Not getting DCHP address

[JonnyTech]

Running Vector Linux Gold 7.0 with a wireless USB adaptor using ndiswrapper:

Code:

root:# lsusb
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 0cde:0015 Z-Com XG-705A 802.11g Wireless Adapter [Intersil ISL3887]
root:# ndiswrapper -l
wlanuig : driver installed
device (0CDE:0015) present (alternate driver: p54usb)

But the interface does not get an ip address automatically.
I'm running Wicd Network Manager but have to set a fixed IP address.
Booting to Windows or another distro works fine.
Can anyone offer any suggestions on what I can try?

[bigpaws]

Did you install ndiswrapper?

Please post the make, model and version number.

From the information I just looked at the modules (drivers)
should already be in place, no need for ndiswrapper. This
can be confirmed after more checking from your response.

Bigpaws

[JonnyTech]

Thanks for the reply. Here is the version, it was installed with VL7:

Code:

root:# ndiswrapper -v
utils version: '1.9', utils version needed by module: '1.9'
module details:
filename:       /lib/modules/3.0.8/misc/ndiswrapper.ko
version:        1.56
vermagic:       3.0.8 SMP mod_unload 586

I'm assuming the by the modules that you mean prism54? I tried the instructions here (http://wiki.debian.org/prism54) but it did not work at all. The only way that I managed to get the adaptor recognised was by using ndiswrapper.

Let me know if I need to provide any more info. Is there a DHCP client service that I can check?

[bigpaws]

So you tried the prism54 kernel module that should already be in Vector
before trying ndiswrapper?

If ndiswrapper allows you to bring up the card, check ifconfig
to see if there is a wireless adapter.

Does wicd show the interface?

Bigpaws

[JonnyTech]

Yes, tried the prism54 module for hours before I gave up. It would not bring up the interface at all.
When I tried ndiswrapper it worked straight away, I then saw wlan0 in ifconfig, iwconfig, wicd, etc.
As stated in my first post, I can hook into the wireless network if I set a static address but DHCP fails.
Sorry if I was not clear - the problem is not bringing up the interface but getting a DHCP IP address.

[hata_ph]

post the output of lspci and lsmod

[bigpaws]

As root after wlan0 up. Then try dhcpcd wlan0 see if it pulls
an ip address.

Bigpaws

[JonnyTech]

post the output of lspci and lsmod

Code:

root:# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 0471:0310 Philips (or NXP) PCVC730K Webcam [pwc]
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 045e:001c Microsoft Corp. Internet Keyboard Pro
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 0cde:0015 Z-Com XG-705A 802.11g Wireless Adapter [Intersil ISL3887]

Code:

root:# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
fuse                   51559  3
ndiswrapper           139870  0
snd_seq_dummy           1035  0
snd_seq_oss            21907  0
snd_seq_midi_event      3924  1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq                36499  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss            28741  0
snd_mixer_oss          10545  2 snd_pcm_oss
speedstep_lib           2558  0
freq_table              1763  0
mperf                    937  0
p54usb                  9296  0
p54common              20101  1 p54usb
crc_ccitt               1051  1 p54common
mac80211              160102  2 p54usb,p54common
cfg80211              110051  2 p54common,mac80211
rfkill                 10898  1 cfg80211
radeon                588751  2
snd_usb_audio          63588  2
snd_ens1371            14070  4
snd_hwdep               4128  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_usbmidi_lib        13362  1 snd_usb_audio
ttm                    39995  1 radeon
gameport                5776  1 snd_ens1371
snd_ac97_codec         80849  1 snd_ens1371
snd_rawmidi            13181  2 snd_ens1371,snd_usbmidi_lib
drm_kms_helper         18228  1 radeon
drm                   128651  4 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper
snd_seq_device          3853  4 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
ac97_bus                 774  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm                48666  4 snd_pcm_oss,snd_usb_audio,snd_ens1371,snd_ac97_codec
i2c_algo_bit            3718  1 radeon
pwc                    67856  0
processor              21842  0
snd_timer              12858  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
fan                     1850  0
thermal                 6450  0
videodev               55338  1 pwc
thermal_sys             9985  3 processor,fan,thermal
via_agp                 4675  1
snd                    36298  23 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_usb_audio,snd_ens1371,snd_hwdep,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_ac97_codec,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device,snd_pcm,snd_timer
via_rhine              17081  0
shpchp                 18739  0
agpgart                19211  3 ttm,drm,via_agp
sg                     18020  0
hwmon                   1093  2 radeon,thermal_sys
rtc_cmos                6673  0
i2c_viapro              4079  0
button                  3510  0
soundcore               3736  2 snd
evdev                   6626  9
i2c_core               13898  6 radeon,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_algo_bit,videodev,i2c_viapro
mii                     2883  1 via_rhine
snd_page_alloc          5143  1 snd_pcm

[JonnyTech]

As root after wlan0 up. Then try dhcpcd wlan0 see if it pulls  an ip address.

Nope:

Code:

root:# dhcpcd wlan0
dhcpcd[3701]: version 5.2.12 starting
dhcpcd[3701]: wlan0: waiting for carrier
dhcpcd[3701]: timed out
dhcpcd[3701]: allowing 8 seconds for IPv4LL timeout
dhcpcd[3701]: timed out

[bigpaws]

Are you using encryption. If so you need to authenticate
for the dhcp request to work.

Bigpaws

[JonnyTech]

Yes, the connection uses WPA2-PSK. Can you please explain what I need to do? I believe that I am authenticating because I am able to connect with a static address. Any chance that you can provide a step-by-step or a pointer. I'm usually ok with looking up info and fiddling - but this has got me stumped!

[bigpaws]

There are a couple areas that can cause this:

bad wicd configuration
bad dhcp server
bad dhcp client
No authentication before calling dhcp

Here is the instructions for wicd:

http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/6527/1

If authentication did not happen before calling dhcp then it
will fail.

HTH

Bigpaws