How to connect and use wireless adapters on slackware?
by burning from LinuxQuestions.org on (#57WQS)
A friend recently recommended me a Wifi adapter as I need a stronger signal in my dorm room. I haven't had much experience with wireless adapters before but I ended up getting was the Alfa Network long range adapter. Model: AWUS036NHA
It comes with a handy install and users guide on a dvd. The only problem is that the install guide is for Windows XP. As I'm using Slackware, the details of installing this beast seem to be a bit different.
Firstly; it says that due to it using the Atheros AR9271 chipset, it's natively compatible with most distributions of Linux. But from what I could find, I don't think Slackware is among them. Of course if I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me. The included DVD has a directory for Linux drivers, but the closest match I could find in there was for AWUS036NH, not AWUS036NHA which is the one I'd need if it's not natively supported. (for reference, the DVD included drivers for a bunch of other products. I think the DVD is just a standard DVD given for most of their products).
So I'm assuming I need to get the drivers off their main website but I can't seem to find where they'd distribute the drivers. I've tried their downloads page but it doesn't seem to offer linux drivers: https://files.alfa.com.tw/?dir=%5B1%...ter/AWUS036NHA
Secondly; in mounting the DVD to /media/dvd and taking a look inside, it lists an ALFAINSTALL.exe file. Is this installer only for Windows devices? I can't make it an executable and run it as the DVD is write protected and doing ./ALFAINSTALL.exe gives a "permission denied" message so I'd assume it is.
And thirdly; Once I have the drivers installed, how do I actually go about using the device? At the moment, plugging it into my USB ports and running lsblk or mount, I don't think I see any new devices.
It comes with a handy install and users guide on a dvd. The only problem is that the install guide is for Windows XP. As I'm using Slackware, the details of installing this beast seem to be a bit different.
Firstly; it says that due to it using the Atheros AR9271 chipset, it's natively compatible with most distributions of Linux. But from what I could find, I don't think Slackware is among them. Of course if I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me. The included DVD has a directory for Linux drivers, but the closest match I could find in there was for AWUS036NH, not AWUS036NHA which is the one I'd need if it's not natively supported. (for reference, the DVD included drivers for a bunch of other products. I think the DVD is just a standard DVD given for most of their products).
So I'm assuming I need to get the drivers off their main website but I can't seem to find where they'd distribute the drivers. I've tried their downloads page but it doesn't seem to offer linux drivers: https://files.alfa.com.tw/?dir=%5B1%...ter/AWUS036NHA
Secondly; in mounting the DVD to /media/dvd and taking a look inside, it lists an ALFAINSTALL.exe file. Is this installer only for Windows devices? I can't make it an executable and run it as the DVD is write protected and doing ./ALFAINSTALL.exe gives a "permission denied" message so I'd assume it is.
And thirdly; Once I have the drivers installed, how do I actually go about using the device? At the moment, plugging it into my USB ports and running lsblk or mount, I don't think I see any new devices.