As usual with new openSUSE 10.3 installed I needed my Asus WL-130g (based on Ralink RT2500) wireless card to work and after few minutes I got a feeling that something was not working with the supplied drivers and decided to use the well established drivers supplied by “rt2×00.serialmonkey project“, which I have been using since SUSE 10.1.

So, my recommendation is to IGNORE the driver which come with openSUSE 10.3 for your rt2400/2500 wireless cards, unless of course  the supplied driver is working nicely for you.

Before continuing make sure you have the following packages installed: kernel-source, gcc and make

DISCLAIMER: If your card has been auto detected and installed with openSUSE 10.2 then we need to remove it first:

1. As root execute the following command to remove module:

# modprobe -r rt2500pci

2. Head to Yast -> Software Management -> remove package “rt2×00-kmp-*” (if such is installed)

Now to INSTALLATION:

1. Get the latest CVS driver from here (in case you get error with CVS, try the beta driver from the same site). CVS file used by me is rt2500-cvs-2007100602.

2. Unzip the downloaded file

3. Now let’s prepare the kernel modules (I always do this, though not necessary)

# cd /usr/src/linux-2.6.22.5-31 (or the kernel version that is installed)

# make mrproper

# make cloneconfig

# make modules_prepare

4. Now we need to compile a module for the wireless card that we have. Go to folder where you extracted the archive. Open folder called “Module” and execute the following:

# make

src="http://www.home-of-linux.org/wp-content/plugins/auto-blogster/images/rt25xx1lt1.png" />

5. As root run the following:

# make install

6. Now we load the compiled driver with the following command:

# modprobe rt2500

(notice that with openSUSE 10.3 supplied driver, the module is called rt2500pci whereas here it is rt2500)

7a. To see that the module has been loaded successfully and the wireless card is properly functioning head to Yast -> Network Card. I am using the the traditional ifup method. You can try/use the first option, NetworkManager, which is better option if you are using your WiFi card to connect to Access Points and wireless hubs, such as when carrying a notebook.

(noticeWL-130g there configured with static IP)

(the module this time is called rt2500, as mentioned by me above)

7b. Now configure your card as per your needs. Once configured you can check that all is well and set according to your settings by using the following command:

# iwconfig

 


(the alias for module is “wlan0″ and not “ra0″ as it was with SUSE 10.1)

And here is a snapshot of my Windows Mobile phone being connected to my desktop:

There you go …. hope this helps to resolve some issues. I am using simple WEP-128bit secure connection. The card is acting as a wireless router for my notebook and other WiFi devices to connect and have access to internet.

Check this link if you are thinking of turning your computer as a router for your home/small office internet sharing.