Arch Linux

jordanwb

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 151

[Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

My laptop usually (but may not always) uses my wifi card (using ndiswrapper) to use the net. If the interface doesn't exist  and Arch tries to configure it... well it's like dividing by zero in VB6. So I want to write a bash script that will set up the wifi card if it exists. How do I go about checking if a given network interface exists?

Last edited by jordanwb (2008-09-22 13:01:40)

kclive18

Member

From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Registered: 2008-05-08

Posts: 219

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

You really don't need to write a bash script (although you can).  Try this:

hwdetect --show-net

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Xyne

Administrator/PM

Registered: 2008-08-03

Posts: 6,965

Website

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

ifconfig
iwconfig

Do either of those commands help?

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jordanwb

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 151

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

You really don't need to write a bash script (although you can).

If the interface doesn't exist, bootup stalls for about 10 seconds.

somedrew

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2007-05-14

Posts: 140

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

If the interface doesn't exist, bootup stalls for about 10 seconds.

Looking in /sys/class/net should be one way. Ifconfig -a could help as well for unconfigured devices.

How are you configuring your network{s) though? If it's from a startup script what about just backgrounding it to avoid the stall in those cases? Also, instead of having to write your own...have you taken a look a netcfg2?

Last edited by somedrew (2008-09-20 02:13:32)

jordanwb

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 151

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

How are you configuring your network{s) though? If it's from a startup script what about just backgrounding it to avoid the stall in those cases?

I configure it through /etc/rc.conf How would I go about backgrounding it? By using the @ symbol?

tigrmesh

IRC Op

From: Florida, US

Registered: 2007-12-11

Posts: 794

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

How would I go about backgrounding it? By using the @ symbol?

Correct.

jordanwb

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 151

Re: [Solved]Detecting if an interface exists

How would I go about backgrounding it? By using the @ symbol?

Correct.

Okee dokee.

Thanks.