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* What is it? [1]
* CLI [2]
* Self Help [3]
* man [4]
* apropos [5]
* info [6]
* Packages and/or Programs [7]
* pcmcia_cs [8]
* cardctl [9]
* ifup, ifdown [10]
* ifconfig [11]
* wireless-tools [12]
* ip [13]
* route [14]
* dmesg [15]
* ps [16]
* mod-utils [17]
* Terminal Shortcuts [18]
* [19]
* [20]
* [21]
* Misc [22]
* enable forwarding [23]
* redirection [24]
* /proc [25]
* /var/log [26]
* GUI [27]
WHAT IS IT?
Wireless related commands for the beginner (or the forgetful).
This is not a complete list and is not intended as a subsitute for
the manual (MAN MAN) nor the time tested method of 'experimentation'.
It is instead, a list of useful command line entries (or
observations) that will help to kickstart the puzzled newbie into
using wireless on Linux [28] effectively. It concentrates on the CLI
as that's the base most of the GUI's work from, it's also ALWAYS
THERE.
If you're after more then the Rute User\'s Tutorial and Exposition
[29] is one of many resources for an introduction to Linux [30].
Feel free to add to this...
CLI
Command Line Interface - Which means you're sitting at a terminal (of
some sort) and entering text strings at the prompt. You may be
physically at the computer or remotely accessing it via SSH [31] or a
serial console. [32]
SELF HELP
MAN
* MAN MAN - review what the man help system does
APROPOS
* APROPOS - search the manual descriptions for
* APROPOS ROUTE - return manuals that consider route to be in their
"domain"
INFO
* INFO - review what the info help system does
* PINFO - a "colorful viewer"
PACKAGES AND/OR PROGRAMS
PCMCIA_CS
PCMCIA Card Services - generally starts on system boot up or may be
manually started using _/etc/init.d/pcmcia_ and displayed arguments
(RedHat, Fedora, Debian and others)
If it's not running on start up the CHKCONFIG or SETUP can be used
under RedHat [33], Fedora to check the start configuration. (What is
it under Debian [34]?)
CARDCTL
* CARDCTL EJECT -- ejects all cards
* CARDCTL EJECT 0 - ejects first card
* CARDCTL EJECT 1 - ejects secondcard
* CARDCTL IDENT - IDENTify a card. Useful when changing the default
driver, by editing _/etc/pcmcia/config, /etc/pcmcia/config-2.4 or
/etc/pcmcia/host_cs.conf_ and changing the module the MANFID BINDs to.
If problems are experienced in ejecting a card, the interface may
need to be brought down first. Programs such as DHCLIENT sometimes
block the card and prevent an immediate exit.
IFUP, IFDOWN
* IFDOWN WLAN0 - shutdown the wlan0 interface
* IFUP WLAN0 - start the wlan0 interface
* also see IFCONFIG
IFCONFIG
* IFCONFIG - return configuration of ethernet devices
* IFCONFIG ETH0 - eth0 values only
* IFCONFIG ETH0 UP - start the eth0 interface
* IFCONFIG ETH0 DOWN - shutdown the eth0 interface
WIRELESS-TOOLS
* IWCONFIG - displays all interfaces (the IFCONFIG of wireless cards)
* IWCONFIG WLAN1 - displays wlan1 only
* IWCONFIG TXPOWER - for cards that support, changes transmit
power (NB: If using mW, don't forget the suffix)
* IWLIST SCAN -- scans from all supported cards and reports stats on
accesspoints or clients found
* IWLIST WLAN0 SCAN - scans for nodes (only from wlan0)
IP
supplied by the iproute or iproute2 package. A (minimum) 2.4 kernel
is usually required and the package may need to be manually installed.
* There is no manual page, use IP HELP instead
* IP A display address's
* IP A HELP - further help for address's
* IP R display routes (also review the ROUTE COMMAND)
* IP R HELP further route help
* IP A A 10.10.146.58/30 DEV ETH0 LABEL ETH0:0 - add a virtual
interface to dev eth0
* IP L S ETH0 MTU 1200 - change the mtu to 1200
ROUTE
* ROUTE -N - display routes without resolving names (no names =
quicker)
DMESG
display the kernel messages. Useful immediately after boot up or at
any time that the OS messages may need reviewing. ie: You have
(computer based) problems
PS
show running processes
options - too many to list - review the manual.
* PS -ADELF - a fairly complete _long listing_. Needs wordwrap to
review effectively . Try redirecting
* PS AXF - a threaded listing
MOD-UTILS
Commands centred around modules (drivers). Not usually needed except
when first installing a card, that is not automatically detected.
* LSMOD list running modules
* INSMOD NE2K-PCI - load the module ne2k-pci (realtek cards)
If errors are reported back about missing dependencies then look in
_/lib/modules//modules.dep_, find the module you're trying to load and
see what else is mentioned on that line, in this case it's 8390. Load
8390 first then load ne2k-pci and all should be okay.
* DEPMOD - register modules into the database (_/lib/modules/
/PROC/SYS/NET/IPV4/IP_FORWARD and check with the previous CAT command
REDIRECTION
redirect output to another place
* eg PS -ADELF > /TMP/DUMP
LESS /TMP/DUMP - line wrapping is now viewable and the long listing
is easily navigated.
/PROC
Directory of running processess and their configuration variables.
When you edit a config file and run the application, this is where
those changes are stored (close enough?)
* CAT /PROC/INTERRUPTS - show irq's in use (and thus check, resolve
clashes)
* CAT /PROC/PCI - show results found for pci bus (slots). ie:
detected values for pci cards such as ethernet, video, cradles
* CAT /PROC - USE COMMAND COMPLETION TO DISPLAY ALL FILES IN PROC
DIRECTORY, PICK ONE AND cat''' it
/VAR/LOG
When something goes wrong, and no messages are returned - LOOK HERE -
(it's a directory).
Look here anyway and become familar with the layout and what is
captured.
* _/var/log_ tells all (that it knows about anyway).
GUI
Is there a point in listing GUI applications? I can't picture
describing the mouse shortcuts, but the section is here if there's a
need.
Links:
------
[1] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#what_is_it_
[2] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#cli
[3] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#self_help
[4] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#man
[5] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#apropos
[6] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#info
[7] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#packages_and_or_programs
[8]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#pcmcia_cs_
[9] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#cardctl
[10] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#ifup__ifdown
[11] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#ifconfig
[12]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#wireless_tools_
[13] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#ip
[14] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#route
[15] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#dmesg
[16] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#ps
[17] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#mod_utils
[18] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#terminal_shortcuts
[19] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#_alt_
[20] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#_shift___page_up_
[21] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#_tab_
[22] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#misc
[23] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#enable_forwarding
[24] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#redirection
[25] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#_proc
[26] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#_var_log
[27] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#gui
[28] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Linux
[29] http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html
[30] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Linux
[31] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?SSH
[32] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?SerialConsole
[33] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?RedHat
[34] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?Debian
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