BleepingComputer.com: Network Drivers

Could someone help me with finding the drivers for my Dlink DWL 520+ for linux. It should also have WPA support please.

Thanks,

~StickDude101

What distro?

Have you tried NDISWrapper?

Hi StickDude101,

Don't have any knowledge of your particular network card - I am assuming it is wireless. Linux uses the Windows *.inf file of whatever network card you are using - I have seen some Linux distros state you need the .sys file and/or the .cat file. The only distros I have had the simplest issue of getting wireless to work are:
1. DreamLinux 3.5 rc4 (sadly 3.5 final did/does not work - for me anyway);
2. VectorLinux 6.0 Standard and VecorLinux 6.0 Standard Deluxe - very stable and cannot be beat for me - is the first distro to really successfully run a Netgear WG111T - been searching for the last 2 years.

ndiswrapper never worked for me - DreamLinux and VectorLinux are clearly streets ahead of the competition - both using graphical interfaces without the need of using bash to install; not knocking bash but most people out there would not want to learn bash after being brainwashed by Windoze for years as the only GUI OS that works in the world!

Best regards,
chameleon437

Just to clear up some misinformation: Linux does not use the Windows drivers for any device. All hardware support in the Linux kernel is written by the Linux kernel developers and third parties specifically for the Linux kernel. There is nothing from Windows in Linux, despite the FUD from Redmond.

You can use Windows wireless drivers under Linux using the NDISWrapper program (NDIS is the internal name for the network API in Windows, hence NDISWrapper "wraps" up the Windows driver for use in Linux.)

NDISWrapper is a terminal utility, that is it's run from the command line (BASH or your preferred command interpreter) There is another program called NDISGTK which provides a point-and-click interface for NDISWrapper.

Amazing Andrew, on Jul 7 2009, 11:08 PM, said:

Why then does VectorLinux and DreamLinux request the *.inf file from the Windows Driver disk?

Best regards,
chameleon437

Having never used those distros, I can't say. Either it uses NDISWrapper by default or it uses the info in the .inf file to identify the specific wifi device, and then loads the kernel module needed for that device (not a bad idea, actually.)

Yes, I would go with that Amazing Andrew. The other cool thing with DreamLinux is that you can install it on a pen drive and add different packages without having to reconfigure the whole package! Pity 3.5 didn't deliver but when you consider the people behind it number the fingers on one hand (not including the thumb) it is pretty impressive. Would have been really cool if they could cater for wireless keyboards and mice.

Best regards,
chameleon437

I've never had any trouble using my Bluetooth keyboard/mouse set with Ubuntu (even though it's a Microsoft brand hardware set!)