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How can I install rt73 on Ubuntu Server 12.04.4 LTS?

I have installed Ubuntu Server on an old Laptop (Advent 7109B) and wireless is not working by default due to missing drivers.

I found online I needed rt73.

lsmod | grep rt gives me this:

rt73usb                31360  0 
rt2x00usb              20161  1 rt73usb
rt2x00lib              53673  2 rt73usb,rt2x00usb
mac80211              534884  2 rt2x00usb,rt2x00lib
cfg80211              416271  2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
parport                40930  1 lp
crc_itu_t              12627  2 rt73usb,firewire_core

I have SSH access to it by having the laptop plugging in via ehternet.

Any ideas how I can get Wifi working?

EDIT: Here are results from terdon's comment:

iwconfig:

wlan0     IEEE 802.11bg  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=0 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:on

lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

/sbin/iwlist wlan0 scan:

wlan0     Failed to read scan data : Network is down

lspci | grep Net returns nothing.

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  • What makes you think you need rt73usb? What is your wireless card? Have you actually attempted to connect to any networks? Can you see any networks listed in the networkmanager applet? Please edit your question and add the output of these commands: iwconfig, /sbin/iwlist wlan0 scan (change wlan0 to the name of your wireless device returned by iwconfig) and lspci | grep Net.
    – terdon
    Mar 13, 2014 at 18:29
  • Added. I read online that Advent 7109B laptops require rt73.
    – Jamesking56
    Mar 13, 2014 at 18:48
  • Try lspci | grep -i net and if that returns nothing as well, just post the output of lspci alone.
    – terdon
    Mar 13, 2014 at 18:50
  • lscpi | grep -i net returned 06:05.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
    – Jamesking56
    Mar 13, 2014 at 18:52
  • 1
    What does this tell us? sudo ifconfig wlan0 up and next: sudo iwlist wlan0 scan
    – chili555
    Mar 13, 2014 at 19:16

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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In a server, without a desktop environment and therefor without Network Manager, wireless is not going to connect to any old possibly insecure network. You must specify the network you want and supply a password. I suggest you amend your /etc/network/interfaces file so as to add the wireless details at the end:

#auto eth0
iface eth0 dhcp <--or however it reads now
#Do NOT comment out eth0 until wireless is working reliably and double-checked

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.1.150
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 192.168.1.1
wpa-ssid <your_network>
wpa-psk <your_password>

I suggest a static IP for a server so you can easily ssh and ftp into it. Of course, select an address outside the range used by the DHCP server in the router, switch, or access point. Substitute your details here.

Get the system to re-read and use the changes:

sudo ifdown wlan0 && sudo ifup -v wlan0

Check to see if you connected:

ping -c3 www.google.com
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10
  • sudo ifdown wlan0 says ifdown: interface wlan0 not configured and when I do sudo ifup -v wlan0 the last line says Failed to bring up wlan0.
    – Jamesking56
    Mar 13, 2014 at 19:43
  • Does ifconfig say wlan0 is present? UP BROADCAST RUNNING? I assume you used appropriate network numbers. It may take a reboot. Then see if you can ping -c3 192.168.1.150 or whatever you set for the address.
    – chili555
    Mar 13, 2014 at 20:05
  • ifconfig does have wlan0 present and UP BROADCAST says RUNNING. I don't get a response on ping for its new IP and booting now takes much longer because it sits on waiting for network configuration...
    – Jamesking56
    Mar 13, 2014 at 20:13
  • I assume this is after a reboot. What do the logs tell us? dmesg | grep -e wlan -e rt7 Paste the result here and give us a link in the reply: paste.ubuntu.com
    – chili555
    Mar 13, 2014 at 20:20
  • 1
    let us continue this discussion in chat
    – chili555
    Mar 13, 2014 at 20:46

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