Since the madwifi modules are present in the eeepc.debian.net repository, wifi works without any modification in the EeePC 701. However, you can install a more recent module and improve your wifi performance.
Atheros and ath5k
The first benefit of this driver is that it is free (see DebianEeePC/FreeYourEee). Also, it provides a better connection with access points.
This module works now in the Linux kernel 2.6.29 in Sid and with a backport of this kernel for Lenny as described here: ../Upgrade#A2.6.29UpgradeIssues.2BAC8-tips. This is what we recommend, so unless you have qualms about upgrading your kernel, go follow those instructions and read no further.
The problem with the Lenny 2.6.26 ath5k driver is that while it loads and presents a wlan0 interface, it does not list any wireless access points. To fix this, you can download and install the compat-wireless-old package.
FixMe: Please confirm these instructions are still valid for 2.6.26. In a recent (April 26, 2009) irc help session, we were unsuccessful following these instructions and opted for an upgrade to 2.6.29 instead (as indicated above).
If you want ath5k to work on 2.6.26, build your own from the latest snapshot from Linux Wireless website.
Install the build-essential and linux-headers-2.6-686 (or linux-headers-2.6-486 if you have a 486 kernel) packages (see DevelopmentPage).
Download the latest compat-wireless-old.tar.bz2 source and unpack it.
I had to apply this patch: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/27753
Go to its unpacked directory (in a terminal) and type make.
When it is finished, type (as root) make install.
- The latest ath5k modules are now installed.
If you are like me, and dislike running make install as root, and prefer to know where files are installed, you can run these manual commands after make instead:
find . -name \*.ko - finds all the compiled kernel modules
sudo mkdir /lib/modules/2.6.26-2-686/updates - this is where the compiled kernel modules will be copied to
find . -name \*.ko -exec sudo cp {} /lib/modules/2.6.26-2-686/updates \; - copies all the kernel modules
sudo depmod - regenerates the files which enable kernel modules to load
In order to make it work, either remove the madwifi-tools package, which blacklists ath5k, or else edit /etc/modprobe.d/madwifi.conf to comment out the blacklist entry. If you decide to switch back to madwifi, don't forget to uncomment the entry again.
The Fn+F2 key now works properly with eeepc-acpi-scripts 1.1.0, so make sure you upgrade.
You should modify /etc/network/interfaces to replace ath0 with wlan0 wherever it occurs. It is OK if there are no references in there (as in the case where NetworkManager is in use, as it requires that you do *not* have any clauses for network interfaces under its control here).
Now, just use Fn+F2. It should work. Toggling on wifi may sometimes not work. Just toggle off and on again and it will.
Keep pciehp in /etc/modules, as it's needed to toggle wifi.
Atheros and ath9k
The above instructions for ath5k also apply to ath9k, and still work as of May 7th, 2009 (addressing the above FixMe).
However, on a 1000HE using the 2.6.26 kernel, I had intermittent issues with my wireless card disconnecting from my AP. dmesg would show: wlan0 authentication with ap timed out. Using the 2.6.29 kernel from backports.undebian.org resolved the issue.
Atheros and madwifi-hal
FixMe: the following is an unsupported solution. There is doubt as to what benefits it confers. Either supply some, or else this whole section should be removed.
Updated: I still found that the instruction below works better for my eeepc 900. With the old-compat ath5k driver the device behaves worse in terms of latency and reliability but ath_pci works well.
You can install madwifi-hal development version :
- Remove any madwifi-modules-* or madwifi-eeepc-modules-* package
Install the build-essential and linux-headers-2.6-686 (or linux-headers-2.6-486 if you have a 486 kernel) packages (see DevelopmentPage).
Download the latest madwifi-hal or madwifi-hal-testing and unpack it.
Go to its unpacked directory (in a terminal) and type make.
When it is finished, type (as root) make install.
- The latest madwifi modules are now installed.
Do not remove the madwifi folder, thus permiting to uninstall it by typing (as root) make uninstall
Do not forget to install the madwifi-tools package or to blacklist the ath5k module.