Installing driver for Netgear WNA1100 WiFi Adapter - Ubuntu Server 12.04

Question

I recently purchased the WNA1100 WiFi Adapter for my Ubuntu Server 12.04 Box. Since I'm new to Ubuntu, I'm unable to install the drivers for the WiFi Adapter. I found that the WiFi adapter uses the Atheros AR9271 chipset. I downloaded the htc_9271.fw file from the Linux Wireless site.

How do I install the driver?

Solution 1

You may need both files there; htc_9271.fw and htc_7010.fw. Both are mentioned in:

    modinfo ath9k_htc

Please open at terminal and do:

    cd Desktop   <--or wherever the downloaded files are
    sudo cp htc_9271.fw /lib/firmware
    sudo cp htc_7010.fw /lib/firmware

Now unload and reload the driver:

    sudo modprobe -r ath9k_htc && sudo modprobe ath9k_htc

Solution 2

I recommend you return the card and purchase something that's already supported:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported

You are probably used to wrestling with driver annoyances in Windows and therefore think it's pretty normal. In Linux, it isn't. If you have to wrestle with drivers, it's because your card isn't actually supported - you may be able to get it to work, but you're usually better off just returning it and getting something that IS supported, which will "just work" without needing to fight with it.

Comments

[Lucio]

But you didn't need to install any driver? Because this isn't plug&play

[Chris1804505]

NO! It is supported, see: help.ubuntu.com/community/… The WNA1100 is supported by the Atheros driver & firmware under Linux.

[Jim Salter]

you realize you replied to a nearly three year old answer, right? at the time OP posted his or her question, that was unsupported hardware.

[ttoine]

Salut, est-ce que tu peux ré-écrire ta réponse en anglais s'il te plait? Could you please rewrite your answer in english please?