Setting up WPA

[Nils Kassube]

Nigel Ridley wrote:
> OK, I have a wireless router that can use WPA. I read some articles
> about setting up WPA but didn't find anything specific to either
> Kubuntu 8.04 or 8.10.
>
> Can someone point me to a [recent] 'howto' or give a simple explanation
> here?

If your wireless hardware is supported, there is nothing special about 
WPA. If the procedure below doesn't work please tell us what wireless 
hardware you have. If you don't know, you can find out with the command

sudo lshw -C network

in a terminal (e.g. konsole).

For both 8.04 and 8.10 the wireless interface is managed by the network 
manager. There should be an icon in your system tray. If it isn't there 
you can get it from K-menu -> Internet -> Network Manager.

For 8.04 right click the network manager icon. There should be an entry 
for your network, click on the network name. It should open a new window 
where you enter the shared key and click "Connect". When the connection 
is established your kwallet will probably ask for your password to save 
the network key.

For 8.10 right click the network manager icon and then select "New 
Connection" -> eth1 (or wlan0 or whatever your wireless interface is 
named). It will open a new window where there should be an entry for your 
network already. Click on the network name and then "Next". On the next 
page enter your shared key and then click "Connect & Save".

> Do I need to install wpasupplicant?

Yes, it is mandatory for WPA/WPA2 but it should be installed already by 
default. You don't need to configure wpasupplicant because it is handled 
by network manager.


Nils