I noticed that all the tutorials on here are primarily focused on getting WSU wireless to work on linux with NetworkManager, and/ or for a specific distro. This doesn't help me much, as I am running Fedora and I need to use the wicd network manager. Wicd is much more versatile than NetworkManager and it supports the ath5k driver that I need to use for my atheros based wireless card.

So I'll walk through the steps to get WSU wireless to work with wicd. Most of the steps in this tutorial will not apply to just Fedora, so it could easily be used with any other linux distro.

It will be assumed that NetworkManager is currently installed. If not, skip such steps. It is also assumed that wpa_supplicant is installed, if it is not, make sure to acquire it. You will also need to make sure that python, python-devel are installed as well as a method to download files, such as wget.

Step 1.

wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/wicd/wicd-stable/wicd-1.6.2.1/wicd-1.6.2.1.tar.bz2?use_mirror=softlayer
tar -xvf wicd*
cd wicd*

(These next steps could also be done by su'ing instead of using sudo)

Step 2.

python setup.py configure
sudo python setup.py install

Wicd is not installed. Assuming you have NetworkManager installed, it must now be disabled to prevent any conflicts.

Step 3.

sudo service NetworkManager stop
sudo chkconfig NetworkManager off

Now we need to start wicd.

Step 4.

sudo chkconfig wicd on

Alright, now the fun part. Wicd by default does not have a preset method that allows it to connect to a network such as WSU Wireless. But, it allows us to create templates that are used for wpa_supplicant, so in theory, wicd can connect to any network wpa_supplicant can, while using a configurable GUI, which will make our lives all much easier.

Step 5.

sudo touch /etc/wicd/encryption/templates/wsu

Now use your favorite text editor, and paste the following into the file:

Step 6.

name = WSU Wireless
author = Null
version = 1
require identity *Identity password *Password
-----
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
network={
  ssid="$_ESSID"
  scan_ssid=$_SCAN
  key_mgmt=WPA-EAP
  eap=PEAP
  pairwise=CCMP TKIP
  group=CCMP TKIP
  phase2="auth=MSCHAPV2"
  identity="$_IDENTITY"
  password="$_PASSWORD"
  priority=6
}

Now save the file. Again, use your favorite text editor, and edit /etc/wicd/encryption/templates/active and paste the following into it:

Step 7.

wpa
wpa-psk
wep-hex
wep-passphrase
wep-shared
leap
ttls
eap
peap
peap-tkip
eap-tls
wsu

Now, all that is left to do is open wicd (usually in Applications -> Internet -> Wicd Network Manager). Find the WSU Wireless network, and click the arrow to the left of it. Then click Advanced Settings, check the box that says "Use Encryption". Then from the drop down box, choose "WSU Wireless" at the bottom, then fill out your username and password, click OK, then connect!

Note: Do not use wicd while logged into X with root, it will screw things up!