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I am new to Debian (previously using Ubuntu, which is also Debian based). When I installed it on my Lenovo G450 laptop, I skipped the wireless configuration (I really didn't know how to do that).

After the installation, I found no wireless network available.

I add

iface wlan0 inet dhcp

to /etc/network/interface, then typed

iwlist wlan0 scan

But the terminal told me that "interface not support for this operation".

Anyway I tried

iwconfig wlan0 essid xxx key xxx

and the terminal said: "invalid argument".

Can anyone help? I had to turn to Fedora/Ubuntu again. They have network-manager to configure the wireless network, but Debian does not. I wanted to install network-manager, but I can't connect to the internet.

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  • I fixed your formatting – please use the syntax and editor help if you're not sure. There's no need for <br>. — As for your question: Are you sure you added it to /etc/network/interfaces and not interface (notice the missing "s")? Have you done a /etc/init.d/networking restart after editing the interfaces? And "interface not support … " – are you sure this is the exact error message you get?
    – slhck
    Oct 1, 2011 at 9:05
  • Read the Debian manual: /etc/network/interfaces needs an iface, not ´interface` line where you put the wlan0.
    – slhck
    Oct 2, 2011 at 11:17
  • I think i found the reason, it does not have the wireless firmware of the old broadcom network device.
    – jilen
    Oct 8, 2011 at 0:24
  • Ah, I see. Well you could write an answer to your own question if you found out how to get it working!
    – slhck
    Oct 8, 2011 at 8:38
  • In many devices you have to install dkms from either APT repo or by manually . Aug 30, 2022 at 7:04

1 Answer 1

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That's just because the lack of the old broadcom wireless driver. i download b43 and compile it.

this link will help install b43 firmware

the new 3.x kernel seems have broadcom firmware built in

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  • Ah, the ol' download and compile vendor specific driver trick! If we can raise awareness about this technique, it'll be the year of Linux on the desktop in no time! Oct 8, 2011 at 10:06
  • very sorry! I add a link from the b43 project site.
    – jilen
    Oct 8, 2011 at 10:32

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