Wi-fi won't connect in BionicPup32

[curious]

Following advice from @ozsouth and @bigpup I downloaded BionicPup32-19.03-231004.iso and burnt it to CD

I am hoping to use my HP Compaq nc6220 laptop, which has WLAN radio model WM3B2200BG, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG for wireless roaming.

It has 1 GB of DDR2. I have two 2GB sticks to increase this to 4GB, but this would entail dismantling the laptop.

It boots from CD ok. I selected Frisbee, it finds and lists WI-Fi sources, but will not connect.

Source strengths range from -40 (strongest) to -84 (weakest)

Wi-Fi works ok in XP, so I think the hardware is ok

Frisbee - wpa_supplicant log:
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant:
nl80211: Driver does not support authentication/association or connect commands
nl80211: deinit ifname=eth1 disabled_11b_rates=0
ioctl[SIOCSIWENCODEEXT]: invalid argument (twice)

Help please. Thanks. @curious, 22nd November 2023

[wizard]

According to info on the web, your 6220 is likely:

CPU = pentium m 1.7ghz 32bit
ram = 1gb, 2 x 512mb PC2-3200, one on the bottom and one under the keyboard

Maximum ram = 2gb (2 x 1gb)

The ram slot on the bottom requires removal of only one screw, so that will be be easy. However, its doubtful the system will work with the 2gb ram cards you have. Even if you only add a 1gb card on the bottom it will make a noticeable difference.

If you are not able to get Bioinc32's wifi to work consider trying Frienly-Jammy32 from here:
viewtopic.php?t=9972

wizard

[Phoenix]

Following advice from @ozsouth and @bigpup I downloaded BionicPup32-19.03-231004.iso and burnt it to CD

I am hoping to use my HP Compaq nc6220 laptop, which has WLAN radio model WM3B2200BG, Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG for wireless roaming.

It has 1 GB of DDR2. I have two 2GB sticks to increase this to 4GB, but this would entail dismantling the laptop.

It boots from CD ok. I selected Frisbee, it finds and lists WI-Fi sources, but will not connect.

Source strengths range from -40 (strongest) to -84 (weakest)

Wi-Fi works ok in XP, so I think the hardware is ok

Frisbee - wpa_supplicant log:
Successfully initialized wpa_supplicant:
nl80211: Driver does not support authentication/association or connect commands
nl80211: deinit ifname=eth1 disabled_11b_rates=0
ioctl[SIOCSIWENCODEEXT]: invalid argument (twice)

Help please. Thanks. @curious, 22nd November 2023

Try killall wpa_supplicant and run wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -D wext -c /etc/frisbee/wpa_supplicant.conf. If it works, let me know so I can provide the appropriate modification.

[curious]

@wizard, you are correct, the manual states that two 1GB is the most that it will support.
I have two 1GB

@Phoenix, I tried your suggestions:

LTXerminal did not like
#killall wpa_supplicant

but

#wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -DE wext -c/etc/frisbee/wpa_supplicant.conf

produced
successfully initialized wpa_supplicant
rfkill: cannot get wiphy information
could not read interface wlan0 flags: no such device
WEXT: could not set interface 'wlan0' UP
wlan0: failed to intialise driver interface

In hind sight, I am not sure if I typed -c/etc or -c /etc

Same result replacing wlan0 with wlan1

@curious, 24th November 2023

[ozsouth]

@curious - you could try the following command in a terminal, then try to connect: rfkill unblock all

I'm assuming in Frisbee, when the list of wifi possibles appeared, you double-clicked the one you wanted, then input the wifi password & waited 30sec. If so, it's possible that your wireless adaptor can only use wep security, not wpa, due to it's age. Would need to try that option in one of the programs (SNS, Frisbee, Network Wizard), but know that wep is easily cracked, so don't do banking on it.

[bigpup]

it finds and lists WI-Fi sources, but will not connect.

Source strengths range from -40 (strongest) to -84 (weakest)

Wi-Fi works ok in XP, so I think the hardware is ok

Are you trying to connect to the exact same WIFI source you did in Windows XP?
Does this source require a password to allow connection?
If yes?
Did you use it to make the connection?

I know this is a lot of steps to use, but it does tell us exactly where the problem is.

menu->Setup->Internet Connection Wizard->Wired or wireless LAN->Network Wizard

Network Wizard wireless connection steps.

1. Select Network Wizard
2. Select wlan0 (your network card may have a different description)
3. Select Wireless in the Configure wireless network box.
4. Select Scan and your ESSID (WIFI router) should come up.
5. Select your ESSID and OK
6. Give a name to your profile. It should already be what you selected in step 5.
7. Encryption. Most people use WPA/TKIP - select it or WPA2.
8. A box will open for you to write the WPA password. It is called a Shared Key. Enter the password.
9. Leave the other boxes as they are. Rarely do these need adjustment.
9. Select Save
10. Select Use This Profile
11. A box will appear showing Puppy trying to connect
12. A box will come up “REPORT ON TEST 0f wlan0CONNECTION”
13. Select Auto DHCP in the Configure interface box and it will go through a handshake routine. and declare itself successful
14. Select done

Select to use this setup on reboot.
Select to use this as default.

If something does not work.
What step?
You do what?
You see what?

Also make sure your system's time zone setting is correct - if not, many website's certificates then act as if they are expired, and the webpage won't display.

[Phoenix]

hm. i see the interface name is not wlan0, its eth0 it seems. To make sure, just do ip link show to verify it is eth0.
Replace wlan0 in the command with eth0 then. Or whatever its named. (Do not use lo)

[Wiz57]

I have a suspicion the kernel in BionicPup32 may not have support for this Intel WiFi chip. If this is the case, then you
may need to find the driver code and firmware, along with the devx.sfs for BionicPup32 and compile the needed driver???
What driver for WiFi is loading? Not wpsupplicant, but actual driver. Try dmesg or ldd , maybe lspci, in a terminal and check the output.
Alternatively, someone may already have compiled an older driver for BionicPup32, a search of the forum may give results.
Look for ipw220 wireless driver.
Wiz

ps...just found another possibility..."Friendly-Bionic32", from here
viewtopic.php?t=5188

Wiz

[Chelsea80]

@ Wiz57

I don't know if this will be any help at all, may be a long shot, (don't shoot the messenger)

On my OS, see signature, if I do this:

Applications > System > Pup Sysinfo system information

The choose Devices > Network

I get

▶—— Network Devices ——◀

Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection [8086:4222] (rev 02)
• Kernel Driver: iwl3945
• Memory Used: 47.34 KB
• Path: /lib/modules/4.9.163-lxpup-32-pae/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/iwl3945.ko
• Driver Version: in-tree:s
• Description: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG/BG Network Connection driver for Linux

Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation PRO/100 VE Network Connection [8086:1092] (rev 02)
• Kernel Driver: e100
• Memory Used: 25.62 KB
• Path: /lib/modules/4.9.163-lxpup-32-pae/kernel/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/e100.ko
• Driver Version: 3.5.24-k2-NAPI
• Description: Intel(R) PRO/100 Network Driver

Best regards

Chelsea80

[Wiz57]

@Chelsea80
Hehe! I haven't shot anyone that didn't deserve it, LOL! Haven't shot anyone though there have been a few times when I had my
sidearm in "ready" position while working at my previous profession. Anyway, my post was basically directed to the OP and the
problems they are having establishing a WiFi connection. To me, it appears that BionicPup32 is choosing the incorrect driver
module to load (from what has been posted so far, seems to be loading an "nl" driver, which I thought usually is for Broadcom
based chips, and their particular notebook contains an Intel chip)??? From your information posted I see you have an Intel
WiFi chip, looks to be a bit newer though. @curious seems to have an Intel 2200 series, not sure if the
kernel for BionicPup32 contains this driver, but it does contain one for yours!
Wiz

[Chelsea80]

@ Wiz57

Wasn't trying to hi-jack the OP, just thought as you mentioned drivers etc etc -

OK, so I'm still breathing then, thanks for that -

It seems I'm a lucky boy then with my chip -

I have now exhausted my technical knowledge on this subject so I will bow out before you change your mind !!

Best regards

Chelsea80

[mikeslr]

Pre-1st cup of coffee. Only scanned this thread. Noted post 'loading wrong driver'. My flaky recollection is that the solution is a 3-step process:
1) Find (and if necessary obtain install) correct driver. Prior posts suggest this has been covered.
2) Black-list the wrong driver.
3) Reboot.

About '2": Sorry, I thought a GUI existed under boot-manager. Maybe not in Bookworm which I'm currently running. Look for posts about it.

[bigpup]

No replies by original poster in 2 days.

So all we are doing is talking to each other.

No idea if they have done any of our suggestions

[curious]

@ozsouth - thank you for your suggestions on Fri 24 Nov 2023. Progress of a sort. Single click - nix, double click - nix, 5 to 20 clicks connect button changes colour. Connect still not work. This is for free public wi-fi at a supermarket.

Encryption is listed as [ESS] - what does this mean ?

Signal strengths are still negative, -50 for the strongest signal, -80 for the weakest.

A separate question, is there a way - a key press - to pause booting to allow selecting a choice ?

Thank you for putting up with my ignorance.

Best wishes, @curious, 6th December 2023

[Phoenix]

@ozsouth - thank you for your suggestions on Fri 24 Nov 2023. Progress of a sort. Single click - nix, double click - nix, 5 to 20 clicks connect button changes colour. Connect still not work. This is for free public wi-fi at a supermarket.

Encryption is listed as [ESS] - what does this mean ?

Signal strengths are still negative, -50 for the strongest signal, -80 for the weakest.

A separate question, is there a way - a key press - to pause booting to allow selecting a choice ?

Thank you for putting up with my ignorance.

Best wishes, @curious, 6th December 2023

Signal strengths are negative, it means that compared to the closest possible distance, or input it is 10 to the 5 power times weaker. 100000 times weaker. ESS is just a way of making multiple points look like one cohesive network. It's not an encryption/authentication method.
If you wish to stop the countdown simply press the arrow keys. If you have disabled the countdown entirely then you will need to re-add it.