Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

pixelot · 2010-02-22 02:15:08

Hi, I'm a newbie, hence the thread location.

So I'm trying to install Arch on my desktop, but in order to get anywhere I need a network driver. I don't have a wired connection, just a wireless card, but in order to install the wireless driver, I need the wireless driver; it's the classic case of loosing your glasses: you can't search for them until you find them. Oh, and I can't install a desktop environment until then either.

Anyways, lspci | grep -i net shows my driver to be a Ralink RT2561. Does anyone know what driver I need to download, and how I can install it during the install process? Thanks.

-pixelot

skottish · 2010-02-22 02:21:17

Install rt2x00-rt61-fw. It's on the core install medium.

pixelot · 2010-02-22 06:56:22

Ah, thank you.

So that's on the core install disc, and I can install it once I've got Arch installed, or do I need to select it as part of the package selection process?

Thanks.

TheSaint · 2010-02-22 13:16:39

Once you downloaded the CD image or the USB image and started from them, you'll go through a setup for the basic installation, which it'll include the wireless firmware to continue the installation for a GUI and DE.

F

tomk · 2010-02-22 15:35:53

A minor correction, for the sake of clarity -
lspci shows your chipset as RT2561, not your driver. The driver for that chipset is rt61pci, and it is already installed on your system, provided by the kernel26 package. You simply need to install the firmware package mentioned above to make it work.

pixelot · 2010-03-06 08:39:13

All right, pardon my delayed response (been busy with school). So if I understand correctly, I need to download and install the above-mentioned firmware package so the driver will work. Since I obviously can't access the Internet on my desktop, is it possible somehow to download that package on another system and then install it from a USB drive or something like that?

TIA.

Last edited by pixelot (2010-03-06 08:44:48)

tomk · 2010-03-06 09:04:15

No - as skottish already said, the firmware package is included on the install medium.

pixelot · 2010-03-06 09:26:44

Again, pardon my ignorance, but I can't seem to find how to install that. Pacman is like aptitude (I'm used to Ubuntu), right? But how would I install local packages? Is it in a specific place?

Thanks.

Misfit138 · 2010-03-06 13:55:18

If you follow the Beginners' Guide closely, you will have no issue with this. It is covered quite exhaustively there, which explains the community's reluctance to repeat it all verbatim.
After you have finished the base installation, the guide further explains wireless configuration.
Welcome to Arch. GLHF

pickboy87 · 2010-03-06 15:10:54

To make it even clearer, when installing Arch can select extra packages from the base-devel in the package selection part. Choose the firmware from that and make sure it's selected when you install it. Then follow the beginners guide to get wireless working.

pixelot · 2010-03-06 17:16:44

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks

Arch Linux

#1 2010-02-22 02:15:08

Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#2 2010-02-22 02:21:17

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#3 2010-02-22 06:56:22

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#4 2010-02-22 13:16:39

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#5 2010-02-22 15:35:53

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#6 2010-03-06 08:39:13

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#7 2010-03-06 09:04:15

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#8 2010-03-06 09:26:44

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#9 2010-03-06 13:55:18

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#10 2010-03-06 15:10:54

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

#11 2010-03-06 17:16:44

Re: Help installing Arch, need wireless driver

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