Xiwtool

Xiwtool is a small, open source and completely free software project that has been designed from the ground up to help Linux users easily and quickly connect their laptops to a nearby Wireless Access Point (also known as Wi-Fi network).

A Wi-Fi discovery and configuration utility

Xiwtool is a Wi-Fi discovery and configuration utility that makes use of the built-in Linux wireless driver of your GNU/Linux operating system and uses the Xlib library to display its dialogs and controls.

Fully compatible with all Linux distributions

In addition, Xiwtoolo is fully compatible with all Linux-based systems, as well as with all the built-in wireless cards that are already working on your Linux distribution. With Xiwtool you will be able to scan for Wi-Fi networks, view statistics for nearby Wireless Access Points, and connect to both authenticated or open Wi-Fi networks.

Supported operating systems and requirements

The application is virtually supported on any GNU/Linux operating system where the GNU GCC compiler, X Window System libraries and development headers,  ifup and ifdown network package and wpa_supplicant tool are installed. Your computer must have a working wireless network card.

How to install Xiwtool

To install the Xiwtool application on your GNU/Linux distribution, you will have to download the source archive, extract it in your home directory, open a terminal emulator, navigate to the location of the extracted folder, run the “./configure” command to configure the code (see the next section for details), execute the “make” command to compile the code, and

Run Xiwtool as root

During the initial configuration, you will be asked if you want to configure Xiwtool to run as root via sudo. This way, only the system administrator will be able to connect wireless networks. It supports public Wi-Fi hotspots, such as those in libraries and coffee shops.

What is new in this release:

• This version of xiwtool adds the ability to display multiple MAC addresses for each Access Point and authentication entry.
• It also has the ability to check lease expiration on connected APs and provides a separate dialog to disconnect from networks.
• It contains many small user interface additions and ease-of-use improvements.

What is new in version 0.15:

• This version of xiwtool adds the ability to display multiple MAC addresses for each Access Point and authentication entry.
• It also has the ability to check lease expiration on connected APs and provides a separate dialog to disconnect from networks.
• It contains many small user interface additions and ease-of-use improvements.

What is new in version 0.14:

• This version of xiwtool adds the ability to display multiple MAC addresses for each Access Point and authentication entry.
• It also has the ability to check lease expiration on connected APs and provides a separate dialog to disconnect from networks.
• It contains many small user interface additions and ease-of-use improvements.

What is new in version 0.13:

• This version of xiwtool adds the ability to display multiple MAC addresses for each Access Point and authentication entry.
• It also has the ability to check lease expiration on connected APs and provides a separate dialog to disconnect from networks.
• It contains many small user interface additions and ease-of-use improvements.

What is new in version 0.09:

• This version handles network beacon frame overruns more thoroughly, which provides more reliable scanning in crowded environments.
• Release 0.09 also handles differences between open and authenticated network frames more efficiently, and reduces scanning overhead.

What is new in version 0.08:

• Release 0.08 adds the ability to scan and manage automatic connections to public network WAPs, including managing connections made by other network programs like NetworkManager.
• This release also adds an installation procedure which can configure the program to give any user wireless network administration privileges, for use on Linux systems which don't use a root account.
• The program also has internal improvements which provide more reliable scanning and connections in crowded network environments

What is new in version 0.06:

• This version adds more informative error reporting for wireless driver errors, and provides more flexible and reliable configuration of user privileges when installing the program on various Linux distributions.