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Problems installing Intel Pro Wireless 2200 Network CardHello everyone. I'm running Debian Etch on a Dell Inspiron 6000, with kernel version 2.6.18-4-686. I've read several guides on installing the Intel Pro Wireless 2200 network card, and installed the drivers, firmware, and ieee802 stack. After doing so, modprobe ipw2200 wouldn't work, complaining of being unable to load the firmware in dmesg, but after rebooting, it seems to be working. Typing lsmod | grep ipw2200 gets me this: ipw2200 126852 0 I take this to mean it's installed. It's set up on eth2, where iwconfig eth2 shows this: eth2 unassociated ESSID:"" Interestingly, at this point, I can run commands like iwlist eth2 scanning, which then tells me the wireless networks available. This seems completely accurate. The problem comes when I make any attempt to connect to one of them. My machine locks up and goes into a kernel panic. Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated, since I don't have a clue where to go from there. Thanks a lot. Bookmark/Search this post with: 
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Problems installing Intel
How did you install the drivers/firmware/802.11 stack?
Are you sure you have the right 802.11 stack for your driver?
Installation
I went through installing them via .tgz files. These were:
ieee80211-1.2.18.tgz
ipw2200-1.2.2.tgz
ipw2200-fw-3.0.tgz
I installed these according to these directions:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Ipw2200#Installation_from_sourcecode
I wasn't aware there are different ieee stacks though...(I know practically nothing about this stuff).
Installation
See if you can undo what you've done so far (usually just remove a few kernel modules that you added to /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers).
cd /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel
rm -v $(find . -name ieee80211.ko)
rm -v $(find . -name ipw2200.ko)
Keep your tgz files though. One possible problem is that they're "too new" for the kernel you're building for.
"apt-cache search ipw2200" turns up:
ieee80211-source
ipw2200-modules-(your kernel ID)
ipw2200-source
These sources are provided for those who want the latest. These drivers were actually put into the kernel at some stage. For example, the ipw2200 driver went into the kernel at 2.6.14. I'm sure 2.6.18 already had the ieee80211 driver (and now it will be replaced by the Devicescape driver).
So, first off I'd suggest forcing a reinstall of your kernel to retrieve the modules that we erased earlier:
apt-get --reinstall (your kernel)
Then check that these drivers came as part of the kernel:
cd /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel
find . -name ieee80211.ko
find . -name ipw2200.ko
If they exist as part of the kernel, try to use them without building new ones. If you need to build new ones, try building ieee80211 and ipw2200 from the Debian sources (which may be patched):
apt-get install ieee80211-source ipw2200-source
Then figure out where apt-get put the sources and build from those.
Also use google to search for any known problems with various firmware.
Thankyou
Thanks a lot. I removed the module files you said to, and reinstalled the kernel, and now it just works. So thanks a lot.
Thankyou!!!
I'm as happy as a pig in poo, this worked for me too!!
Didn't work for Me
I used this page as a reference and have to admit that it was thorough, which I like. I started by getting the firmware and performing the following:
tar xzvf ipw2200-fw-3.0.tgz -C /lib/firmware which extracts the contents into the firmware folder (worked great)
I next went to the shell and done dmesg and didnt see anything with ipw2200, so I issued the command modprobe ipw2200 and done dmesg again and it appeared at the bottom of the dmesg
ieee80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
ieee80211: 802.11 data/management/control stack, git-1.1.13
ieee80211: Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Intel Corporation
ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, 1.1.2kmq
ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
Sweet !!!
I next verified that driver and the 80211 stack were loaded in /lib/modules/2.6.18-5-686/kernel by issuing a "find" command:
find . -name ieee80211.ko
find . -name ipw2200.ko
and sure enough they were there. Getting very anxious at this point and thinking I am on the correct path to finally making this thing work after 5 days of sleepless nights....LOL
I next go to Gnome and browse to Gnome>Desktop>Administration>Networking ....headed for Network Manager to see if I have wireless listed and didnt see it (not good) so I thought I would issue the iwconfig command to see what came up and this is all I seen:
lo no wireless extensions.
eth1 no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
sit0 no wireless extensions.
So, it appears that I have everything loaded (not automatically on reboot) but I can issue a few commands (modprobe) and make everything show up in dmesg. I just dont have a listing for the wirreless connection in Network Manager so that I can connect. I personally dont have wireless connection but I travel a lot and would like to be able to use wireless in the hotel from time to time. I currently have a Windows box that I use but I am trying to make the switch slowly. I can take that Window box and see a secured wireless connection in my neighborhood so that is how I am determining whether I have wireless working or not. So far I cant see a connection or even get it to appear in Network Manager....Any ideas?
Note: I was using kernel 2.6.18-5-686
Didn't work for Me
The last time I tried a GUI configuration tool for wireless networks I uninstalled it in less than 5 minutes - there just weren't any that I thought were reasonable. That was over a year ago though. I just scan for existing networks using 'iwlist':
iwlist eth2 scan
Some information is also available in /proc/net/wireless
These tools are usually only available to 'root'; I just use 'su' to do little jobs like this.
Look at the docs for your IEEE802.11 stack - it may have some Debian-specific information on how to set up with wireless encryption. Also look into 'waproamd'; it may make things a little easier in airport terminals and hotels.
I know what is wrong,
The command you used to extract the firmware to /lib/firmware is wrong. It actually creates another directory (or sub folder, whatever) with the firmware in it, then moves that to /lib/firmware. You need to move that folder to the desktop and then move the files back into /lib/firmware individually.Your /lib/firmware should look like this:
~$ cd /lib/firmware
:/lib/firmware$ ls
ipw2200-bss.fw ipw2200-ibss.fw ipw2200-sniffer.fw
:/lib/firmware$
The same thing happened to me and that is how I got mine working.Do that and reboot and I bet you a dollar it will work.
Getting closer
ken3d...you were correct on the directory structure and I moved the files in the firmware directory one at a time and rebooted. I now have these files listed:
LICENSE.ipw2200-fw
ipw2200-bss.fw
ipw2200-ibss.fw
ipw2200-sniffer.fw
I was able to at least get a return when I done the iwlist after the reboot:
Usage: iwlist [interface] scanning
[interface] frequency
[interface] channel
[interface] bitrate
[interface] rate
[interface] encryption
[interface] key
[interface] power
[interface] txpower
[interface] retry
[interface] ap
[interface] accesspoints
[interface] peers
[interface] event
In the past I was never able to get anything to return when I ran this command but I still don't see anything in the Network Manager that would allow me to start a wireless connection so I am going to try and give you as much info as I can on what I am seeing.
When I run iwlist:
lo no wireless extensions.
eth1 no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
sit0 no wireless extensions.
(should I not see a wlan0 or eth2 connection in the iwlist?)
Last 9 lines ofdmesg:
ieee80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
ieee80211: 802.11 data/management/control stack, git-1.1.13
ieee80211: Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Intel Corporation
ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, 1.1.2kmq
ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth1: link is not ready
e100: eth1: e100_watchdog: link up, 100Mbps, full-duplex
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth1: link becomes ready
eth1: no IPv6 routers present
I was curious if about my 80211 stack version and my Network Driver version not being the same. Do you think I might have the incorrect versions? I see the stack is 1.1.13 and the network driver is 1.1.2.
I have greatly appreciated everyone's help in this matter.
Problems installing Intel
DUDE !!! super sweet awnser... worked perfectly for me (couldn't get my kernel reinstalled so performed suggestions on a fresh sytem!!!)
thanks a lot!!