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[Wayan Vota]

Okay, just got my new OLPC yesterday and I have been playing around with it. Definitely an entirely new paradigm and one that will take some getting used to. I’ll be posting more of my thoughts in a review a bit later, however, I wanted to talk about how to get around an immediate problem that I had getting my OLPC to talk to my Wireless Network.

I use WPA2-PSK which is generally the strongest wireless security option available today to the home user. An even stronger version makes use of RADIUS and a back end user authentication service like Windows Active Directory, but most home users simply find running something that sophisticated to be more trouble than it is worth.

http://www.askjimb.com/gadgets/?p=16

[Torokun]

According to the wiki page...

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/WPA_Manual_Setting

[unevenload]

My XO arrived yesterday. The interface was alien to me but I just jumped in. When I saw the available networks I clicked on mine and it asked for the security code. I typed in my WPA-PSK passphrase and nothing happened. I went to the getting started site and found a link for the WPA hex converter. I went to the site (using my windows computer), typed in my SSID and passphrase and in a minute or so it gave me a 64 character key. I put that in the password box on the XO and I am browsing. Now I just need to get Flash running so my little girl can get on webkinz and I am good to go.

[nadinefranks]

pls. let us know what is and how to get the ssid and "passphrase"?

[unevenload]

Nadine,
Your SSID is the name of your wireless network setup on your router. The passphrase is the "password" you created when you setup WPA security on your wireless router.

Hope that helped.

[jefeliz]

OKay, I just received my XO, and I need a little help, please! In addition to using WPA, I also have my wireless filtered by MAC. How do I go about finding the MAC so I can add it to my 'allowed' list on my router? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Jeff. . .

[con]

If you drop to a terminal and type ifconfig at the prompt, the line that begins "eth0" should have the mac address of your wifi connection at the end of that line.

[Irish_Moss]

Thanks Torokun for posting the WPA info.
I thought it wasn't supported, and actually switched back to WEP, and configured as per this page: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Manual_Wireless_Association (I guess that page is a little outdated)

Never got it working though.
Switched back to WPA, ran that Wpa.sh script, and poof!, I'm on the net! 

The only problem now is that I have to wait 10 more days to give it to my son.
 

[nadinefranks]

"Switched back to WPA, ran that Wpa.sh script, and poof!, I'm on the net!  "

the above quote made me laugh and smile..."ran that wpa.sh script. and poof"! poof???
i am the very scared:) non-linux "waiter" (awaiting arrival) and this frightens me:)

[jefeliz]

If you drop to a terminal and type ifconfig at the prompt, the line that begins "eth0" should have the mac address of your wifi connection at the end of that line.

Thanks - I knew it was probably something simple, but it's been a few years since I've done any kind of command-line anything.

Another question (for anyone who can help), I've followed the above instructions regarding Wpa.sh, but every time I try to connect to my AP, the XO says that it needs a key (or something similar). Shouldn't this have already been stored when I ran Wpa.sh? Ir is there another key that I might be missing?

Again, thanks in advance for any help!

Jeff. . .

[Irish_Moss]

"Switched back to WPA, ran that Wpa.sh script, and poof!, I'm on the net!  "

the above quote made me laugh and smile..."ran that wpa.sh script. and poof"! poof???
i am the very scared:) non-linux "waiter" (awaiting arrival) and this frightens me:)

Not exactly sure why you're frightened.  All I was saying was that the setup to connect to my wireless network was as simple as following the straightforward steps in that link: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/WPA_Manual_Setting

This is, of course, assuming that your home wireless setup is using WPA encryption.
 

[pjn670]

Add me to the list of frustrated users. . .

I had no trouble executing the Wpa.sh script, but upon rebooting my network still shows locked. I've tried WPA version 1 and 2 when running the script, but the result is the same; a locked network that asks for my wireless key. Even after inputting the key there seems to be no response, as it just sits there without blinking or trying to connect

[pjn670]

To clarify:

Clicking on my still locked network prompts a dalogue asking for a wireless encryption key. But clicking on other locked networks in my neighborhood has an additional option asking the key type, and then a drop-down box (passphrase, hex, ASCII).

Hope that will help

[Irish_Moss]

To clarify:

Clicking on my still locked network prompts a dalogue asking for a wireless encryption key. But clicking on other locked networks in my neighborhood has an additional option asking the key type, and then a drop-down box (passphrase, hex, ASCII).

Hope that will help

I don't know how technical you are, so please don't take offense, but are you sure your router is setup for WPA and not WEP encryption?

[Alex Guichet]

Does it save the passkeys or do you have to reenter it each time you rejoin the network? I don't have the laptop yet and I commute to my high school which has the most complex passcode ever (I have special permission for a laptop trial in the classrooms ) and I don't think I could stand re entering it each time I get there (especially because we are allowed off campus lunch)

Alex