How to make a Buffalo WLI-UC-GNM wireless card work

[pgonzalm]

Hello all,

I am using LM Julia 10 (current kernel Linux 2.6.35-32-generic (i686)) in a HP pavillion dv2000. The computer wireless card stopped working and I decided to by a USB wireless card. I have a Buffalo WLI-UC-GNM but I can not make it to work. I do not know what to do and I wonder if there is somebody who could suggest me what could be the problem.

Lsusb brings:
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0411:01a2 MelCo., Inc.

inxi -N:
Network: Card nVidia MCP51 Ethernet Controller driver forcedeth

sudo /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintWifi/mintWifi.py:
-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

vboxnet0 no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:16:d3:05:61:f2
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:17 Base address:0x2000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:1167 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:1167 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:91855 (91.8 KB) TX bytes:91855 (91.8 KB)

vboxnet0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 0a:00:27:00:00:00
inet6 addr: fe80::800:27ff:fe00:0/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:32 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:20033 (20.0 KB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
There is already a pid file /var/run/dhclient.pid with pid 4689
killed old client process, removed PID file
Internet Systems Consortium DHCP Client V3.1.3
Copyright 2004-2009 Internet Systems Consortium.
All rights reserved.
For info, please visit https://www.isc.org/software/dhcp/

Listening on LPF/vboxnet0/0a:00:27:00:00:00
Sending on LPF/vboxnet0/0a:00:27:00:00:00
Listening on LPF/eth0/00:16:d3:05:61:f2
Sending on LPF/eth0/00:16:d3:05:61:f2
Sending on Socket/fallback
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 3
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 3
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 3
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 3
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 6
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 21
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 12
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 10
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 20
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 17
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 8
DHCPDISCOVER on vboxnet0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 7
DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to 255.255.255.255 port 67 interval 1
No DHCPOFFERS received.
No working leases in persistent database - sleeping.
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached

lspci -v:

00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:00.1 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 0 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel

00:00.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 1 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel

00:00.3 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 5 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel

00:00.4 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 4 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0

00:00.5 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:00.6 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 3 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel

00:00.7 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 2 (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel

00:02.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation C51 PCI Express Bridge (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:03.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation C51 PCI Express Bridge (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00004000-00004fff
Memory behind bridge: b4000000-b7ffffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000d0000000-00000000d01fffff
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:05.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation C51 [Geforce Go 6150] (rev a2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
Memory at b2000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at b1000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at a0000000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidia-current, nouveau, nvidiafb

00:09.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:0a.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP51 LPC Bridge (rev a3)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0

00:0a.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP51 SMBus (rev a3)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: 66MHz, fast devsel, IRQ 10
I/O ports at 3040 [size=64]
I/O ports at 3000 [size=64]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: nForce2_smbus
Kernel modules: i2c-nforce2

00:0a.3 Co-processor: nVidia Corporation MCP51 PMU (rev a3)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11
Memory at b0040000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]

00:0b.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP51 USB Controller (rev a3) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
Memory at b0004000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: ohci_hcd

00:0b.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP51 USB Controller (rev a3) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
Memory at b0005000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:0d.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP51 IDE (rev f1) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0
[virtual] Memory at 000001f0 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 000003f0 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
[virtual] Memory at 00000170 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8]
[virtual] Memory at 00000370 (type 3, non-prefetchable) [size=1]
I/O ports at 3080 [size=16]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: pata_amd
Kernel modules: pata_amd

00:0e.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Serial ATA Controller (rev f1) (prog-if 85 [Master SecO PriO])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
I/O ports at 30b0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 30a4 [size=4]
I/O ports at 30a8 [size=8]
I/O ports at 30a0 [size=4]
I/O ports at 3090 [size=16]
Memory at b0006000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: sata_nv
Kernel modules: sata_nv

00:10.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP51 PCI Bridge (rev a2) (prog-if 01 [Subtractive decode])
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=05, subordinate=05, sec-latency=64
Memory behind bridge: b8000000-b80fffff
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:10.1 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio (rev a2)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
Memory at b0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:14.0 Bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Ethernet Controller (rev a3)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
Memory at b0007000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
I/O ports at 30b8 [size=8]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: forcedeth
Kernel modules: forcedeth

00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
Flags: fast devsel
Capabilities: <access denied>

00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
Flags: fast devsel
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: k8temp
Kernel modules: k8temp

05:09.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 23
Memory at b8000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: firewire_ohci
Kernel modules: firewire-ohci, ohci1394

05:09.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 19)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 30b5
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 16
Memory at b8000800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci
Kernel modules: sdhci-pci

05:09.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 0a)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 10
Memory at b8001000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>

05:09.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Presario V3242AU
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 16
Memory at b8001400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>
Kernel driver in use: r852
Kernel modules: r852

lsmod:

Module Size Used by
arc4 1165 0
ath9k_htc 40706 0
ath9k_common 5982 1 ath9k_htc
ath9k_hw 292329 2 ath9k_htc,ath9k_common
mac80211 231959 2 ath9k_htc,ath9k_common
ath 8153 2 ath9k_htc,ath9k_hw
cfg80211 144758 4 ath9k_htc,ath9k_common,mac80211,ath
binfmt_misc 6599 1
vboxnetadp 6968 0
vboxnetflt 18657 0
vboxdrv 229938 2 vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt
parport_pc 26058 0
ppdev 5556 0
dm_crypt 11385 0
nvidia 9329739 34
snd_hda_codec_conexant 30067 1
snd_hda_intel 22235 2
snd_hda_codec 87552 2 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 5040 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 71475 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 4588 0
snd_rawmidi 17783 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 6047 1 snd_seq_midi
uvcvideo 55943 0
videodev 43194 1 uvcvideo
v4l1_compat 13359 2 uvcvideo,videodev
snd_seq 47174 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
joydev 8767 0
snd_timer 19067 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 5744 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
hp_wmi 5223 0
r852 9536 0
sm_common 3285 1 r852
nand 34905 2 r852,sm_common
nand_ids 2903 1 nand
nand_ecc 3938 1 nand
psmouse 59027 0
snd 49102 13 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
mtd 18877 2 sm_common,nand
agpgart 32011 1 nvidia
serio_raw 4022 0
k8temp 3228 0
soundcore 880 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 7120 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
i2c_nforce2 5179 0
lp 7342 0
parport 31492 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
dm_raid45 81721 0
xor 15136 1 dm_raid45
btrfs 489690 0
zlib_deflate 19266 1 btrfs
crc32c 2531 1
libcrc32c 887 1 btrfs
firewire_ohci 21330 0
sdhci_pci 6633 0
sdhci 15922 1 sdhci_pci
firewire_core 46675 1 firewire_ohci
usbhid 36882 0
hid 67934 1 usbhid
crc_itu_t 1383 1 firewire_core
led_class 2633 2 ath9k_htc,sdhci
forcedeth 49433 0
sata_nv 19420 3
pata_amd 8746 0
video 18712 0
output 1883 1 video

I do not know any other commands that could be of help.

Thanks!

Pablo

[remoulder]

0411:01a2 MelCo

That device uses the rt8070 chipset I believe which should be supported in linux by the rt2800usb driver. You appear to have the ath9k driver loaded which I presume was you onboard adapter and this should probably be removed. I'm not whether the rt2800usb driver in mint 10 will work for your device, you may need to install a later version. Be aware though that mint 10 is now obsolete and no longer supported, so you may be better just installing a newer version of mint.

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe -r ath9k
sudo modprobe rt2800usb

[pgonzalm]

Thanks remoulder!

Yes. I was aware that LM 10 is no longer supported. I will install Maya (13) after it is released (end of this month I read) and discuss the stability with some colleges and read in forums. For working reasons I want to be sure Maya works reasonably stable before I install it. As for now, Julia is very very nice and working very stable. As I can make the wireless work with a TP-LINK TL-WN322G+ wireless USB I can wait for a few months before trying the faster Buffalo wireless USB.

If there was a possibility to install rt2800usb driver without removing the current ath9k driver loaded and make sure it will not interfere with the use of the TP-LINK TL-WN322G+ I may give it a try, otherwise, I will just prefer to wait.

Thanks so much!

[remoulder]

install rt2800usb driver without removing the current ath9k driver

Yes you can do that, I only suggested removing the atheros driver assuming it was left over from your non-working adapter.

[pgonzalm]

I will try installing the right version for LM 10 of the rt2800usb driver when I get some time to do it and come back with the result.

Thanks for all.

Pablo