problem with alpha and bt 5 in virtualbox

[skrite]

Hey all,

i have bt 5 running as a guest on my macbook. I have ordered the alpha usb wireless adapter from the shop and it works with my linux box at home, or an install of bt 5 on a desktop machine.

I have the extensions for virtualbox enabled and when i plug the usb adapter in, and do lsusb from the terminal in Backtrack, it shows up as Atheros ar9271 802.11.. so that seems cool.

However, the light never lights up on the alpha and it does not show up under ifconfig. Even after i restart network services, it fails to show up.

What might i be doing wrong? thanks

[Mr-Protocol]

Is it the AWUS036NHA?

There has been an issue with USB Passthrough with that chipset for some reason. It should work natively in BT5.

What you can do to troubleshoot:

• Boot VM and wait for it to be fully loaded
• Open terminal, dmesg
• Plug in WUS036NHA and run dmesg in another terminal or the same one.
• Check for errors or any info that would indicate what the problem is.

[skrite]

It is the AWUS036NHA, which i am guessing is about the same.

here is the output from dmesg after i plugged the alpha in....

[  151.036326] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using ehci_hcd
[  151.371697] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  151.379787] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
[  151.379790] cfg80211:   (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
[  151.379793] cfg80211:   (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379795] cfg80211:   (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379797] cfg80211:   (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379799] cfg80211:   (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379800] cfg80211:   (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.415831] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Firmware htc_9271.fw requested
[  151.416251] usbcore: registered new interface driver ath9k_htc
[  151.861877] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Transferred FW: htc_9271.fw, size: 51272
[  152.860060] ath9k_htc 1-1:1.0: ath9k_htc: Target is unresponsive
[  152.860073] Failed to initialize the device
[  152.862921] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: USB layer deinitialized

so my question now is, can i still use this adapter?

if so, how? and if not, what adapter would be recommended for me to buy to do all the cool wizardry i see here in the forums, the wikis, etc.. for proper pen testing?

i have had the same issues in backbox linux, which is actually easier to run in a VM hosted on mac, and i like the feel of it better. But still, same issues.

Thanks for your help.

[Mr-Protocol]

It is the AWUS036NHA, which i am guessing is about the same.

here is the output from dmesg after i plugged the alpha in....

[  151.036326] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using ehci_hcd
[  151.371697] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  151.379787] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
[  151.379790] cfg80211:   (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
[  151.379793] cfg80211:   (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379795] cfg80211:   (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379797] cfg80211:   (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379799] cfg80211:   (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.379800] cfg80211:   (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[  151.415831] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Firmware htc_9271.fw requested
[  151.416251] usbcore: registered new interface driver ath9k_htc
[  151.861877] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: Transferred FW: htc_9271.fw, size: 51272
[  152.860060] ath9k_htc 1-1:1.0: ath9k_htc: Target is unresponsive
[  152.860073] Failed to initialize the device
[  152.862921] usb 1-1: ath9k_htc: USB layer deinitialized

so my question now is, can i still use this adapter?

if so, how? and if not, what adapter would be recommended for me to buy to do all the cool wizardry i see here in the forums, the wikis, etc.. for proper pen testing?

i have had the same issues in backbox linux, which is actually easier to run in a VM hosted on mac, and i like the feel of it better. But still, same issues.

Thanks for your help.

I had typo'd the model in my post, but yes the AWUS036NHA.

The only option is to run Backtrack (or prefered linux) natively via hard disk install, USB Boot, DVD Boot and using the adapter. Until they make an update to support it, that seems like the only option.

The other adapter you speak of is the AWUS036H which is the Realtek 8187L chipset that only supports B/G networks.

Not sure why the HakShop doesn't have them up anymore, but here is a link if you are in the USA where you can pick one up.

http://www.data-alliance.net/servlet/-strse-73/Alfa-AWUS036H-1000mW-USB/Detail

[skrite]

Wait, let me make sure i have you right. If i use the wifi adapter that i am using now, i cannot do it in a virtual machine, but i can if i buy the one you linked to? If so, i will order it right away.

Or will i need to install to hard drive if i want to use either? i have no problem with dual booting my macbook to run a linux client, but except for ubuntu, it is a pain in the neck to get the hardware right with the OS. It would be much easier for me, and save a lot of SSD space with a virtual machine.

Again, thanks for all your help.

[Mr-Protocol]

I personally use the one I linked in virtual machines and native on systems. My experience with the AWUS036NHA was that the USB passthrough didn't support it in VirtualBox. I also heard it was an issue in VMWare back when it was a topic.

http://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/27374-vbox-issue-with-awus036nha/?hl=%2Bawus036nha+%2Bvirtualbox

http://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/27738-awus-not-picked-up-by-bt-5/

http://forums.hak5.org/index.php?/topic/27478-alfa-awus036nha-not-found-in-bt5r3-kde-32bit/?hl=awus036nha

[skrite]

Ok, thanks very much, i ordered the alpha you linked to on Data Alliance.