PeasyWiFi - a reliable WiFi connection manager
Posted: Sun 29 Jun 2014, 10:58
Update: PWF v4.3 adds a "one-time-connect" feature to access a WPA2-encrypted network without having to make a profile. There is a new OTC button on the Profile page under the list of discovered APs.
Update: PWF v4.1 makes a significant internal change. It removes dhcpcd as the DHCP client program in favour of Busybox udhcpc. Udhcpc is less intrusive and may eliminate connection problems. Thank you to Marv for his help with this.
V4.1 also modifies the PWF Config, so the PET installer deletes the current file. A new one will be created on the next run of PWF. In particular, note the new TRIES=5 setting. Increase it if you have trouble connecting to a slow DHCP server.
Update: If you regularly switch your computer between Ethernet and WiFi, or if you need both interfaces simultaneously connected, you should make PWF your primary network manager. The PET installer gives you this option. See the instructions at the end of this post for disabling the other managers. Then read here.
Update: Some new Puppies have the annoying habit of changing their WiFi interface names, like when you move a Puppy install to different hardware or if you plug in a different USB adapter. In PWF, this is not a problem - just click the I/F button to see the new name, then update your Config.
But the same thing can happen with Ethernet interfaces - eth0 may get renamed as eth1. PWF v4.2 adds a new I/F button to the Ethernet page that lists your current wired devices. Read here for more information about this issue. Also, the following update:
Update: PWF v4.4 has a new Names button in the Ethernet section. PWF can recognize three network interfaces at a time: two wired and one wireless. Their standard names are eth0, eth1 and wlan0. But there are situations where those standard names don't work. Your system may be using the new "predictable-but-cryptic" names like enp5s0. Or your WiFi connection may be a USB dongle that identifies as the Ethernet device usb0. The Names tool lets you assign these names.
After changing the names, go back to the Ethernet section and re-configure the ports. Then reconnect to the Internet.
---------------------------------
PeasyWifi is a WiFi connection manager. It is a front-end for the command line procedures discussed here and may work better for you than other Puppy networking tools. Look for it in the system tray (the green "bars" icon) and in the Network menu.
Please click the Help button. It has important information about your PeasyWiFi configuration file.
Read here for more detailed instructions.
-----------------------------
Users with old Puppies or small displays can run PWF from the desktop instead of the tray.
1. Drag /usr/share/applications/peasywifi.desktop onto the desktop.
2. Use Right-click > Edit Item to change the title.
Also, read here about an update needed by some old Puppies.
--------------------------------
PWF v2.4 can build profiles for enterprise networks like eduroam using PEAP. Read the discussion here and here.
-----------------------------
PWF v2.5 can assign a static IP address to your WiFi adapter. This may be useful if you have an unstable network or hardware that experiences dropouts. See the instructions here.
--------------------------------
PWF v3.2 has a tool for WiFi neighbourhoods where multiple cells use the same SSID name. See the discussion here.
-----------------------------------
If you have problems with irregular connections or dropouts, the simplest solution may be to run stay-connected. If that fails, try the command "iwconfig wlan0 power off". There are also reports that a rate reduction will work with "iwconfig eth1 rate 1M". If one of these works for you, make an auto-connect script in /root/Startup and add the command.
For iwlwifi adapters, see the hint here.
There is a report that setting "ap_scan=2" in your xxx.conf profile may help with some adapters.
------------------------------------
How to get rid of Frisbee or SNS
Run the command: chmod -x /etc/init.d/frisbee (or frisbee.sh)
Open the folder /etc/simple_network_setup and delete any files in it.
Open the file /usr/local/bin/defaultconnect. Change it to "exec peasywifi". Some managers will try to change it back!
Reboot.
-------------------------------------
Update: PWF v4.1 makes a significant internal change. It removes dhcpcd as the DHCP client program in favour of Busybox udhcpc. Udhcpc is less intrusive and may eliminate connection problems. Thank you to Marv for his help with this.
V4.1 also modifies the PWF Config, so the PET installer deletes the current file. A new one will be created on the next run of PWF. In particular, note the new TRIES=5 setting. Increase it if you have trouble connecting to a slow DHCP server.
Update: If you regularly switch your computer between Ethernet and WiFi, or if you need both interfaces simultaneously connected, you should make PWF your primary network manager. The PET installer gives you this option. See the instructions at the end of this post for disabling the other managers. Then read here.
Update: Some new Puppies have the annoying habit of changing their WiFi interface names, like when you move a Puppy install to different hardware or if you plug in a different USB adapter. In PWF, this is not a problem - just click the I/F button to see the new name, then update your Config.
But the same thing can happen with Ethernet interfaces - eth0 may get renamed as eth1. PWF v4.2 adds a new I/F button to the Ethernet page that lists your current wired devices. Read here for more information about this issue. Also, the following update:
Update: PWF v4.4 has a new Names button in the Ethernet section. PWF can recognize three network interfaces at a time: two wired and one wireless. Their standard names are eth0, eth1 and wlan0. But there are situations where those standard names don't work. Your system may be using the new "predictable-but-cryptic" names like enp5s0. Or your WiFi connection may be a USB dongle that identifies as the Ethernet device usb0. The Names tool lets you assign these names.
After changing the names, go back to the Ethernet section and re-configure the ports. Then reconnect to the Internet.
---------------------------------
PeasyWifi is a WiFi connection manager. It is a front-end for the command line procedures discussed here and may work better for you than other Puppy networking tools. Look for it in the system tray (the green "bars" icon) and in the Network menu.
Please click the Help button. It has important information about your PeasyWiFi configuration file.
Read here for more detailed instructions.
-----------------------------
Users with old Puppies or small displays can run PWF from the desktop instead of the tray.
1. Drag /usr/share/applications/peasywifi.desktop onto the desktop.
2. Use Right-click > Edit Item to change the title.
Also, read here about an update needed by some old Puppies.
--------------------------------
PWF v2.4 can build profiles for enterprise networks like eduroam using PEAP. Read the discussion here and here.
-----------------------------
PWF v2.5 can assign a static IP address to your WiFi adapter. This may be useful if you have an unstable network or hardware that experiences dropouts. See the instructions here.
--------------------------------
PWF v3.2 has a tool for WiFi neighbourhoods where multiple cells use the same SSID name. See the discussion here.
-----------------------------------
If you have problems with irregular connections or dropouts, the simplest solution may be to run stay-connected. If that fails, try the command "iwconfig wlan0 power off". There are also reports that a rate reduction will work with "iwconfig eth1 rate 1M". If one of these works for you, make an auto-connect script in /root/Startup and add the command.
For iwlwifi adapters, see the hint here.
There is a report that setting "ap_scan=2" in your xxx.conf profile may help with some adapters.
------------------------------------
How to get rid of Frisbee or SNS
Run the command: chmod -x /etc/init.d/frisbee (or frisbee.sh)
Open the folder /etc/simple_network_setup and delete any files in it.
Open the file /usr/local/bin/defaultconnect. Change it to "exec peasywifi". Some managers will try to change it back!
Reboot.
-------------------------------------