# Using wpa\_supplicant on Debian/Ubuntu

DevFeed: [Using wpa\_supplicant on Debian/Ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/using-wpa-supplicant-on-debian-ubuntu-21887.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.nelhage.com/2008/08/using-wpa_supplicant-on-debianubuntu/>)

Author: Nelson Elhage

Published: 2008-08-22T14:06:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Nelson Elhage](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/nelson-elhage.md>)

Topics: [Debian](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/debian.md>), [Ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ubuntu.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [Encryption](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/encryption.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [DHCP](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/dhcp.md>), [Command-line interface](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cli.md>)

Tags: [command-line](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/command-line.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [debian](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debian.md>), [dhcp](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/dhcp.md>), [encryption](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/encryption.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [networks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networks.md>), [password](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/password.md>), [ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu.md>), [wifi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/wifi.md>), [wireless](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/wireless.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial documents using wpa_supplicant to manage wireless connections on Debian and Ubuntu. It explains the author's configuration approach for connecting to multiple networks, including open, WEP, and WPA networks, while using DHCP for network addressing.

## Source excerpt

I've been using wpa_supplicant to manage wifi on my Ubuntu laptop for a while, and have found that it's pretty close to what I want for managing wireless -- closer than anything else I've found, at least. I figured I should document my setup and experiences. Some Background You probably all know just how much wireless on Linux can be a pain to get working right. Getting drivers and so forth working is usually fine these days, especially if you're using Ubuntu, but managing connecting to multiple networks and dealing with WPA and WEP is a serious pain in the ass.