Difference between revisions of "Ipw3945"

Latest revision as of 17:27, 12 July 2010

ATTENTION!

This project has been deprecated by Intel in favor of the newer open-source Iwlwifi driver. The information below is old and should no longer be relied upon.

The most recent revision of the Intel Centrino platform utilizes a new generation of wireless networking device connected to the system via PCI-E, and not PCI (like the ipw2200-line used to do). Therefore, a new driver must be used. As of February 26, 2008, the project's code (Stable Release 1.2.0) depends on a binary-only, proprietary user-space-daemon communicating with the driver via sysfs. It is not possible to operate this device with Free Software exclusively at the moment. The license-terms the daemon is released under prohibit reverse-engineering of the communication-protocol; this will hopefully not hold developers outside the US, where clauses like this one are not enforceable, from re-implementing a free variant of some sort.

External Discussion

This issue already sparked discussions on the Linux Kernel Mailing List.

There is also a very revealing interview with the author of the OpenBSD driver for the 3945, in which it comes out that Intel has lied (at least by omission) about the purpose of the "regulatory daemon".

History

The ipw2200-drivers in kernel 2.6.15 (and possibly later) do not work with this adapter. The Intel binary driver is available, but has attracted its fair share of critics from the open source community.

Comments

A Spanish summary, but easy to understand about how to install: esDebian Forum, maxim_o message (longer)

Thinkpad topic: on ThinkPads like the Z60 that have one. remember to put the wireless switch in the on state! But you will not be able to enable the Wireless LED with Fn+F5, it is not a problem.

One more comment: if you want monitor mode (e.g for use with Kismet or other network sniffers), you need to uncomment CONFIG_IPW3945_MONITOR=y line from ipw3945-1.1.0 Makefile.

Packages

Fedora
- Packages: http://www.atrpms.net/dist/fc5/ipw3945
- Helpful Thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=436357
- ATrpms yum repo rpm: http://atrpms.net/dist/common/atrpms/atrpms-67-1.at.noarch.rpm.html
- NOTE: The T60p uses the smp kernel which the ipw3945 yum install does not provide. You will need the smp kernel for your architecture found at http://www.atrpms.net/dist/fc5/ipw3945. Remove the non-smp kernel and replace it with the appropriate smp kernel. Wireless works great for me... --Herlo 18:06, 22 June 2006 (CEST)
CentOS
- Packages: ipw3945d (i386 [1] or x86_64 [2]), ipw3945-firmware.noarch, dkms-ipw3945.noarch
- NOTE: Add to /etc/modprobe.conf: alias eth1 ipw3945
Mandriva
- In Mandriva releases 2007.0-2007.1, the kernel came with the ipw3945 module, while a possibly updated driver was provided as DKMS source and binary packages; since release 2008.0 this module is provided only as separate DKMS (per-kernel) binary and source packages, and module Iwlwifi replaced it in kernel
- dkms package (dkms-ipw3945) can be found in contrib since release 2007.0
- Additional Packages: ipw3945d and ipw3945-ucode are available in the (public) 'non-free' media since Mandriva 2007.1, previously they were available either for paying users, or in (non-Mandriva) PLF repositories
Gentoo
- The net-wireless/ipw3945 package contains everything you need
Debian
- Debian Stable (lenny) check the Debian wiki for installation instructions
- Debian Unstable (Sid) only needs the package "firmware-iwlwifi", as the new iwl3945 is integrated into Kernel 2.6.24
- The ipw3945 microcode is available in the firmware-ipw3945 package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
- The ipw3945 regulatory daemon is available in the ipw3945d package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
- The ipw3945 module source is available in the ipw3945-source package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
- DEPRECATED: Unofficial packages are available from Russell Stuart, Stefan Lippers-Hollmann
OpenBSD
- Supported with the wpi driver in 4.0.
Ubuntu
- Works out of the box in Ubuntu 8.04 - 9.10, but does not work with 10.04, see bugs [3] and [4]. These issues are likely to be on all distributions with a kernel more recent than 2.6.31 (Ubuntu 2.6.31-21).
ArchLinux
- Wireless Setup for ArchLinux

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-__NOTOC__
+{{WARN|This project has been deprecated by Intel in favor of the newer open-source [[Iwlwifi]] driver. The information below is old and should no longer be relied upon.}}
-{| width="100%"
-|style="vertical-align:top" |
-<div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
-=== Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter ===
-This is a Mini-PCI Express WiFi Adapter
-=== Features ===
+The most recent revision of the Intel [[Centrino]] platform utilizes a new generation of wireless networking device connected to the system via '''PCI-E''', and not PCI (like the [[ipw2200]]-line used to do). Therefore, a new driver must be used.  As of February 26, 2008, the project's code ([http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/detail_desc.aspx?ProductID=2259&DwnldID=10315&agr=Y Stable Release 1.2.0]) depends on a '''binary-only, proprietary''' user-space-daemon communicating with the driver via sysfs. It is '''not possible''' to operate this device with Free Software exclusively at the moment. The license-terms the daemon is released under prohibit reverse-engineering of the communication-protocol; this will hopefully not hold developers outside the US, where clauses like this one are not enforceable, from re-implementing a free variant of some sort.
-* Chipset: Intel WM3945AG
-* IEEE Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
-* PCI ID: 8086:4227
-</div>
-|style="vertical-align:top" |
-[[image:3945abg.jpg|Mini-PCI WiFi Adapter]]
-|}
-=== IBM Partnumbers ===
-A4068
-{{NOTE| Only the IBM Parts will work, any other parts will give an 1802 error on Post because the sub-vendor PCI ID is different, see [[Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card]] for more details}}
+== External Discussion ==
+This issue already sparked [http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/2/24/266 discussions] on the [http://lkml.org/ Linux Kernel Mailing List].
-=== Also known (in IBM literature) as.... ===
+There is also a very revealing [http://kerneltrap.org/node/6650 interview] with the author of the OpenBSD driver for the 3945, in which it comes out that Intel has lied (at least by omission) about the purpose of the "regulatory daemon".
-* From [http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/8/897/ENUS106-068/ENUS106-068.PDF announcement letter 106-068], 'Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG8 wireless connection'
-=== Hardware switch ===
+== History ==
+The [[ipw2200]]-drivers in kernel 2.6.15 (and possibly later) do '''not''' work with this adapter. The [[Ipw|Intel binary driver]] is available, but has attracted its fair share of critics from the open source community.
-Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that must be in the '''on''' position for the radio to work, regardless of driver state:
+== Comments ==
+A Spanish summary, but easy to understand about how to install:
+[http://www.esdebian.org/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=18&showtopic=69543 esDebian Forum], maxim_o message (longer)
-[[Image:Wireless-switch.png|(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)]]
+Thinkpad topic: on ThinkPads like the Z60 that have one. remember to put the wireless switch in the on state! But you will not be able to enable the Wireless LED with Fn+F5, it is not a problem.
-'''If''' it is '''off''', you might encounter following Log-Message on Startup:
+One more comment: if you want monitor mode (e.g for use with Kismet or other network sniffers), you need to uncomment CONFIG_IPW3945_MONITOR=y line from ipw3945-1.1.0 Makefile.
-  ipw3945: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
-  Kill switch must be turned off for wireless networking to work.
-=== Packages ===
+== Packages ==
 *{{Fedora}}
 ** Packages: http://www.atrpms.net/dist/fc5/ipw3945
@@ Line 42: / Line 29: @@
 ** '''NOTE:''' Add to /etc/modprobe.conf: alias eth1 ipw3945
 *{{Mandriva}}
-** Mandriva's kernel comes with the ipw3945 module (since at least 2006.0 Update One)
+** In Mandriva releases 2007.0-2007.1, the kernel came with the ipw3945 module, while a possibly updated driver was provided as DKMS source and binary packages; since release 2008.0 this module is provided only as separate DKMS (per-kernel) binary and source packages, and module [[Iwlwifi]] replaced it in kernel
-** dkms package (dkms-ipw3945) can be found in contrib (currenlty cooker only, thus will probably be in 2007.0)
+** dkms package (dkms-ipw3945) can be found in contrib since release 2007.0
-** Additional Packages: ipw3945d and ipw3945-ucode, both either available in the commercial distribution (or club) or from http://plf.zarb.org/
+** Additional Packages: ipw3945d and ipw3945-ucode are available in the (public) 'non-free' media since Mandriva 2007.1, previously they were available either for paying users, or in (non-Mandriva) PLF repositories
 *{{Gentoo}}
 ** The net-wireless/ipw3945 package contains everything you need
 *{{Debian}}
+** Debian Stable (lenny) check the [http://wiki.debian.org/iwlwifi Debian wiki] for installation instructions
 ** Debian Unstable (Sid) only needs the package "firmware-iwlwifi", as the new iwl3945 is integrated into Kernel 2.6.24
 ** The ipw3945 microcode is available in the [http://packages.debian.org/testing/admin/firmware-ipw3945 firmware-ipw3945] package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
 ** The ipw3945 regulatory daemon is available in the [http://packages.debian.org/testing/net/ipw3945d ipw3945d] package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
 ** The ipw3945 module source is available in the [http://packages.debian.org/testing/net/ipw3945-source ipw3945-source] package (currently in testing and unstable (same versions)).
-** '''DEPRECIATED:''' Unofficial packages are available from [http://ace-host.stuart.id.au/russell/files/debian/sarge/ipw3945/ Russell Stuart], [http://kanotix.com/files/debian/pool/contrib/i/ Stefan Lippers-Hollmann], and [http://www.joachim-reichel.de/debian/sid/ Joachim Reichel].
+** '''DEPRECATED:''' Unofficial packages are available from [http://ace-host.stuart.id.au/russell/files/debian/sarge/ipw3945/ Russell Stuart], [http://kanotix.com/files/debian/pool/contrib/i/ Stefan Lippers-Hollmann]
 * [[OpenBSD]]
 ** Supported with the [http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=wpi wpi] driver in 4.0.
 * [[Ubuntu]]
-** Works out of the box in [[Ubuntu 7.10 on a Thinkpad T60|Ubuntu 7.10]] but requires Restricted repository.
+** Works out of the box in Ubuntu 8.04 - 9.10, but does '''not''' work with 10.04, see bugs [http://bugzilla.intellinuxwireless.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2216] and [http://bugzilla.intellinuxwireless.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2213]. These issues are likely to be on all distributions with a kernel more recent than 2.6.31 (Ubuntu 2.6.31-21).
 *[[ArchLinux]]
 ** [http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup Wireless Setup for ArchLinux]
-=== Linux driver ===
+== See also ==
-==== Older, binary driver ====
+* [[Iwl3945]]
-The most recent revision of the Intel Centrino platform utilizes a new generation of wireless networking device connected to the system via '''PCI-E''', and not PCI (like the [[ipw2200]]-line used to do). Therefore, a new driver must be used. A Sourceforge project supporting the new cards is available at [http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/]. As of February 26, 2008, the project's code ([http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/detail_desc.aspx?ProductID=2259&DwnldID=10315&agr=Y Stable Release 1.2.0]) depends on a '''binary-only, proprietary''' user-space-daemon communicating with the driver via sysfs. It is '''not possible''' to operate this device with Free Software exclusively at the moment. The license-terms the daemon is released under prohibit reverse-engineering of the communication-protocol; this will hopefully not hold developers outside the US, where clauses like this one are not enforceable, from re-implementing a free variant of some sort.
-===== External Discussion =====
-This issue already sparked discussions on the [http://lkml.org/ Linux Kernel Mailing List], accessible via [http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/2/24/266 http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/2/24/266].
-There is also a very revealing [http://kerneltrap.org/node/6650 interview] with the author of the OpenBSD driver for the 3945, in which it comes out that Intel has lied (at least by omission) about the purpose of the "regulatory daemon".
-===== History =====
-The [[ipw2200]]-drivers in kernel 2.6.15 (and possibly later) do '''not''' work with this adapter. There is the stable binary driver [http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ ipw3945] that attracted its fair share of critics from the open source community. Now however there is a "development" version of [http://intellinuxwireless.org/ iwlwifi]. As of 2.6.23, this is natively supported in the kernel. Make sure that MAC80211 and IWL3945 kernel config options are either compiled as modules or built into the kernel.
-===== Some comments =====
-ipw3945 works with [http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/] drivers.
-A Spanish summary, but easy to understand about how to install:
-[http://www.esdebian.org/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=18&showtopic=69543 esDebian Forum], maxim_o message (longer)
-Thinkpad topic: on ThinkPads like the Z60 that have one. remember to put the wireless switch in the on state! But you will not be able to enable the Wireless LED with Fn+F5, it is not a problem.
-One more comment: if you want monitor mode (e.g for use with Kismet or other network sniffers), you need to uncomment CONFIG_IPW3945_MONITOR=y line from ipw3945-1.1.0 Makefile.
-==== Newer, Open driver ====
-There is a newer project, [[Iwlwifi | Intel® Wireless WiFi Link drivers for Linux (iwlwifi)]], which initially provides support for this adapter and [[Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]. It is officially sponsored by Intel.  This driver is called "iwl" instead of "ipw". The iwl3945 driver <!-- already works to some extend but it still in early stage --> was integrated into Linux-2.6.24 and works out of the box if the firmware is provided. It is full open source without binary user space things. Just a firmware blob is needed. Full documentation and source is available on this newer driver.
-The new WLAN subsystem mac80211 appears in Linux-2.6.22. All newer WLAN-drivers will use mac80211.
-=== ThinkPads this card may be found in ===
-* {{T43}}, {{T43p}} as an external ExpressCard
-* {{R60}}
-* {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}
-* {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X60_Tablet}}, {{X61}}, {{X61s}}, {{X61_Tablet}}
-* {{Z61e}}, {{Z61m}}, {{Z61t}}, {{Z61p}}
-* [[N100|Lenovo 300]]
-[[Category:Components]]
+[[Category: Drivers]]

Difference between revisions of "Ipw3945"

Latest revision as of 17:27, 12 July 2010

Contents

External Discussion

History

Comments

Packages

See also

Navigation menu

Personal tools

Namespaces

Variants

Views

More

Search

Navigation

Tools