Linux Format forums

aviceda · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject: Wireless Broadband-best distro?

Hi All,
I've recently been offered a subsidized installation of wireless broadband by the Australian government and want to use Linux rather than MS (if possible!)
I've looked at several distros over the past couple of years Mandrake, Fedora etc though I'm quite impressed by Suse, can anyone let me know what their feelings are?
Any advice gratefully received,
Tom

LXFRulz · Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:15 am Posts: 13

I've got to say that Ubuntu is the only distro I have used where my wireless card was recognized right away. All I had to do was enter the WEP key and go, and it works every time I boot the computer. I don't have to re-enter the WEP key, it is saved, for the next time, and the latest version even allows me to save different settings for different wireless points with their appropriate WEP keys.

Of course that is with D-Link cards. Linksys cards use the NDISwrapper, for their drivers. (Which was on one of the last LXF DVD's)
I'm am totally happy with Ubuntu as a home computer, their website has all the information to add mpeg, avi, wmv video to your Unix system, plus, I like trying out new software packages all the time, and Synaptic kicks but as a package manager.

That's just one reporters opinion though!
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jer1ch0

SuSe seem to have an excellent distro - tried quite a few but have not tried the latest 9.3.
But I've being messing with Linux for a few years and Ubuntu has been the distro that I've been waiting for.
My 2 cent worth.

jlarue · Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:40 am Posts: 11

I've only had two distributions that allowed me to quickly set up a wireless connection: PCLinuxOS and Mepis. Both have straightforward, graphical tools that work. Today, I may be able to add a third -- BeatrIX. It did give me an odd error message, but it came up.

davecs

If you have your Broadband connection via Ethernet, then any distro should work. If you have plenty of RAM at least 256Mb, I would install of a LiveCD like PCLinuxOS (my favourite) or Mepis, and you can see if your hardware and connection are detected before you install. They are easy installs, and PCLOS comes with Java and Realplayer already integrated into Firefox.

If you have less memory, try something like Mandriva or SuSE.
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Asus Asus M2N32 WS Pro+Athlon AM2/4200+ — GeForce 7600GT — 2Gb Cosair VS RAM — 500Gb WD5000AAKS SATA Drive — PCLinuxOS

bigbee

Suse 9.2-9.3 detected my wifi broadband connection without any problem (after configging the security keys etc)
I personally think everything depends on the hardware you are using. If you're using a very recent wireless NIC there can be problems about the drivers being non-available by default (and you end up building your modules yourself)... But many of the available cards are supported. Some research on google probably will do the trick

GL with it
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reklan · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:45 am Post subject:

Recent Distro's I've used on my HP Laptops that have worked with the wireless card are:-

Suse 11.4, Ubuntu 10.10 and Mint 10.

all found the card from the start.
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Don't Dream it....Be it..

Rhakios · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:54 pm Post subject:

reklan · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:56 am Post subject:

lol didn't notice the date.

For some reason it was showing as a new topic for me..

Laughing

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M-Saunders · Moderator Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:14 pm Posts: 2883

khakilang · LXF regular Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:26 am Posts: 110

Why a post still exist after 6 years? Should been deleted by now.

M-Saunders · Moderator Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:14 pm Posts: 2883