Figure 2-2. Connecting to a wireless network.
Getting online
Depending on the hardware used, there are a variety of ways of getting online and/or connecting to a network. I deal with each separately below.
Wireless
Network connections are handled by Ubuntu’s NetworkManager applet that can be found at the top right of the desktop. Its icon is two monitors inset against each other. Clicking it will show a list of nearby wireless networks, as shown in Figure 2-2. Connecting to a network is simply a matter of selecting it and typing the wireless password when prompted. When done, click CONNECT.
TIP Ensure the right kind of wireless protection (i.e. WEP/WPA) has been detected by Ubuntu. Ubuntu got this wrong in one of my tests. You can select by clicking the Wireless Security dropdown.
To connect to a wireless network that doesn’t broadcast its name (ESSID), click the NetworkManager icon and select Connect to Hidden Wireless Network from the menu (or Connect to Other Wireless Network under Ubuntu 8.04). Type the ESSID into the Network Name text field, and select the correct type of wireless protection from the Wireless Security dropdown list, filling-in the appropriate key/ passphrase details beneath this. Click the CONNECT button when done.
The Ubuntu 8.10 release includes much better wireless hardware support than earlier releases. If you find your wireless hardware isn’t supported by Ubuntu, and you’re using Ubuntu 8.04 or earlier, consider upgrading. You’ll know if the wireless card isn’t supported because no
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