802.11b/g PCMCIA Card for Linux??

[kmfdmk]

I want an 802.11G PCMCIA adapter to run under linux (and windows) so do wireless network auditing etc. I see the Orinoco Gold's but they're pricey...


I think I'm gonna get this one:

Ebay Orinoco Gold b/g (http://www.justsnipe.com/auctions/redir.asp?auction=8818067805)

Any suggestions or reasons *not* to?

Additionally any suggestions on Linux platforms for network auditing/security & penetration testing?

I've got Knoppix STD, Back/Track (formerly whoppix/whax). I'm looking to at least run Ubuntu Installed on my laptop, but.... I'll probably run Back/Track or one of the others from cd as well.

I'm just so new to linux it's well.... daunting to find which cards are supported under which platform. From what I gather it's not necessarily the card, it's the chipset to look at correct?

TIA for any guidance.

[low_s10_21]

yeah linux and wireless are a b*tch. first im going to tell you, ive had a lot of problems with wireless cards and packet sniffing...which im assuming is what your main objective is....what ever distro you are planning on running *i personally run a debian based distro* you can probably find out what cards are supported and arent supported. i know a while ago i happened to stumble accross a list of supported wifi cards. some google searching should tell you exactly what you want to know. if you are totally new to linux....give MEPIS linux (ubuntu is pretty newbie friendly too) a try. it's very point and click, simple to use, debian based (there are a lot of packages available), and seems pretty hardware friendly. as for the card you are wanting to purchase im not sure. you may want to ask on the ubuntu forums, they can probably tell you what chipsets and cards are supported. have a good one

[RallyEX]

The Orinoco cards are both good cards and extremely compatible. Orinoco cards are often the choice of people using Windows, Mac or Linux. When doing wireless exploration using KisMAC, Kismet or equivalent software the Orinoco is one of the supported standard cards.

I have used an Orinoco Gold card on my Powerbook, and it has good range as well as the standard orinoco external antenna port which can come in really handy. I'd make sure that card has the external antenna port.

As for using linux.. I've never used MEPIS or ubuntu. A good friend got me hooked on Debian early in my linux learning days and it seemed a lot easier than anything else and had a ton of support and packages, so I stuck with it. It's been a while since I've had a full on linux box here at the house, but when I do it will probably be a debian based distribution.

[low_s10_21]

yeah i agree...debian is the way to go. im pretty sure ubuntu is debian based soo you should still be ok as far as using the packages. but anyway...enjoy the power of the penguin