mjs AT clemson DOT edu
http://www.math.clemson.edu/~mjs