Differences between revisions 13 and 16 (spanning 3 versions)
Revision 13 as of 2009-01-25 15:45:02
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Editor: FranklinPiat
Comment: droping "pcmcia-compat.sh", as it's obsolete (thanks Geoff)
Revision 16 as of 2009-03-17 09:35:20
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Editor: GeoffB
Comment: fix typo
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||<tablestyle="width: 100%;" style="border: 0px hidden">~-[:DebianWiki/EditorGuide#translation:Translation(s)]: none-~||<style="text-align: right;border: 0px hidden"> (!) [:/Discussion:Discussion]|| ||<tablestyle="width: 100%;" style="border: 0px hidden">~-[[DebianWiki/EditorGuide#translation|Translation(s)]]: none-~||<style="text-align: right;border: 0px hidden"> (!) [[/Discussion|Discussion]]||
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[[TableOfContents(3)]] <<TableOfContents(3)>>
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Once your wireless device has an interface available (verifiable with [http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/iwconfig iwconfig]), it is required to be configured to access a network. If you do not have a wireless interface present, please refer to ["WiFi"] for information on providing a driver for your device. Once your wireless device has an interface available (verifiable with [[http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/iwconfig|iwconfig]]), it is required to be configured to access a network. If you do not have a wireless interface present, please refer to [[WiFi]] for information on providing a driver for your device.
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Wireless network interface configuration can be performed using a connection manager (such as [#network-manager NetworkManager]) or through Debian's {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}} file with a special purpose utility (such as [#wpa_supplicant wpa_supplicant]). Examples of !NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant configuration are described below. Wireless network interface configuration can be performed using a connection manager (such as [[#network-manager|NetworkManager]]) or through Debian's {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}} file with a special purpose utility (such as [[#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]]). Examples of !NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant configuration are described below.
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<!> The [wiki:WikiPedia:Wired_Equivalent_Privacy WEP] algorithm is insecure and deprecated by ["WPA"]. Use of WEP is '''not recommended''' and is not covered within this document. <!> The [[WikiPedia:Wired_Equivalent_Privacy|WEP]] algorithm is insecure and deprecated by [[WPA]]. Use of WEP is '''not recommended''' and is not covered within this document.
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[[Anchor(network-manager)]] <<Anchor(network-manager)>>
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NetworkManager is configured by graphical interfaces, which are available for [:Gnome:GNOME] and ["KDE"]. Your wireless interface should ''not'' be referenced within Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file. NetworkManager is configured by graphical interfaces, which are available for [[Gnome|GNOME]] and [[KDE]]. Your wireless interface should ''not'' be referenced within Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file.
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!NetworkManager is also a front-end for [#wpa_supplicant wpa_supplicant]. !NetworkManager is also a front-end for [[#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]].
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 1. Right-click on the applet and select "Properties".    1. Right-click on the applet and select "Properties".
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See also ["NetworkManager"] for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references. See also [[NetworkManager]] for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references.
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See also ["NetworkManager"] for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references. See also [[NetworkManager]] for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references.
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[[Anchor(wpa_supplicant)]] <<Anchor(wicd)>>
== wicd ==
DebPkg:wicd is an alternative to network-manager. It is Gnome/KDE independent, thus it makes it a perfect replacement of network-manager for any desktop environment which is not KDE or Gnome (i.e. XFCE, LXDE, fluxbox etc.). As for network-manager, wicd is configured by graphical interfaces. Your wireless interface should ''not'' be referenced within Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file.

DebPkg:wicd has not been shipped in Lenny but is available in Squeeze.

ToDo: Create a page dedicated to [[Wicd|wicd]]

<<Anchor(wpa_supplicant)>>
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wpa_supplicant is a ["WPA"] client and IEEE 802.1X [wiki:WikiPedia:Supplicant_(computer) supplicant]. wpa_supplicant is a [[WPA]] client and IEEE 802.1X [[WikiPedia:Supplicant_(computer)|supplicant]].
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The DebPkg:wpasupplicant package provides {{{wpa-*}}} [http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/ifup ifupdown] options for {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}}. If these options are specified, wpa_supplicant is started in the background when your wireless interface is raised and stopped when brought down. The DebPkg:wpasupplicant package provides {{{wpa-*}}} [[http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/ifup|ifupdown]] options for {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}}. If these options are specified, wpa_supplicant is started in the background when your wireless interface is raised and stopped when brought down.
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 {i} GNOME and KDE users shouldn't configure wpa_supplicant manually. Use !NetworkManager as [#network-manager explained above].  {i} GNOME and KDE users shouldn't configure wpa_supplicant manually. Use !NetworkManager as [[#network-manager|explained above]].
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For general {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}} information, see the [http://manpages.debian.net/man/5/interfaces interfaces(5)] man page. For general {{{/etc/network/interfaces}}} information, see the [[http://manpages.debian.net/man/5/interfaces|interfaces(5)]] man page.
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For networks using [wiki:WikiPedia:Extensible_Authentication_Protocol EAP-TLS], you are required to establish a wpa_supplicant configuration file and provide the client-side certificate. An example WPA2-EAP configuration file can be found at [file:///usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/examples/wpa2-eap-ccmp.conf /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/examples/wpa2-eap-ccmp.conf]. For networks using [[WikiPedia:Extensible_Authentication_Protocol|EAP-TLS]], you are required to establish a wpa_supplicant configuration file and provide the client-side certificate. An example WPA2-EAP configuration file can be found at [[file:///usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/examples/wpa2-eap-ccmp.conf|/usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/examples/wpa2-eap-ccmp.conf]].
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More information can be found in the [http://manpages.debian.net/man/5/wpa_supplicant.conf wpa_supplicant.conf(5)] man page. A fully-commented wpa_supplicant configuration file example is at {{{/usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.wpa_supplicant.conf.gz}}}. More information can be found in the [[http://manpages.debian.net/man/5/wpa_supplicant.conf|wpa_supplicant.conf(5)]] man page. A fully-commented wpa_supplicant configuration file example is at {{{/usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.wpa_supplicant.conf.gz}}}.
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 * Console users can use DebPkg:ifscheme, see the [http://www.alwayssunny.com/blog/?p=30 example configuration at alwayssunny.com].  * Console users can use DebPkg:ifscheme, see the [[http://www.alwayssunny.com/blog/?p=30|example configuration at alwayssunny.com]].
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 * ["WiFi/AdHoc"] - Establishing a !WiFi network without an access point.
 * [http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/iwconfig iwconfig]
 * ["
NetworkConfiguration"]
 * ["
NetworkManager"]
 * ["
WiFi"]
 * ["
WPA"]
 * [[WiFi/AdHoc]] - Establishing a !WiFi network without an access point.
 * [[http://manpages.debian.net/man/8/iwconfig|iwconfig]]
 * [[
NetworkConfiguration]]
 * [[
NetworkManager]]
 * [[
WiFi]]
 * [[
WPA]]

Translation(s): none

(!) ?Discussion


How to use a WiFi interface

This page describes how to configure a WiFi interface on a Debian system, for use on a network.

Once your wireless device has an interface available (verifiable with iwconfig), it is required to be configured to access a network. If you do not have a wireless interface present, please refer to WiFi for information on providing a driver for your device.

Wireless network interface configuration can be performed using a connection manager (such as NetworkManager) or through Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file with a special purpose utility (such as wpa_supplicant). Examples of NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant configuration are described below.

<!> The WEP algorithm is insecure and deprecated by WPA. Use of WEP is not recommended and is not covered within this document.

Network Manager

NetworkManager is configured by graphical interfaces, which are available for GNOME and KDE. Your wireless interface should not be referenced within Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file.

NetworkManager is also a front-end for wpa_supplicant.

GNOME

  1. Install the network-manager-gnome package:

    $ su
    # aptitude update
    # aptitude install network-manager-gnome
  2. Right-click on a GNOME panel and select "Add to Panel...".
  3. From the list presented, select "Network Monitor" and click "Add". A new systray applet will appear. Click "Close".
  4. Right-click on the applet and select "Properties".
  5. From the dialog presented, click "Configure". You will be asked for the administrative (root) password.
  6. A list of network interfaces will be displayed. Select your wireless interface, then click "Properties".
  7. Tick "Enable this connection" and enter details regarding your wireless network. Click "OK" when finished.

See also NetworkManager for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references.

KDE

  1. Install the network-manager-kde package:

    $ su
    # aptitude update
    # aptitude install network-manager-kde
  2. From the K Menu, select "Run Command". Enter "knetworkmanager" and click "Run".
  3. A new systray applet will appear.

ToDo: Complete knetworkmanager procedure.

See also NetworkManager for frequently asked questions, documentation and support references.

wicd

wicd is an alternative to network-manager. It is Gnome/KDE independent, thus it makes it a perfect replacement of network-manager for any desktop environment which is not KDE or Gnome (i.e. XFCE, LXDE, fluxbox etc.). As for network-manager, wicd is configured by graphical interfaces. Your wireless interface should not be referenced within Debian's /etc/network/interfaces file.

wicd has not been shipped in Lenny but is available in Squeeze.

ToDo: Create a page dedicated to ?wicd

wpa_supplicant

wpa_supplicant is a WPA client and IEEE 802.1X supplicant.

The wpasupplicant package provides wpa-* ifupdown options for /etc/network/interfaces. If these options are specified, wpa_supplicant is started in the background when your wireless interface is raised and stopped when brought down.

  • {i} GNOME and KDE users shouldn't configure wpa_supplicant manually. Use NetworkManager as explained above.

Before continuing, install the wpasupplicant package:

  • $ su
    # aptitude update
    # aptitude install wpasupplicant

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK

{i} Also known as "WPA Personal" and "WPA2 Personal" respectively.

  1. Restrict the permissions of /etc/network/interfaces, to prevent pre-shared key (PSK) disclosure:

    # chmod 0600 /etc/network/interfaces
  2. Open /etc/network/interfaces in a text editor:

    # sensible-editor /etc/network/interfaces
  3. Define appropriate stanzas for your wireless interface, along with the SSID and PSK. For example:

    auto wlan0
    iface wlan0 inet dhcp
        wpa-ssid mynetworkname
        wpa-psk mysecretpassphrase
    The "auto" stanza will bring your interface up at system startup. If not desired, remove or comment this line.
  4. Save the file and exit the editor.
  5. Bring your interface up. This will start wpa_supplicant as a background process.

    # ifup wlan0

Additional wpa-* options are described within /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.modes.gz. This should also be read if connecting to a network not broadcasting its SSID.

For general /etc/network/interfaces information, see the interfaces(5) man page.

WPA-EAP

For networks using EAP-TLS, you are required to establish a wpa_supplicant configuration file and provide the client-side certificate. An example WPA2-EAP configuration file can be found at /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/examples/wpa2-eap-ccmp.conf.

Once available, reference your configuration file in /etc/network/interfaces. For example:

  • auto wlan0
    iface wlan0 inet dhcp
        wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

More information can be found in the wpa_supplicant.conf(5) man page. A fully-commented wpa_supplicant configuration file example is at /usr/share/doc/wpasupplicant/README.wpa_supplicant.conf.gz.

Switching Connections

To switch between multiple distinct configurations:

See Also


CategoryNetwork | CategoryWireless