Improvements in the latest Ubuntu release, version 7.10, include better hardware installation, enhanced desktop search, NTFS -support (which I'll cover in the next month's Linux Solution)--and much better wireless networking. You could certainly connect to a wireless network with earlier versions, but wireless networking just seems to work better with 7.10. In addition, it natively supports Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security. With that in mind, let's turn now to getting Ubuntu working with an existing wireless Windows network.
If everything works right, wireless connections are a snap. Click the Network Manager icon in the taskbar, select the network, type your password, and click Connect. You're in! Of course, that makes a few big assumptions: (1) Ubuntu has properly installed your network driver; (2) Ubuntu recognizes your network's configuration; and (3) you remember your network password.
If the latter is the problem, open your router's administration pages and find out what the password is. If not, read on for some common problems and how to solve them. Editors' Tip: Upgrade Linux
Ubuntu automatically lets you know when software and OS updates are available, and Version 7.10 is a highly recommended upgrade. Plug into a wired Internet connection if you have one, since it takes an hour or two to download, even at higher speeds.
1. Configure Your Network
Things aren't working smoothly? Try configuring your wireless connection manually. Open Network Manager-- System | Administration | Network. On the Connections tab, select Wireless connection and click Properties. Set the Network name (ESSID) to whatever you've named it on your router, choose the network's security type from the drop-down menu, and type the key in the Network password field.
Typically, wireless routers are set to provide automatic IP numbers via DHCP, so select that option from the drop-down menu beside the Configuration field. If you've set up your router to demand individual IP numbers, select Static IP Address and fill in the rest of the fields as required.
Once you've configured your network, click the Save button beside the Location field and type a suitable name. This name now appears as a connection option when you click the Network Manager icon on the taskbar.
2. Security
WPA and WPA2 security are available out of the box with Ubuntu 7.10. This is worth noting because earlier versions required a separate installation. With 7.10, simply choose the WPA version you want from the Password type drop-down menu and type in the network key.
3. Driver Required
If Ubuntu makes no attempt to connect to your wireless network, there's a good chance it hasn't recognized the driver for the wireless device (built-in or a separate card) in your PC. Fortunately, a utility called NDISwrapper helps install and use the wireless drivers designed for Windows with your Linux installation. Before installing, however, check the documentation (ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net) to determine if NDISwrapper supports your particular card. If it doesn't, search the Web for a solution, but it's possible (although less likely all the time) that one does not exist.
To install NDISwrapper, open the Synaptic Package Manager from the System | Administration menu and search for ndisgtk. Select it and confirm that you will allow the installation of the associated files as well. Click the Apply button in the toolbar to start the installation. When installation is complete, choose Windows Wireless Drivers from the System | Administration menu. Browse to the Windows driver you want to install (you need the Windows INF file for the driver) and click Install. You can get the INF file from your Windows installation.
