wpa wlan on ubuntu

On Ubuntu (dapper at least) WEP is installed but not WPA (wi-fi protected access) a safer encription protocol. Wep can be cracked within minutes. To enable WPA you must:

1. Install wpasupplicant

   sudo apt-get install wpasupplicant
   

2. Generate wpa passphrase

   sudo wpa_passphrase ssid [passprase]
   

3. Add network info to /etc/supplicant.conf

   network={
   ssid="ssid"
   scan_ssid=1 # only needed if your access point uses a hidden ssid
   proto=WPA
   key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
   psk=123456a123456e34d67daef00eb5fab3ae228716e1e123456c004bc61dccc98c
   }
   

4. Finally update network file /etc/network/interfaces

   • Before

     auto eth1
     iface eth1 inet dhcp
     

   • After

     auto eth1
     iface eth1 inet dhcp
     wireless-essid MyWireless
     pre-up wpa_supplicant -Bw -Dwext -ieth1 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
     post-down killall -q wpa_supplicant
     

Links

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WPAHowTo https://www.sirlab.de/linux/debian_dell_d610.html#wlan