Linux/Wireless/2

This covers a second method for connecting to wifi network from the Linux command line (mainly useful for RaspberryPis).

Method 1

Method 1 uses wpa_supplicant to connect to wifi networks: Linux/Wireless

Method 2

While method 1 is purported to work, method 2 works as well. Here's method 2:

Add wpa-ssid and wpa-psk information directly to network interfaces file:

$ cat /etc/network/interfaces

...snip...

auto wlan0
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-ssid NetName
wpa-psk NetPassword

You should be able to reboot, and the wireless interface should join automatically.

Initially I had problems because I was using a passphrase with several symbols, and was surrounding the passphrase and network name in double quotes. This did not work at all, and I tried many variations on the config file. But as soon as I switched to an alphanumeric passphrase, everything worked perfectly - the wireless interface automatically connected on boot. It was magical.

So the lesson is, IF POSSIBLE, check that your device will connect to the right network automatically.