Wi-Fi

2017-11-01T17:20:48Z

Iguananaut: /* Broadcom Wi-Fi Chipset Users */ this should be aports now, not abuild

This document describes how to set up a wireless network connection with WPA encryption.

First make sure your wireless drivers are loaded properly. (if you are using a '''Broadcom chipset''', see the [[#Broadcom_Wi-Fi_Chipset_Users|section at the bottom of this post]].)

Install {{Pkg|wireless-tools}} and {{Pkg|wpa_supplicant}}.
{{Cmd|apk add wireless-tools wpa_supplicant}}

Bring the link up so we can look for wireless networks. (An error here means you probably need extra drivers/firmware.)
{{Cmd|ip link set wlan0 up}}

Find a network to connect to. Look for the ESSID. In this example we will use the ESSID "MyNet".
{{Cmd|iwlist wlan0 scanning}}

Let's set the ESSID:
{{Cmd|iwconfig wlan0 essid MyNet}}

We need to create a shared key for wpa_supplicant.
{{Cmd|wpa_passphrase MyNet > wpa.conf}}
It will wait for the password from stdin. Enter the password and enter. Now you will have a {{Path|wpa.conf}} file with the preshared key.

Start wpa_supplicant with the generated config:
{{Cmd|wpa_supplicant -Dwext -iwlan0 -c ./wpa.conf}}

From another console, start dhcpcd:
{{Cmd|udhcpc -i wlan0}}

You should get an IP address.

You then want to make the connection process automatic on boot-up. Open {{Path|/etc/network/interfaces}} and add the following stanza:
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
{{Note|I had to append `pre-up iwconfig wlan0 essid <ESSID>` to automatically connect to the network.}}

You will also need to set wpa_supplicant to start automatically on boot:
{{Cmd|rc-update add wpa_supplicant boot}}

Next, create {{Path|/etc/wpa_supplicant/}} (permissions of 755 with root:root are fine), and move {{Path|wpa.conf}} into that folder, renaming it to {{Path|wpa_supplicant.conf}}.

Reboot and check that you are associated with the access point:
{{Cmd|iwconfig wlan0}}
and check that you got a DHCP lease:
{{Cmd|ifconfig wlan0 {{!}} grep addr}}

== Broadcom Wi-Fi Chipset Users ==
The Broadcom chipset is quite popular among older computers. You will need to compile the firmware manually for this chipset as it is not included.

You can check if you have a Broadcom chipset by using dmesg:

{{Cmd|dmesg {{!}} grep Broadcom}}

First install the SDK an Git:
{{Cmd|apk add alpine-sdk git}}

Then git clone aports from git.alpinelinux.org.

{{Cmd|git clone git://git.alpinelinux.org/aports}}

Change your directory to '''aports/non-free/b43-firmware''', then build it.

''You can't be root and must be a user of the group abuild (use groupadd)''

{{Cmd|abuild -r}}

Install the generated packge file (it will be in ~/packages/) - make sure to pass '''--allow-untrusted'''

{{Cmd|apk add --allow-untrusted ~/packages/...pkg}}

Now we need fwcutter, which is executed from the firmware package:

{{Cmd|apk add b43-fwcutter b43-firmware}}

Now you need to use modprobe so the device will show up:

{{Cmd|modprobe b43}}

To automate this on startup add it to /etc/modules:

{{Cmd|echo b43 >> /etc/modules}}

Now continue with the normal instructions.

[[Category:Networking]]

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Wi-Fi