posted Nov 10, 2015, 8:33 AM by Joshua S
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updated Nov 11, 2015, 2:16 AM
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This tutorial demonstrates how to add WiFi functionality to a RaspberryPi. This will be very helpful when you want to use a Pi in a location not located directly next to the router or with an available LAN cable.
With any of the Dabbles on this site, if you have questions, suggestions, or thoughts, please feel free to send me an eMail (I'm still working to figure out how to enable comments on Google Sites -- suggestions would be appreciated)!
- RaspberryPi – The actual RaspberryPi hardware this will all be built around. In this tutorial, a Raspberry Pi 2 is used and has a memory card with the Raspbian operating system pre-installed.
- PuTTY SSH Client – PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console and network file transfer application. It supports several network protocols, including SCP, SSH, Telnet, rlogin, and raw socket connection. Other SSH tools can be used, but this tutorial will leverage PuTTY.
- WiFi Module – There are a number of USB modules compatible with the RaspberryPi. In this case, we're using the EDiMAX EW-78811Un.
Prerequisites: - Install Raspbian on a memory card for the Raspberry Pi – for a tutorial to do this, try:
- Configure Raspbian so the basic setup is complete. For a tutorial to do this, try:
- Shrink the Raspbian operating system to remove unused components thus increasing efficiency and decreasing the attack surface. For a tutorial to do this, try:
- Update Raspbian to the latest software versions. This should be periodically and prior to making any changes to the RaspberryPi. For a tutorial to do this, try:
Project: - I know I said this guide was going to be comprehensive and not skip any steps, so what better way to start this off than by skipping steps. I am not writing out instructions for the following (and illustrating from XKCD):
- Buying a MicroSD Card
- Buying a RaspberryPi
- Finding the IP Address of your Pi
- This can be done in many ways, including on your router or using an IP scanner such as (AngryIP Scanner or NMAP) -- if there are requests from the "Contact Me" form; I'll look to create a tutorial for this.
- Obtaining and installing PuTTY
- Using PuTTY (or the SSH client of your choice) enter the IP Address or DNS Name of the RaspberryPi.
- If this is the first time you connect, you will get a warning that the RaspberryPi's host key is unknown. Click "Accept" or "Connect Once" to proceed with the connection.
- Once connected, log onto the Pi using the credentials you created. If you have not defined your own credentials, you should, but these are the default credentials:
- UserID: pi
- Password: raspberry
- First things first, let's run the ifconfig command to make sure all of our drivers are set up. If you see a wlan0 section, then you know the drivers and hardware is functioning but not configured. If you do not see this section, there is a hardware or driver issue.
- If there are issues, try working through the "Problems?" section of this site.
- Many network related settings can be found in your /etc/network/interfaces configuration. Navigate to this file and open it to edit with Nano.
sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
- Note -- your wired connection is configured in the first "eth0" section. The Add (or update) the wlan0 (wireless) section with the following lines. Note -- this assumes you are running WPA2 (I haven't tried it with any others).
allow-hotplug wlan0 (remove)
- Now that the config is complete, we need to cycle the wireless network in order to connect. Use the following commands:
- Shows the network is still not set up
- Gets the wifi card ready to configure
- Brings up the wifi card and begins the process to connect
- Shows the network is set up and has an IP address assigned
- Shows the network has an IP address assigned
- Congratulations! You have now WiFi'd your Pi!
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