Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:10:52 -0600 From: "Andrew L. Gould" <algould@datawok.com> To: "Loren M. Lang" <lorenl@alzatex.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: PCMCIA Wireless Card Question Message-ID: <200411190810.52775.algould@datawok.com> In-Reply-To: <20041119090309.GA16924@alzatex.com> References: <03a901c4cd9e$4db215e0$9a11a8c0@d3stomc> <200411181321.58329.algould@datawok.com> <20041119090309.GA16924@alzatex.com>
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On Friday 19 November 2004 03:03 am, Loren M. Lang wrote: > On Thu, Nov 18, 2004 at 01:21:58PM -0600, Andrew L. Gould wrote: > > On Thursday 18 November 2004 12:42 pm, Tom Connolly wrote: > > > Andrew L. Gould wrote: > > > > On Tuesday 16 November 2004 12:30 pm, Tom Connolly wrote: > > > >> Hello List, > > > >> I have just put FreeBSD 5.3 Release on my Dell Latitude C600 > > > >> laptop. I wish to go wireless but I'm new to this technology. > > > >> I have looked through the hardware compatibility notes and > > > >> have found several supported wireless cards. My question is, > > > >> what do I have to do (ports to install, configuration, etc.) > > > >> to get the wireless connection up and running. > > > >> > > > >> Any help would be appreciated. > > > >> > > > >> Thanks, > > > >> > > > >> Tom > > > > > > > > Based on your email, I will assume that you purchased a > > > > compatible wireless adapter. > > > > > > > > 1. Make sure your pccard slots work in FreeBSD 5.3. There's no > > > > use in struggling with the pccard if the slots don't work. > > > > > > > > http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/articles/laptop/x58. > > > >html > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. Make sure your kernel is configured for your hardware. You > > > > may have to add devices to your kernel: > > > > > > http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/kernelc > > >onfi g.h tml > > > > > > > 3. Configure your wireless connection: > > > > > > http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/network > > >-wir ele ss.html > > > > > > > Have fun, > > > > > > > > Andrew Gould > > > > > > Oops, I guess I missed the top line in the Handbook that I can > > > skip making device nodes since I am using FreeBSD 5.3. I assume > > > I still have to add the entry for the kernel though. Is that > > > correct? Then I assume I have to recompile the kernel which I > > > have never done before. Is this also correct? Sorry for the > > > remedial questions. I as still a newbie. > > > > > > Tom > > > > For the atheros chipset, you'll need to add the following to your > > kernel config file: > > > > device ath > > device ath_hal > > Couldn't he just do something like kldload ath as root and skipping > compiling a new kernel? While I do see advantages to compiling a > kernel, having to do so everytime you add a new pccard or usb device > is just pointless, IMHO. In linux I just compiled a kernel with > modules for everything but the core devices to boot my machine, and > did it just once per system. If I added a new device, I may have to > change the kernel config, but I'd just have to compile a couple > modules and load them, but didn't need to install a new kernel or > even reboot. In freebsd, I believe I heard everything is always > compiled as a module that can be so I'd think just kldload ath would > work even though there may be no reference to ath in the kernel > config. ath_hal and wlan may also need to be loaded, I'm not sure as > I have yet to try out my wireless card with freebsd. I tried to load the modules after I installed 5.3. Both ath and ath_hal would need to be loaded. I was only able to load one of the modules, though I can't remember which.
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