After much trouble I have got ndiswrapper and a fwlan driver to work with my AVM Fritz WLAN Stick v1.1
in openSuse !!
but every time I start the OS I must do two things to
get the stick to work again.
I must do modprobe ndiswrapper
I must go through the configuration steps again with Yast
Aren’t these steps supposed to be in a *.conf file or a *.d file somewhere??
Don’t tell me to use Network Manager. It is hiding. I don’t see it on the desktop.
Create a file anything.conf in /etc/modules-load.d/ that specifies ndiswrapper and it should be loaded automatically during boot.
And YaST should save the config once you set it up. You shouldn’t have to go into YaST and set it up again.
Probably you just would have to manually activate the interface after you loaded ndiswrapper…
But depending on your WLAN device, you might not even need to use ndiswrapper, which is only a hack.
What does “lsusb” say?
Don’t tell me to use Network Manager. It is hiding. I don’t see it on the desktop.
You have to activate NetworkManager in YaST, only then can you use the NM applet.
That was a very prompt answer.
There is one thing that takes 10 whole seconds for Yast to do, that is finish the ‘Network Services’ step.
I wonder what kind of activity this is because each time I go through Yast it is just Next, Next, OK. I enter no new values. But at each start they seem to be forgotten and that table of steps must be repeated.
And what is exactly “activate” in this context?
Here are three outputs of iwconfig, usb and iwlist
linux-zvrz:/home/david # **iwconfig**
enp0s18f2u1u4 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"Zitadelle10"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.437 GHz Access Point: 00:1C:4A:96:F7:79
Bit Rate=48 Mb/s Tx-Power:10 dBm Sensitivity=0/3
RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:EE7A-773C-6733-78A5-A56A-CA5F-9E2C-616F Security mode:restricted
Power Management:Off
Link Quality:43/100 Signal level:-68 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0
lo no wireless extensions.
enp2s0 no wireless extensions.
------------------------------------------------------------------
linux-zvrz:/home/david # **lsusb**
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 13fd:1640 Initio Corporation INIC-1610L SATA Bridge
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 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 001 Device 008: ID 046d:089d Logitech, Inc. QuickCam E2500 series
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0409:005a NEC Corp. HighSpeed Hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 046d:c31c Logitech, Inc. Keyboard K120 for Business
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 057c:6201 **AVM GmbH AVM Fritz!WLAN v1.1 [Texas Instruments TNETW1450]**
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 046d:c50e Logitech, Inc. Cordless Mouse Receiver
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 04fc:0c25 Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd SATALink SPIF225A
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 050d:0307 Belkin Components USB 2.0 - 7 ports Hub [FSU307]
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
------------------------------------------------------------------
linux-zvrz:/home/david # **sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist scan**
enp0s18f2u1u4 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 00:1C:4A:96:F7:79
ESSID:"Zitadelle10"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:43/100 Signal level:-68 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 000B5A69746164656C6C653130
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030106
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 02 - Address: 24:65:11:EF:BF:D8
ESSID:"FritzJust"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:15/100 Signal level:-86 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 0009467269747A4A757374
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030106
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 03 - Address: 10:7B:EF:CC:DF:50
ESSID:"FritzJust"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:23/100 Signal level:-81 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 0009467269747A4A757374
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030106
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : CCMP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 04 - Address: 1C:C6:3C:8F:48:D0
ESSID:"WLAN-8F4840"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality:12/100 Signal level:-88 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 000B574C414E2D384634383430
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 03010B
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : CCMP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 05 - Address: 84:9C:A6:1B:DB:2D
ESSID:"WLAN-1BDB11"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality:34/100 Signal level:-74 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 000B574C414E2D314244423131
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : CCMP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 06 - Address: C0:25:06:66:3E:94
ESSID:"FRITZ!Box WLAN 3270"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality:31/100 Signal level:-76 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 0013465249545A21426F7820574C414E2033323730
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030101
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 07 - Address: 24:65:11:AD:C9:18
ESSID:"FritzJust"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality:17/100 Signal level:-85 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 0009467269747A4A757374
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 030106
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 08 - Address: 00:1A:4F:1E:01:8D
ESSID:"WLAN-001A4F1E018D"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality:29/100 Signal level:-77 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 0011574C414E2D303031413446314530313844
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 03010B
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 09 - Address: 84:9C:A6:85:5D:7C
ESSID:"WLAN-855D07"
Protocol:IEEE 802.11g
Mode:Master
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality:14/100 Signal level:-87 dBm Noise level:-96 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
Extra:bcn_int=100
Extra:atim=0
IE: Unknown: 000B574C414E2D383535443037
IE: Unknown: 010C82848B960C1218243048606C
IE: Unknown: 02050000000001
IE: Unknown: 03010B
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : CCMP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
enp2s0 Interface doesn't support scanning.
--------------------------------------------------
It restarts the network service, so all interfaces get reactivated.
The problem is that the driver is not loaded when the network starts, so the interface doesn’t exist.
If you later load the driver, the interface isn’t brought up automatically.
“ifup xxx” should do as well.
If ndiswrapper is loaded during boot, the interface should be activated when network starts too.
And what is exactly “activate” in this context?
Something like “turn it on”, or “configure it” i.e. assign an IP address and so on.
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 057c:6201 AVM GmbH AVM Fritz!WLAN v1.1 [Texas Instruments TNETW1450]
Ok, AFAICT this is not supported at all in Linux, so you indeed need to use the Windows driver via ndiswrapper.
I used ifup ndiswrapper first thing after starting the system and it responded with :
wicked: ifup: no matching interfaces
I used ifup fwlan and got the same response
wicked : ifup no matching interfaces
I used modprobe ndiswrapper and then ifup fwlan and got the same response
wicked : ifup no matching interfaces
finally I returned to Yast where it was, as usual at the start,
WLAN USB Device (not connected)
MAC : 00:1a:4f:4a:8b:d9
BusID : 1-1.4:1.0
After the typical Edit / Next / Next / OK it was running again.
When you say interface do you mean the wrapper?
Can I obtain from the system a list of interfaces which are currently up?
Then I can compare before and after.
My Unix experience is 20 years in the past, sorry about this.
You need to use “ifup interfacename”. And of course you need to modprobe ndiswrapper first if it isn’t loaded already.
I used modprobe ndiswrapper and then ifup fwlan and got the same response
wicked : ifup no matching interfaces
Well, “fwlan” likely is not the interface name either. It’s rather something like “wlan0” or “wlp0s3”.
In your case it seems to be enp0s18f2u1u4, according to your previous posts.
You can rename interfaces in YaST btw if you want something shorter or more obvious, like wlan0.
When you say interface do you mean the wrapper?
No. I mean the network interface, i.e. your WLAN stick.
Can I obtain from the system a list of interfaces which are currently up?
Then I can compare before and after.
With /sbin/ifconfig e.g., iwconfig would tell as well.
Have you tried to create a file in /etc/modules-load.d/ to load ndiswrapper at boot already?
OTOH, in YaST you can specify a kernel module to load on the “Hardware” tab when you edit a network card. Maybe you can choose ndiswrapper there, that should make sure it is loaded in time for the network to come up.
NetworkManager would also make it easier to activate/deactivate the interface by just clicking on it. And it definitely makes it easier to connect to different wireless networks.
Again, you can/have to switch from “Wicked Service” to “NetworkManager” in YaST->Network Devices->Network Settings->Global Options to use NetworkManager.
I tried to use it about 5 times already and it hasn’t worked yet.
This would not work. I’ve looked there. The other option aside from Wicked Service is labeled “disabled Network Manager”. That doesn’t look promising.
No, I can’t. In Yast I find under the tab just a read-only list of hardware items. Nothing which allows a change to be made. Nothing. Zilch.
I looked in the internet and found that I could change the name of my enp0s18f2u1u4 to wlan0 by editing /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules
I did this and now upon reboot I have now no internet connection at all. No modprobe ndiswrapper and Yast Edit / Next / Next / OK helps. Changing this 70-persistent-net.rules file is not good.
Back to square one.
fwlan is the driver.
ndiswrapper is the wrapper.
enp0s18f2u1u4 is the device. Also your interface.
What exactly have you tried about 5 times already?
This would not work. I’ve looked there. The other option aside from Wicked Service is labeled “disabled Network Manager”. That doesn’t look promising.
No, the other options aside from “Wicked Service” are “NetworkManager Service” and “Network Services Disabled”. You need to choose the former obviously.
If you still don’t have a network icon in the panel afterwards, it might be disabled or hidden. Right-click on the small up-arrow next to the digital clock and choose “System Tray Settings”. Make sure that “Networking” is enabled and set to “Always Shown” or “Auto”, not “Hidden”.
No, I can’t. In Yast I find under the tab just a read-only list of hardware items. Nothing which allows a change to be made. Nothing. Zilch.
Then you probably have activated NetworkManager or disabled Network Services completely. For this to be changeable, you have to switch to “Wicked Service”, but it will be respected by NetworkManager as well.
Although we should probably do one step at a time, as you seem to get confused.
So, switch back to “Wicked Service”, run “modprobe ndiswrapper”, and enter Yast to get your wireless working.
Then enter YaST again, select your wireless card on “Overview”, click on “Edit”, and switch to the “Hardware” tab in the new window.
You can change the device/interface name by clicking on “Change” beside the “Device Name” on the top-left, but that’s not important now. Below (under “Kernel Module”) there’s a text field labelled “Module Name”. What does this say? Try to click on the down arrow and select “ndiswrapper” if possible. If that’s not in the list, just enter it into the text field (the left one “Module Name”, not “Options”).
http://wstaw.org/m/2015/05/27/yast.png
Does the wireless work after a reboot then?
OTOH, Wicked does/did have problems with wireless in particular that might be solved by just entering YaST and clicking OK as you did.
So I still think you should rather try with NetworkManager, even if the above doesn’t help.
I looked in the internet and found that I could change the name of my enp0s18f2u1u4 to wlan0 by editing /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules
I did this and now upon reboot I have now no internet connection at all. No modprobe ndiswrapper and Yast Edit / Next / Next / OK helps. Changing this 70-persistent-net.rules file is not good.
That’s exactly what YaST does. But if you do it manually and make a mistake, this will cause problems of course.
Remove that file again, to be sure.
There’s no need to rename the interface to make it work. I just mentioned it because it’s easier to type “wlan0” than “enp0s18f2u1u4”…
Back to square one.
Well, have you told your system to load ndiswrapper at boot now or not?
fwlan is the driver.
Yes, the Windows driver.
ndiswrapper is the wrapper.
Yes, it allows to use Windows drivers in Linux.
enp0s18f2u1u4 is the device. Also your interface.
It is the interface, yes.
I put that in yesterday or the day before when you suggested it. It’s somewhere in the system in a file called rambo.conf
Click on the broken resistor symbol left of the time display, bottom right of screen
Connection Editor pops up. I add a new connection (+) and it asks SSID.
That one I understand. “MyWLAN”
Mode? I assume Access Point. Band? Leave it at Automatic. Restrict to device?
Only one device, that’s the enp0s18f2u1u4 I assume. Cloned Mac Address? Cloned?
The only Mac address I have is the WLAN Stick 00:1A etc. MTU? Automatic I guess.
Wireless Security? WPA & WPA 2 Personal because this is not an Enterprise. IPv4 IPv6?
Leave it empty. Under Tab General Config? “Automatically Connect & All users” both checked.
I leave all this editing and the Connection Editor looks no different. The resistor icon
remains broken.
That’s been done 5 times.
I found the option in Yast, “NetworkManager Service”. I selected it and it wants an applet to be initiated.
There is nothing in the applications tree with the name “NetworkManager”. Looks like I’ll
have to search the internet for that rpm.
I returned it to the wicked thing.
I made the change in Yast to module as you described. Also
In all I did two new things : Set General / Activate Device / At boot time
and
Write ndismodule in the Hardware / Kernel Module / Module Name field
and it works. https://forums.opensuse.org/images/icons/icon7.png
Now to see if I can truly change the device name to wlan0
“somewhere in the system”? It has to be in /etc/modules-load.d/ as mentioned.
The resistor icon remains broken.
What do you mean with “broken”? Does it have a red cross?
Hover the mouse over it to see the actual problem, but it’s likely because NetworkManager is not running.
As I said, this is only a frontend to NetworkManager, and doesn’t work without it.
I found the option in Yast, “NetworkManager Service”. I selected it and it wants an applet to be initiated.
There is nothing in the applications tree with the name “NetworkManager”. Looks like I’ll
have to search the internet for that rpm.
No, that applet is the “broken resistor icon” you talked of before.
If NetworkManager is activated, the “resistor icon” (it’s actually meant to symbolize two cables pugged into each other) should not be “broken” any more.
I made the change in Yast to module as you described. Also
In all I did two new things : Set General / Activate Device / At boot time
and
Write ndismodule in the Hardware / Kernel Module / Module Name field
and it works. https://forums.opensuse.org/images/icons/icon7.png
Ok, so your original problem is solved now. Great! 
You should probably remove your rambo.conf file again then.
Now to see if I can truly change the device name to wlan0
You should be able to.
It works.
It’s now called wlan0 and the rambo.conf is no longer needed.
Next stop Firewall.
