Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2021 November 3

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November 3

Connect Fedora Linux desktop workstation to Wi-Fi via Ethernet cable?

I have a HP Z420 desktop workstation running Fedora 32 Linux. The apartment I live in does not have an Ethernet cable Internet connection anywhere near it but there is a Wi-Fi network. The only problem is, I can't get the Wi-Fi connection to work with Fedora, and asking on the net (via my workplace, where I have a working connection) did not help. I got no answers.

The workstation's Internet connection worked all OK at my previous apartment where I could connect it via an Ethernet cable. So a solution would be to somehow connect it to the Wi-Fi network via the cable. Are there devices that can pick up an existing Wi-Fi network and connect computers to it via an Ethernet cable? JIP | Talk 02:20, 3 November 2021 (UTC)

Does your workstation have a (build-in) Wifi-antenna? Most desktop computers don't. There are many USB-Wifi dongles available, as well as PCI-E cards that fit in the mainboard. Alternatively, an Access-point with a RJ45 connection will allow you to connect to it, e.g. a TPLINK TLWA860RE (not an advertisement, I just happen to have one on my desk right now that we replaced recently) Rmvandijk (talk) 08:17, 3 November 2021 (UTC)

The problem is that many USB WIFI adapters are limited to only Windows due to the drivers. So, you need a WIFI that has good Linux support. Panda devices mostly have good Linux support and work well with Linux. If you cannot use USB and need a Cat5 connector, you can get an ehternet to WIFI adapter. That doesn't require any drivers. In Fedora, you are using hard-wired ethernet. The other end is the adapter. To configure the adapter, you'll have instructions that give you a specific IP address to open that gets you to the device's administration setup. Then, in Fedora, you have a standard hard-wired connection, but you are actually using WIFI. There are MANY ethernet to WIFI adapters available. In a quick search of "ethernet to wifi adapter", I found models from BrosTrend, IOGear, NetGear, and TP-Link. There is a benefit of this setup. You can have your computer in one location and use the cable to place the WIFI antenna in a completely different location. So, your computer is not limited by a WIFI hot zone. 97.82.165.112 (talk) 16:09, 3 November 2021 (UTC)

This may be a bit late, but I personally used a WiFI extender with an Ethernet port to plug into my desktop, as Rmvandik mentioned.. There are also an abundance of PCIe cards, which is generally a far better solution than some jank AP sitting on your desk. KeK, signing off (talk) 15:03, 5 November 2021 (UTC)

Rmvandijk, APERTURE EMPLOYEE 427 How will the Wi-Fi extender know which Wi-Fi network it should extend and how to authenticate to it? Does it have some sort of brower-based interface used via the Ethernet cable, or something? JIP | Talk 00:13, 7 November 2021 (UTC)

It usually has a WiFi access point on it before setup. Connect with a device that does have wifi, complete setup, then it'll act as a proper extender. This process can vary, however, so check the manual. KeK, signing off (talk) 15:54, 7 November 2021 (UTC)

As APERTURE EMPLOYEE 427 mentions, you can connect it to a machine that does have Wifi, but I think you can also access it if you connect to it via the Ethernet-cable. If you have it plugged in, use a browser and go to the AP's IP-address (either from the manual, the machine itself or find it on internet) and then you'll get a login. That login is either a default (like admin/admin) which you can find on the internet, or listed in the manual. There you should be able to configure the WIFI to connect to an existing one. Iff supported by Linux, I think a PCiE card will give you better results.Rmvandijk (talk) 08:28, 8 November 2021 (UTC)