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Linux Wireless Configurations for CS Main Network

Following are some older Linux configuration options:

Edit /etc/pcmcia/wireless.opts

     case "$ADDRESS" in

     # For access to the CS restricted network,
     # ESSID="CS Main Network"

     *,*,*,00:02:2D:*)
         INFO="Wavelan IEEE"
         ESSID="CS Main Network"
         MODE="Managed"
         RATE="auto"
         KEY="s:nnnnn"  [where nnnnn is the WEP key]
         ;;

     esac

Newer versions - edit /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

     NAME="eth0"
     DEVICE="eth0"
     USERCTL=yes
     ONBOOT="yes"
     BOOTPROTO="dhcp"

Older versions - edit: /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wvlan0

     NAME="wvlan0"
     DEVICE="wvlan0"
     USERCTL=yes
     ONBOOT="yes"
     BOOTPROTO="dhcp"

In some cases, you may need to set ONBOOT="no"
and run /etc/rc.d/init.d/pcmcia restart to enable the connection.

The following shell script or similar usually works on Redhat or Fedora Linux to enable a wireless interface, using the "CS Main Network" as an example. "nnnn" here is the WEP key.

----
#!/bin/sh

iwconfig eth0 essid "CS Main Network"  mode "Managed"  key "s:nnnn"
sleep 2
ifup eth0 &
sleep 2
iwconfig eth0 essid "CS Main Network"  mode "Managed"  key "s:nnnn"
 ----
  You may need to change the device name "eth0" to "eth1" or "wvlan0".  
  "iwconfig" without arguments should give you the name of the device.  
  (If it does not, then you may need linux drivers for the wireless 
  device.  That is beyond the scope of this document.)
 
  Also, you need to have an /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 
  or similar file as above, with the line 'BOOTPROTO="dhcp"' in it.
  Run this script as root.

Last updated September 17, 2008, by Phil Kaslo
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