Is there anything to automatic detect my network connection

yinglcs · #1 1st May 2007, 02:15 AM

Hi,

If I connect my network cable to my laptop running fedora, can fedora automatically detect it and setup the network interface?

If yes, can you please tell me how to enable that?

Thank you.

stevea · #2 1st May 2007, 02:50 AM

Yeah - it's easy.

Select (from the top panel) System->Admin..->Network. You should see a line in the window, probably called "eth0".. Select that line, then select the "edit" button. In the edit window select the box "Activate device when computer starts", and select "Automatically obtain IP address settings with 'dhcp'". Also check the box titled "Automatically obtain DNS information from provider.". Then click OK at the bottom of the edit window. Select "file->save" in the main "network" window. Reboot.

This should work if your system is directly connected to the net or if you have a conventional router which is configured to serve dhcp and dns.

A.Serbinski · #3 2nd May 2007, 02:38 AM

That won't do it. He wants it to dynamically connect to networks withOUT rebooting.

From terminal;

su
<enter root password>
/sbin/chkconfig NetworkManager on
/sbin/service NetworkManager start
exit
exit

This will add a NetworkManager icon to your notification area, and will connect with the best network adapter for which there is an available connection, for example, if you are connected to a wireless network and plug in to a wire, it will switch to the wired network.

Also, NetworkManager can detect and connect to wireless networks if you have a wifi adapter.

kbwill · #4 2nd May 2007, 04:27 PM

I am very interested in this topic -
I installed the firmware for my IPW220 internal wireless adapter on my Dell D810 Lattitude laptop.
The Network Manager "recognizes" my wireless adapter now.
Yet when I boot up I want it to automatically identify nearby access points like my own house or Panera Bread or the public library.
How do I do that?

A.Serbinski · #5 3rd May 2007, 07:03 AM

You CLICK on the network manager icon in your notification area and choose the wireless network you want to connect to.

kbwill · #6 3rd May 2007, 03:10 PM

Maybe I do not have the "Network Manager" y'all are refering to.
I go to System>Administration>Network
but the window title bar does not say "Network Manager."
Then I went to Applications>Add/Remove Software and after the Package Manager opened I searched for "Network Manager" and discovered that it is a KDE applet.
I have Gnome desktop, will a KDE applet work on my Gnome?

such007 · #7 3rd May 2007, 04:18 PM

Did you follow the steps A.Serbinski listed. If so you should see in your notification area 4bars that indicate signal strength, or possibly an icon that resembles an rj45 (cat5/6) connector. This definitely works in Gnome. I run Gnome with network manager. Just to reiterate

su -
(enter root password)
chkconfig NetworkManager on
service NetworkManager start

You should see the icon appear in your notification area, if not give it a reboot and check again.

kbwill · #8 3rd May 2007, 05:35 PM

I did not try that.
I guess I thought it was already working or renamed or something.
SWEEET! the Network Manager works!
Thanks such007!
Sweeet! I cannot wait to try this at home tonight.
I am really enjoying Fedora more and more everyday.
I hope people move from windows to Fedora soon.
Thanks again such007!

kbwill · #9 4th May 2007, 06:35 PM

Well ... that did not help. I mean it did but I still cannot connect to my wireless at home.
My laptop connects just fine with my wired netork but I have yet to successfully connect wirelessly.
I have my eth0 setup with a static IP within the scope os my work LAN and my home LAN.
I was hoping Network Manager would identify any surrounding access points and I could select one and connect.
I often see discussions about an "ndiswrapper" and now I wonder, do I need that too?

such007 · #10 4th May 2007, 06:46 PM

you do not need ndiswrapper... are you able to connect to any open wireless networks around you. just for test purposes? are you connecting with your wired and wireless networks at the same time? Try booting up without any connections. Then try to search for a wireless network. What happens to the netowrk manager icon when you select an access point? Mine shows two dots, then one turns green the second turns green then it says connected then shows the strength of the connection in bars. Let me know what you are seeing.

A.Serbinski · #11 7th May 2007, 04:36 AM

You need to have a DRIVER installed for your wifi card before networkmanager will work for it. If that means ndiswrapper, then do that. Hopefully though, your card will have an atheros chip, or something else for which there is an open source driver. Ndiswrapper is really horrible - its a way of using a microevil driver for cards where there is no linux driver.