[RE-OPENED] Mageia 2 "Unable to find ndiswrapper interface!'

[R_Head]

The system that I am trying to install is a Dell Precision 490 with 2 Xeon CPUs and using Mageia 2 64 Bits
Did a uname -r and it says 3.3.6-server-2.mga2

During DVD installation failed the wireless to install.
Connected the Ethernet, setup all the repos (exept testing) and ran all the updates.
Installed the DKMS packets and read the warning about that is for Kernels without modules.
Rebooted few times and still unable to get it to work
Worked in the past with Mandriva 2010.2 with 32Bits and I think it was Kernel 2.6.36 (not sure about the version #) Server.
Apparently when the install sees the dual Xeons installs a Server Kernel.

The Control Center information.
Vendor: ‎Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
Description: ‎88w8335 [Libertas] 802.11b/g Wireless
Media class: ‎Ethernet controller
Connection
Bus: ‎PCI
PCI domain: ‎0
Bus PCI #: ‎5
PCI device #: ‎6
PCI function #: ‎0
PCI revision: ‎0x03
Vendor ID: ‎0x11ab
Device ID: ‎0x1faa
Sub vendor ID: ‎0x1385
Sub device ID: ‎0x6b00
Misc
Module: ‎unknown

[root@MG64 username]# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.


So far other things seems to work fine for now.
I really like the distro but without a Wireless Network card is very crippled for me.
The wife does not like RJ45s all over the house

[doktor5000]

Seems to be a pretty rare card/chipset nowadays, the same chip as Netgear WG311 v2 and currently as PCI/PCMCIA device only useable via ndiswrapper:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/marvell-88 ... rd-driver/

You can select ndiswrapper from drakconnect, FWIW,

[R_Head]

I did that.

I have the same card with Mandriva 2010.2 on a AMD 64 single CPU and works great with the ndiswrapper.

Forgot to mention that I have the 64 bits and 32 bits drivers for the card and tried to use the ndiswrapper to make it work.

The installs seems well until I hit the part to install the *.inf file.
It fails with the caption "Unable to find ndiswrapper interface!"

I am not developer and have very limited skills with the command console but not new to Linux.
Have been using Mandrake/Mandriva since 1999.

Anyway, the distro is so easy to use that I am spoiled with the GUI


I think the Server Kernel does not have the module for ndiswrapper; bet money that will work with the desktop kernel.
This computer is not a server but could be a server.

[doktor5000]

I think the Server Kernel does not have the module for ndiswrapper; bet money that will work with the desktop kernel.
This computer is not a server but could be a server.

Actually overall ndiswrapper setup is quite easy in a terminal.

Code: Select all

ndiswrapper -i /path/to/windows/driver.inf

to install Windows driver
then check whether driver and the corresponding device is present via

Code: Select all

ndiswrapper -l

and then just load ndiswrapper module via

Code: Select all

modprobe ndiswrapper

Then you should be able to continue with wireless setup.

For the ndiswrapper module, the server kernel contains ndiswrapper kernel module:

Code: Select all

[doktor5000@Mageia2 ~]$ urpmq -l kernel-server-3.3.6-2.mga2-1-1.mga2.x86_64 | grep -i ndiswrapper
/lib/modules/3.3.6-server-2.mga2/kernel/3rdparty/ndiswrapper
/lib/modules/3.3.6-server-2.mga2/kernel/3rdparty/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper.ko.xz

You can also add it if you are f.ex. using some custom-self-built kernel via package dkms-ndiswrapper.

[R_Head]

Still no joy.

All seems to be installed but is like no connection.

As a guess... the Wireless card can be seen in the Control Center but says that have an UNKNOWN module.
When setting the wireless interface the ndiswrapper seems to work but not able to contact the Wireless Card.
If you exit out the Wireless Card can be seen if you attempt to configure the interface, choose that one and still getting the same error about not finding the interface.

At this point I might have to revert to the Mandriva 2010.2 32 Bits

At least the Wireless Card works and the TV Tuner.

[doktor5000]

If you don't show any helpful information like output from ndiswrapper -l or iwconfig or something like that i'm afraid we can't help you to get this fixed ...

[R_Head]

Thanks for the help. Just installed back Mandriva 2010.2 32 bits. With my busy schedule I do not have much time to mess around with it.

Again, thanks a million for the help

[R_Head]

I do not know why the thread says solved.

Honestly is not solved.

Installing Mandriva 2010.2 32 bits to fix Mageia 64 bits problem is not a solution.

I wonder who edited the post

Will try to edit the [Solved] title.

By the way, with all due respect to the community and forum; is not a rant.
Please do not take it the wrong way

[isadora]

Just cosmetically i have changed the topic to [RE-OPENED].
This better gives the status, not solved are most of the topics.

[R_Head]

Thanks.

Maybe next time I will tackle the problem if the wife permits.

She thinks I spend too much time on the computer

Just gets me to have a half running system

[isadora]

Keep strong!

[doktor5000]

FWIW, i've edited the title, as you said you wanted to revert to 2010.2. And normally we don't use [DONE] so i've marked it as solved as i thought you wanted to workaround the problem. If you want to still tackle it, please provide the output i've asked for.

[doktor5000]

If you don't show any helpful information like output from ndiswrapper -l or iwconfig or something like that i'm afraid we can't help you to get this fixed ...

On my 1st post I posted...

Code: Select all

[root@MG64 username]# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.


Sorry that I did not got the input for ndiswrapper -l

But as far as I can remember it said no available or no module, some like that .
Is been a week

[doktor5000]

Well if the driver is not loaded, there can't be wireless interface, as you can see. Also please use code-tags for such output: ftp://ftp.mandrivauser.de/rpm/rpm/extra ... e_tags.ogv

And please provide the exact output of ndiswrapper -l, otherwise i can't really help you.

[R_Head]

Pardon for my ignorance; might try to load it one more time but no any time soon.
Will post in "Code' what comes out.

Thanks for your help though