How to set up network interface from scratch - newbie

[Filippos Klironomos]

> I just install USB wireless device using ndiswrapper and the interface is
> wlan0.  I run iwconfig setup (ISSD, key, etc) and wlan0 already recognize my
> router MAC address.  I try to set up using network config but my device does
> not show up in the choices. 
> 

That is usually the hard part! Could you please post what the result of

iwconfig wlan0

is. And after you have set up ESSID with something like

iwconfig wlan0 essid $ESSID

could you post that as well? Then just try

ifconfig wlan0 

and see what you get. In order to use the wireless device with network
config I think you have to set up a new device while ndiswrapper is
running and then it will show up as an option. Frankly though I never
use the network config interface. I like the hands on 'iwconfig',
'ifconfig' command line...