Arch Linux

ItsTheSource

Member

Registered: 2006-06-13

Posts: 7

ndiswrapper & iso's

Is there a reason that ndiswrapper isn't included on iso's? Found myself having to go through a lot of trouble to get wifi installed after installing arch 0.8b1 today. It would be helpful to have the package installed instead of trying to hunt for mirrors with ndiswrapper 1.34...

Just a thought

skale

Member

From: Atlanta, GA

Registered: 2006-08-04

Posts: 146

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

I concur.  Maybe toss it into the 0.8 before it moves out of Beta, if possible. 

I keep a pen drive with the ndiswrapper pkg, just for reinstalls.

However, it might not be a "base" package, since not everyone needs them, but I suppose more people need ndiswrapper than xfsprogs, so I don't know.

phrakture

Arch Overlord

From: behind you

Registered: 2003-10-29

Posts: 7,879

Website

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

Well here's the thing... even if it's on the CD, your windows driver won't be...

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http://phraktured.net

tpowa

Developer

From: Lauingen , Germany

Registered: 2004-04-05

Posts: 2,331

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

the beta2 allows installing of packages during boot put ndiswrapper on your favorite stick and it will be installed.
sure you need your windows driver too.
the basic possibility to use any package you might need on iso has been added since beta2.

ItsTheSource

Member

Registered: 2006-06-13

Posts: 7

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

i guess my primary concern is "will ndiswrapper in the repos 6 months from now be able to be installed and usable with the kernel on the release cd?" I'm assuming I'll get a fatal module not found error and with the structure of the repos it'd make it nearly impossible to find the correct version on any of the mirrors. Therefore, a thumbstick is really out of the question and it'd be necessary to find ethernet access.

Obviously the only real benefit, is being able to upgrade packages after an installation, but IMO it seems to be a low cost (~150k) for such a luxury.

Thanks for the replies guys

pelle.k

Member

From: Åre, Sweden (EU)

Registered: 2006-04-30

Posts: 667

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

I must agree with previous posters. This is something that could be an option in the installer.
Most of us with wireless network adapters save the package that matches -> the kernel version from the install cd. If you're a new arch user you (may) have to compile ndiswrapper, just for the sake of getting the "real thing", as the "recent" ndiswrapper pkg might not be in the repos any more...

Well here's the thing... even if it's on the CD, your windows driver won't be...

Well, I have the windows driver laying around on a backup partition, as i assume most people do.

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"Your beliefs can be like fences that surround you.
You must first see them or you will not even realize that you are not free, simply because you will not see beyond the fences.
They will represent the boundaries of your experience."
SETH / Jane Roberts

tpowa

Developer

From: Lauingen , Germany

Registered: 2004-04-05

Posts: 2,331

Re: ndiswrapper & iso's

i'll plan a seperate download dir with modules that fit to kernel from install cd so you don't have to bother if the modules are not on main server anymore.