From URL:  http://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-list/2006-June/msg00344.html

How to configure MADWIFI + WPA-SUPPLICANT [was Re: Howto configure Wireless Card in FC5]

    * From: Samuel Díaz García <samueldg arcoscom com>
    * To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list redhat com>
    * Subject: How to configure MADWIFI + WPA-SUPPLICANT [was Re: Howto configure Wireless Card in FC5]
    * Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2006 01:49:40 +0200

The first is to be sure that "madwifi" is your driver. The second is install it. I suppose that you are using the livna madwifi-ng package for FC5, in that case, when ath_pci is loaded it creates an "ath0" interface.

[ Note: I am actually using this:  4. Download the patched snapshot MadWifi's ticket 1192 has a link to the latest snapshot:
http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6/
that work with this card. Download it and save it somewhere. The snapshots are frequently updated, so always make sure you have the latest version].

The ath_pci module, at load time, creates a "ficticious" driver called "wifi0", you don't need to touch it, then using madwifi tools you creates as many "athN" interfaces as you want in the mode as you want. [ Note: yes, this happens for me when I follow the instructions at:  http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Laptops/WirelessAR5007EG.  And yes I saw how the driver called wifi0 gets created and wondered about that.  Ok, so I don't touch that one and I work with the athN interface].

By default, in modprobe.conf you can see that ath0 is created when ath_pci loads as "station mode" interface. In your case, will be at all. [Check this].

The next is configure your wireless access. In FC5 you have 4 methods:

1) Traditional method using wireless tools (use "man iwconfig" and use it).  Now use this URL:  http://www.pantz.org/software/wpa_supplicant/wirelesswpa2andlinux.html and use the iwconfig method.  [This tutorial includes the wpa_supplicant part].

[ Note:  Skip this...
2) Using system-config-network (or gnome version), it is very limited tool for wifi configuration, but could be the necesary. 3) I remember somebody says something about a "KWifiManager" usually used under KDE (I don't tried it).

4) Using wpa_supplicant.

Not sure from here on down...

To install without problems, I recomend you add the livna repository (it is compatible with FC5 repositories).

Then install these packages:
   kmod-madwifi
   madwifi
   wpa_supplicant


The first is for your kernel modules, the second the madwifi utils (I don't need it for usual operations).

About configuration, I use gnome-config-network (or how it is named) to put the IP config and the basic wireless params. The wireless params leave all in auto or only putting the correct essid.

Then configure your /etc/sysconfig/wpa_supplicant to say the interface and the driver to use.

Then configure your /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file to put your wifi network parameters.

Then activate the wpa_supplicant service to run at boot and start the service.

That's all.

The summary (you must be root to run many of next commands) :

1) Install livna repository:
   wget http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm
   rpm -ivh livna-release-5.rpm

2) Install madwifi driver, madwifi utils and:
   yum -y install kmod-madwifi madwifi wpa_supplicant


3) Perhaps you will need to reboot your system at this point to allow the load of madwifi driver, but instead, you can try to use:

   modprobe ath_pci

4) Using any tool, configure your IP options in your ath0 driver.

5) Configure your /etc/sysconfig/wpa_supplicant file: Be sure the lines are:

INTERFACES="-iath0"
DRIVERS="-Dmadwifi"

The old lines, use coments to disable them.


6) Configure your /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file for your network. Sorry, no help, this file is very personal, but default file contains many examples for many configurations.

7) Be sure you run your wpa_supplicant service when system boot:

   chkconfig --level 345 wpa_supplicant on

Run the wpa_service to enable the wifi link:

   service wpa_supplicant start


This step is only to force the wpa_supplicant start now, you don't need it every system start.

ADITIONAL NOTES:
   1) These steps could be general for many drivers.

2) Use madwifi and wpa_supplicant official web pages to search about config options and troubleshooting.

   3) NDISWRAPPER I think you use as the "last" resource.
   4) Say us if this help you when you have your wifi card running.
   5) Sorry for my english.

Regards