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Virginia Tech Wifi (OLD)

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==Connecting with wicdWicd==''The following instructions were written for wicd Wicd 1.6.2.2 on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala. If other versions or distributions have significantly different steps, please add those instructions or make a note of the need for them on [[VTLUUG Wiki:Wanted]].''
Wicd is an alternative to Network ManagerNetworkManager. To install it on Debian-based systems, run <code>sudo apt-get install wicd</code>It has proven to be more reliable than NetworkManager for a number of users. Installing it will uninstall Network ManagerUnlike NetworkManager, so make sure you already have your certificate downloaded. Unlike Network Managerto use Wicd, you do not need to convert the PKCS#12 certificate that CNS provides to a set of PEM certificates. If you need VPN or mobile broadband functionality, don't use Wicd, though. It doesn't have those features. Follow the instructions for converting the certificate and using NetworkManager instead.
To install Wicd on Debian-based systems, run <code>sudo apt-get install wicd</code>. Installing it will uninstall NetworkManager. Open wicdWicd, either from by left clicking the tray icon or from by selecting Applications->Internet->Wicd Network Manager. Allow wicd Wicd to scan the wireless networks then check the "Automatically connect to this network" checkbox by the topmost VT-Wireless entry. (You do not need to check the boxes for every VT-Wireless entry. The screenshot below was made from a working configuration that automatically checked all of them.)
[[Image:wicd_1.6.2.2.png]]
==Connecting by WPA Supplicant==
WPA Supplicant is the preferred method of connection to WPA-secured wireless networks without a graphical interface. It supports PKCS#12 certificates.
 
===Editing wpa_supplicant.conf===
Add the following to your <tt>/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf</tt> file (if no file exists, create it):
}
</pre>
Replace <code>PID </code> with your actual PID (without any trailing @vt.edu),<code>/PATH/TO/NETCERT.p12 </code> with the actual path to your certificate (you canstore it in /etc/netcert) and <code>PASSWORD </code> with the certificate password given to
you when you downloaded the certificate. Note the certificate used here
should be the original one PKCS#12 file you downloaded. Reformatting the certificateis only necessary for NetworkManager 0.7.
===Running WPA Supplicant===
In Ubuntu, make sure to shut down NetworkManager with:
<pre>$ sudo /etc/init.d/NetworkManager stop
</pre>
Next, issue the following command:
<pre>$ sudo wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -D wext -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
</pre>
Confirm that you are associated with VT-Wireless
<pre>$ sudo iwconfig INTERFACE
</pre>
where <tt>INTERFACE</tt> is your wireless card's device interface. Usually this is <tt>wlan0</tt> but depending on udev and perhaps other system features, it might appear as ath0, eth1 or something else. Run <tt>sudo ifconfig -a</tt> to see all your interfaces listed.
You should see the words <tt>Access Point:</tt> followed by a MAC address (e.g., <tt>00:0F:23:EA:4A:01</tt>). If instead you see <tt>Access Point: not associated</tt>. Try the command again. If that still fails, bring down the interface and bring it back up
where <code>INTERFACE</code> is your wireless card's device interface. Usually this is <code>wlan0</code> but depending on udev and perhaps other system features, it might appear as ath0, eth1 or something else. Run <code>sudo ifconfig -a</code> to see all your interfaces listed.If you have properly connected, you should see <code>Access Point:</code> followed by a MAC address (e.g., <code>00:0F:23:EA:4A:01</code>). If instead you see <code>Access Point: not associated</code>, try the command again. If it still fails after a couple of seconds, bring down the interface and bring it back up: <pre>$ sudo ifconfig INTERFACE down$ sudo ifconfig INTERFACE up
</pre>
 and re-issue the <ttcode>wpa_supplicant</ttcode> command.
Next, obtain an IP address. In Ubuntu, this is done with
<pre>$ sudo dhclient INTERFACE
</pre>
 
If all goes well, you'll obtain an IP address. Otherwise, you'll receive a timeout for your DHCP request.
====Gentoo====
If you're already using wpa_supplicant, just restart your interfaceafter editing <code>wpa_supplicant.conf</code>:
<pre># /etc/init.d/wlan0 restart
</pre>
 This should connect you.If you're not using wpa_supplicant, you'll need to migrate fromWireless Tools to it in order to speak use WPA and 802.1X to theVT-Wireless network. Refer to the [http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=4&amp;chap=4#doc_chap2 Gentoo documentation] for a step-by-step guide to setting up WPA Supplicant.
=Network Information Sources=
<ul><li> * [http://www.cns.vt.edu/html/wireless/wlan/index.html Communications Network Services: Wireless LAN]</li><li> * [http://computing.vt.edu/internet_and_web/internet_access/ipaddresses.html Virginia Tech IP Addresses]</li></ul>
[[Category:Howtos]]
[[Category:Campus computing resources]]
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