Configuring the Madwifi module for Atheros based wireless controllers in Fedora 9

Bill Giannikos

This guide will help you configure the Madwifi module for many Atheros based wireless controllers under Fedora 9.

We will be using 'nano' as our text editor of choice but you can use whatever you wish.

You should run a full update for your installation of Fedora to ensure you have all the latest packages installed.

You should ensure the Madwifi module supports your particular card. Here is a list of compatible cards. If you are not sure which card you have in your system you can use our Linux Wireless Chipset Detector.

We will be using the ATrpms repository.

1. Load up a terminal window if you are in the graphic interface.

2. Switch to the root user by entering the command “su -” (without the quotes) and typing in your root password

3. Edit the file /etc/yum.conf. Using nano we type the command “nano -w /etc/yum.conf”

4. If you have already configured yum to use the ATrpms repository then append “*madwifi* *mac80211*” to the end of the “includepkgs” line and skip the next 3 steps. Otherwise continue on.

5. Add the following to the bottom of this file:

[atrpms]
name=Fedora $releasever - $basearch - ATrpms
baseurl=http://dl.atrpms.net/f$releasever-$basearch/atrpms/stable
gpgkey=http://ATrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1
exclude=*kmdl*i586*
includepkgs=*madwifi* *mac80211*

6. Save the file. In nano you press Ctrl-X, answer yes to the “Save modified buffer” question and then press enter on the file name to write.

7. If you have not previously setup ATrpms execute the following command:

rpm --import http://ATrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms

8. Now execute the following command:

yum install madwifi

9. Reboot your system and you will be using the Madwifi module.