<SOLVED>Using Mint as a wifi antenna

[Fred Barclay]

I have a laptop that is running Mint 17 live (no hdd) that connects to wifi perfectly. It also has standard connection ports--ethernet, etc.
Can I hook this laptop up to a standard desktop machine via an ethernet or telephone cable and use the lappy as a wifi receiver? I need to install some drivers from the internet on the standard machine so it can use a Realtek usb wifi dongle for internet connection. It will be difficult but not impossible for me to move the machine to a ethernet port for internet connection, but I would really like to use my lappy as a (/temp) receiver if possible. Can you help? Thanks

[DrHu]

If the wifi reception works, then use the Linux notebook as part of the network your other machine is on
--setup the router for the ISP
Or do you mean you have no router, and no ISP, but only an open WIFI connector ?

http://xpressrazor.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... der-linux/
--if you want to make the Linux notebook serve the other machine (as it connects well with the WIFI), then use that notebook as a router (dhcp IP to the other machine,..)

• That's the text steps..but you may prefer Ubuntu more GUI style below..

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Router

[Fred Barclay]

I do have a router--not really accessible, though (it's not mine, but I have permission to use it).
The network idea would work if I could connect to a network...unfortunately there is no wired network port near my machine and wireless could only work if the usb dongle could connect, in which case the problem would be solved So I don't think that will work so well, but maybe I missed something???
The links did look promising, though. I will try them in a bit.
I should specify that the desktop machine is dual-boot Mint 17.1 MATE and Debian Wheezy. Mint connects, it's Wheezy that won't (which means the drivers are proprietary, I suspect). I am planning on upgrading to Jessie once I can connect. The USB wifi dongle is a Intellinet 300N wireless Usb adapter, but for some reason always shows up a a Realtek device.

[DrHu]

http://tuxnetworks.blogspot.ca/2010/12/ ... i-key.html
--the link shows the edit needed

Code: Select all

blacklist rt2800usb 

--and it does use an ra link chipset, hence the conflict(s)..

You probably don't have an rf switch for the usb dongle, but for the future keep rfkill in mind..
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Doc ... ion/rfkill
http://www.digimantra.com/linux/rfkill- ... ux-laptop/

[Fred Barclay]

Thanks for your help! I've decide for now just to try LMDE and wait on Debian till I can use an ethernet hookup--hopefully it won't be long. Until then I figure that learning LMDE will be a big help.