Unable to set Atheros Wireless card with MadWifi in openSUSE 11.0
Posted by admin on June 28th, 2008
MadWifi is one of the most advanced WLAN drivers available for Linux. With openSUSE 11.0 users of systems with Atheros wireless card are not able to install and use Madwifi drivers to set the Atheros Wireless Card.
madwifi 0.9.4-1-i586 may install OK but you may face the following error when trying to install madwif-kmp-pae 0.9.4_2.6.25_26-1-i586
“nothing provides kernel(vmlinux)=1f623d7fcfa1b112 needed by madwifi-kmp-pae 0.9.4_2.6.25_26-i586.”
To resolve this problem, simply rebuild the RPMs from the original source RPM packages.
So here is how it works.
Install Kernel Source and Kernel Syms package
To rebuild the madwifi Source RPMS, you need to have the
Kernel Source package (kernel-source)
Kernel Syms package (kernel-syms)
GNU C Compiler (gcc)
Make utility (make)
Switch user to root and install the above
SAIBABA:~# yast2 –install kernel-source kernel-syms gcc make
This should install the pre-requisites.
Download Source RPM packages
SAIBABA:~ # wget http://madwifi.org/suse/11.0/src/madwifi-0.9.4-1.src.rpm
Rebuild RPMs
SAIBABA:~ # rpmbuild –rebuild madwifi-0.9.4-1.src.rpm
This should rebuild the Madwifi RPMs from the source at save them at
/usr/src/packages/RPMS/i586
Change directory to the above and confirm if the following created
madwifi-0.9.4-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-debuginfo-0.9.4-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-debugsource-0.9.4-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-devel-0.9.4-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-kmp-debug-0.9.4_2.6.25.5_1.1-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-kmp-default-0.9.4_2.6.25.5_1.1-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-kmp-pae-0.9.4_2.6.25.5_1.1-1.i586.rpm
madwifi-kmp-xen-0.9.4_2.6.25.5_1.1-1.i586.rpm
Install Madwifi RPMS
Now confirm, the Kernel Version and the proceed to install the RPMs
SAIBABA:~ # uname -a
Install Madwifi
SAIBABA:~ # rpm -Uvh madwifi-0.9.4-1.i586.rpm
Install Madwifi-kmp
SAIBABA:~ # rpm -Uvh madwifi-kmp-pae-0.9.4_2.6.25.5_1.1-1.i586.rpm
Blacklist athk5k Module
echo “blacklist ath5k” >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
Update Network Manager
Update the latest Networkmanager patch
SAIBABA:~ # yast2 –install knetworkmanager
Reboot your computer
SAIBABA:~ # reboot
Update Network Manager Setup
Once back after reboot, open YAST and open Yast – Network Devices – Network Settings. On the ‘Global options’ tab uncheck the “user controlled with networkmanager” option under Network Setup.
Delete any old wireless entry. To confirm that edit it and click on the hardware tab. The old one has the module name of ath5k. Now edit the new connection with the ath_pci module. Define all parameters for your local setup including encryption, DHCP etc. Save and exit. Logout and back into KDE.
This should work.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:20 am
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July 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 am
[...] (came from 10.3) and had the same problem and helpfully solve it know here you can find the answer Unable to set Atheros Wireless card with MadWifi in openSUSE 11.0 | SUSE & openSUSE you have follow the instructions and it will hopefully [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Dont forget to chamge wlan0 to ath0 as otherwise it doesnt work, found that out after modprobing ath_pci when nothing was happening and trying to get ndiswrapper up. and you need to pop double dashes for “rpmbuild –rebuild” etc.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:18 am
btw thank you sooo much!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:52 am
yes! this was the right solution for me. thanx a lot…
September 15th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Hello guys.
Yuuuuhuuuu!! say always Homer simpson, I’m very happy jeje. This tutorial, is better, very good, simply, but efective, I have a laptop easynote packard bell, AMD + nvidia and atheros ar5bxb561, and now my wifi is started.
Sorry for my English, I am Spanish.
Bye, bye a many thank’s.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Sorry, say any more, with gnome no need, reinstall networkmanager, detect the wireles point, to the first. jeje I use ONO 12 MB, very fast.
Bye, bye.