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i will be installing ubuntu server and since its all through terminal how do i connect to wifi?

what commands do i type in to connect and enter the passsword?


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1 Answer 1

up vote 4 down vote accepted

The configuration is all done through the /etc/network/interfaces file.

You need to have something like this in your /etc/network/interfaces file:

(this is for a WPA2 encrypted network)

auto wlan0

iface wlan0 inet dhcp
    wpa-driver wext
    wpa-ssid AccessPointName
    wpa-ap-scan 2
    wpa-proto RSN
    wpa-pairwise CCMP
    wpa-group CCMP
    wpa-key-mgmt WPA-PSK
    wpa-psk <your_hex_key>

Where <your_hex_key> is obtained by using:

# wpa_passphrase "Access Point Name" "WPA2 Pass Phrase"

You can change the network to use "static" instead of "dhcp" if you want to use a static IP address. You can then specify something like this:


in the main block of configuration.

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the command auto didnt work for me for "auto wlan0" and iface didnt work as well. and i dont have /etc/network/interfaces its a fresh install of ubuntu-server do i need to connect to eth0 and download a bunch of files before going on wifi? –  Sarmen B. Apr 10 '11 at 23:46
if /etc/network/interfaces doesn't exist then just create it. Auto and Iface aren't commands - they are configuration instructions you put into the /etc/network/interfaces file. –  Majenko Apr 11 '11 at 8:35
wpa_passphrase is the only command you type at a terminal (hence the # prompt infront of it - # = root's prompt) –  Majenko Apr 11 '11 at 8:36

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