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Operating Systems => Linux and UNIX => Topic started by: bedouin on 2 June 2005, 18:27

Title: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: bedouin on 2 June 2005, 18:27
Has anyone ever experimented with wireless USB nics in PPC Linux distributions?  Namely, Debian, Yellow Dog, or Gentoo?  In particular, I'm wondering how painless it is to get a D-Link DWL-122 USB nic working in each.  I'd prefer Debian over YDL, but might go for YDL if it means less installation headaches.  I have no experience with Gentoo, so that would be my last choice just due to lack of familiarity.

Also, I don't actually have the NIC yet, so I can't just experiment.  I'd kind of like to have an idea of what I'm getting into before it arrives.
Title: Re: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: WMD on 3 June 2005, 02:28
The DWL-122 is supported by linux-wlan-ng...on x86 for sure.  Since it's an open-source driver, it would probably compile on PPC.  Search the mailing list archives at http://www.linux-wlan.org for info.
Title: Re: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: bedouin on 3 June 2005, 03:08
Yeah, it can be made to work with no question.  This (http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/support/solutions/ydl_4.0/usb-802.11b-key.shtml) post pretty much confirms that.  However, I'm wondering which distribution is going to give me the least amount of headaches.  With YDL I'll be recompiling the kernel, and probably writing init scripts to get stuff like WEP working correctly.  Annoying.  If Debian would be a less irritating experience I'd rather go with it.  The only attraction I have to YDL is that Terrasoft tends to address Mac peculiarities more so than anyone else (stuff like the brightness, sound, and eject keys work out of the box); other than that I prefer Debian, especially because of apt-get.
Title: Re: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: WMD on 3 June 2005, 03:14
Look into Ubuntu for PPC.
Title: Re: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: bedouin on 3 June 2005, 03:40
Hmm, Ubuntu snuck up behind me while I was out of the Linux loop; this could be promising.

I'm purchasing an older iMac specifically for Linux.  Ever since I went completely OS X a few years I started to miss having a hobby machine to experiment with.  Plus I like to follow what's going on with Linux developments beyond reading about them.
Title: Re: Wireless USB Nics with PPC Linux Distros
Post by: bedouin on 6 June 2005, 07:42
Well, I don't need to rely upon this USB NIC anymore since I scrounged up enough cat5 to reach the machine in question.  First attempt will be a net install of Debian 3.1rc0; if that doesn't suit me, I'll go with Yellow Dog.