Arch Linux

r0b0t

Member

From: /tmp

Registered: 2009-05-24

Posts: 505

no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

Hi there,
I'v installed finally arch linux on my box, and everything is fine, i configured well my system (after reeding the arch wiki installation guide) and now i'm with a # (no gui off course).
I was trying to set up the wireless interface but when I type ifconfig the wlan0 doesn't show up, only  eth0 and lo

lspci | grep -i net

--- ethernet --
&
03:00.0 Network controller : Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)

uname - a

Linux hostname 2.6.30-ARCH #1 SMP ...... i686

ifconfig wlan0 up

SIOSCSIFFLAGS: No such file or directory

(this is obvious)
The strange "thing" is that when i type ifconfig  (on the live cd), I see the wlan0 interface and this doesn't show up on the hdd install.
What should I do?

PS: i have only wireless connection, now posting from an macBook

Last edited by r0b0t (2010-01-09 17:25:08)

brianhanna

Member

Registered: 2009-10-30

Posts: 157

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

Did you install the firmware package?  It loads automatically during install but only goes to the hard drive during install if you select it in the list of packages.  The package is called 'iwlwifi-3945-ucode'.

Also, if you do a pacman -Syu, you'll update to the 2.6.32.2 kernel which has a bug.  With some access points, it will disassociate when the 3945 power management puts the card to sleep.  To work around this, as root type 'iwconfig wlan0 power off'.  this should be the default behavior in the next kernel update.  If you stay with 2.6.30 the 3945 should work fine.

Last edited by brianhanna (2010-01-09 17:54:22)

r0b0t

Member

From: /tmp

Registered: 2009-05-24

Posts: 505

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

UPS, i have not installed the firmware , sorry about this newbie question, now for installing the firmware i have no inter-net connection, and i type man pacman but no option for local-install should I re - format my laptop ?

Any IDEA?

Last edited by r0b0t (2010-01-09 18:40:17)

Ramses de Norre

Member

From: Leuven - Belgium

Registered: 2007-03-27

Posts: 1,289

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

Download the package from another computer, transfer it on a usb drive or something and use pacman -U /path/to/file.pkg.tar.gz .

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

More general advice: read this.

r0b0t

Member

From: /tmp

Registered: 2009-05-24

Posts: 505

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

Oh, thanks, I'm allways pleased with reeding good writings, my wireless work fine now, and my wireless wusb300n card works great to with ndiswrapper off course (maybe some one of you guy's  know the native driver? | just asking ).
@brianhanna if you update your system to 2.6.32.3 you will not need anymore to power off your wlan0, tested, works fine with my card.
thanks , excellent support

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: no wlan0 interface, fresh arch linux install.

Identify the chipset first, then find the driver - as detailed on that wiki page.