help to install driver

Hi!

I am a complete newb in Linux and don’t have much background in programming either.

I really like openSUSE, but have some problems in installing the driver for my wireless network adapter (USB, Edimax 7718). I downloaded the Linux driver from their website, but the folder does not include any executable file. Among other files it has a makefile file and a readme. The contents of the latter is a completely “foreign language” to me. Is there a linux application in openSUSE that can install this driver for me? Any help is really welcome.

I copied here a part of the readme file:

Driver lName:

rt2870.o/rt2870.ko

Supporting Kernel:

linux kernel 2.4 and 2.6 series.
Tested in Redhat 7.3 or later.

Build Instructions:

1> $tar -xvzf DPB_RT2870_Linux_STA_x.x.x.x.tgz
go to “./DPB_RT2870_Linux_STA_x.x.x.x” directory.

2> In Makefile
set the “MODE = STA” in Makefile and chose the TARGET to Linux by set “TARGET = LINUX”
define the linux kernel source include file path LINUX_SRC
modify to meet your need.

3> In os/linux/config.mk
define the GCC and LD of the target machine
define the compiler flags CFLAGS
modify to meet your need.
** Build for being controlled by NetworkManager or wpa_supplicant wext functions
Please set ‘HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=y’ and ‘HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=y’.
=> #>cd wpa_supplicant-x.x
=> #>./wpa_supplicant -Dwext -ira0 -c wpa_supplicant.conf -d
** Build for being controlled by WpaSupplicant with Ralink Driver
Please set ‘HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=y’ and ‘HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=n’.
=> #>cd wpa_supplicant-0.5.7
=> #>./wpa_supplicant -Dralink -ira0 -c wpa_supplicant.conf -d

4> $make
# compile driver source code
# To fix “error: too few arguments to function ¡¥iwe_stream_add_event”
=> $patch -i os/linux/sta_ioctl.c.patch os/linux/sta_ioctl.c

5> $cp RT2870STA.dat /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat

6> load driver, go to “os/linux/” directory.
#[kernel 2.4]
# $/sbin/insmod rt2870sta.o
# $/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet YOUR_IP up

#[kernel 2.6]
#    $/sbin/insmod rt2870sta.ko
#    $/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet YOUR_IP up

7> unload driver
$/sbin/ifconfig ra0 down
$/sbin/rmmod rt2870sta

CONFIGURATION:

RT2870 driver can be configured via following interfaces,
i.e. (i)“iwconfig” command, (ii)“iwpriv” command, (iii) configuration file

i) iwconfig comes with kernel.
ii) iwpriv usage, please refer to file “iwpriv_usage.txt” for details.
iii)modify configuration file “RT2870STA.dat” in /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat.

Configuration File : RT2870STA.dat

Copy this file to /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat

This file is a binary file and will be read on loading rt.o module.

Use “vi RT2870STA.dat” to modify settings according to your need.

1.) set NetworkType to “Adhoc” for using Adhoc-mode, otherwise using Infrastructure

2.) set Channel to “0” for auto-select on Infrastructure mode

3.) set SSID for connecting to your Accss-point.

4.) AuthMode can be “WEPAUTO”, “OPEN”, “SHARED”, “WPAPSK”, “WPA2PSK”, “WPANONE”

5.) EncrypType can be “NONE”, “WEP”, “TKIP”, “AES”

for more information refer to the Readme file.

#The word of “Default” must not be removed
Default
CountryRegion=5
CountryRegionABand=7
CountryCode=
SSID=Dennis2860AP
NetworkType=Infra
WirelessMode=9
Channel=0
BeaconPeriod=100
TxPower=100
BGProtection=0
TxPreamble=0
RTSThreshold=2347
FragThreshold=2346
TxBurst=1
WmmCapable=0
AckPolicy=0;0;0;0
AuthMode=OPEN
EncrypType=NONE
WPAPSK=
DefaultKeyID=1
Key1Type=0
Key1Str=
Key2Type=0
Key2Str=
Key3Type=0
Key3Str=
Key4Type=0
Key4Str=
PSMode=CAM
FastRoaming=0
RoamThreshold=70
HT_RDG=1
HT_EXTCHA=0
HT_OpMode=1
HT_MpduDensity=4
HT_BW=1
HT_AutoBA=1
HT_BADecline=0
HT_AMSDU=0
HT_BAWinSize=64
HT_GI=1
HT_MCS=33
HT_MIMOPSMode=3
IEEE80211H=0
TGnWifiTest=0
WirelessEvent=0

etc…

Maybe someone who has specific experience with that network device can give more specific instructions. But speaking generally …

First, what you downloaded is apparently a “compile from source” driver. You can do that, but if they’ve been posting the source for some time, it’s likely that it’s already included (ready-to-go, already built) in Suse.

I assume that the installer was unable to recognize and configure your network device?

Second, here’s a great link with a bunch of info about wireless cards in general, and how to get them to work in Opensuse:

Madwifi or Ndiswrapper Wireless Network Drivers - Suse/openSUSE 10, 11 - LAN & Internet access