new to linux, wireless firmware help?

[urpeite]

Hi, thanks for looking at my first post.
I'm running Suse Linux 11.0 on my HP laptop with a belkin wireless card. After searching these forums I've been able to succsessfully get the wireless working using install_b43xx_firmware, but I can only do this when I'm plugged into the router through my ethernet card. When I reeboot the wireless is out again, and I need to reload the firmware? Is there a way to permantly load it into the card so that I don't have to plug into a wired connection every time I reeboot?
Thanks again for looking, and sorry if this is an obvious question... I'm still pretty inexperienced.
-pete

[lwfinger]

urpeite wrote:
> Hi, thanks for looking at my first post.
> I'm running Suse Linux 11.0 on my HP laptop with a belkin wireless
> card. After searching these forums I've been able to succsessfully get
> the wireless working using install_b43xx_firmware, but I can only do
> this when I'm plugged into the router through my ethernet card. When I
> reeboot the wireless is out again, and I need to reload the firmware?
> Is there a way to permantly load it into the card so that I don't have
> to plug into a wired connection every time I reeboot?
> Thanks again for looking, and sorry if this is an obvious question...
> I'm still pretty inexperienced.

Firmware is the control program for the processor on the card. It is stored in
volatile memory, just as Linux is in your computer. Thus it needs to be reloaded
every time the card is brought up. Your problem is one of configuration. What
the script does is place the firmware in the proper directory so that the kernel
can find it when the driver requests it. To check that this is working, issue
the command 'dmesg | grep b43'. If it contains something that you don't
understand, post that output.

Are you using NetworkManager or the traditional ifup to control the card? In
either case, it should be sufficient to use YaST -> Network Devices -> Network
Settings. You should then configure your card in there. For some people,
deleting the present configuration is enough and the OS will recreate what you
want. If you use NM (recommended), you should click on the KNM applet icon and
click on "Edit Connections" and add your wireless info. Be sure to select
Autoconnect on the last screen.

Larry

[urpeite]

Wow, it turns out that it wasn't working because I had left the install cd in and I rebooted into liveCD mode! (told you I was new...) Thanks anyway for the help!!