manually compile kernel 2.6.16.26 on dapper could not active ipw2200.

[Ylan Segal]

Wang Penghui wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I want to use fb console in my thinkpad t42 notebook. So i download the
> linux kernel 2.6.16.26 from http://www.kernel.org and compile it
> manually.
> 
> In the wireless section, i have enable the wireless support in the
> kernel. But after install  the new kernel, i found that the intel 2200bg
> wireless card could not workable anymore.
> 
> There is the error message in the dmesg
> 
> ipw2200: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
> ipw2200: ipw2200-bss.fw request_firmware failed: Reason -2
> ipw2200: Unable to load firmware: -2
> ipw2200: failed to register network device
> 
> I have googled this topic, and also read the manual on
> http://ipw2200.sf.net
> 
> And fount that i have to put the proper firmwares to the proper place.
> And there are two major method to load the firmware files.
> Hotplug and lencry.

Hold it right there, I compiled a vanilla kernel from kernel.org without
any problems and with a very similar wireless card. I did not have to do
any hotplug or lencry stuff. I just made a symbolic link:

ln -s /lib/firmware/2.6.15.25 /lib/firmware/2.6.16.26

In this case 2.6.15.25 was the ubuntu stock kernel and 2.6.16.26 is your
new vanilla kernel.

(*NOTE*: I am not in my Ubuntu box and writing this from memory, the
firmware files maybe are not in /lib/firmware, check before creating the
link).

After I rebooted, the firmware was found just fine and everything worked.

-- 
Ylan