Difference between revisions of "Ipw3945"

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(There is not a bidirectional correlation between driver and card. Separated this article into 2 articles about each.)
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__NOTOC__
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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.
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{| width="100%"
 
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|style="vertical-align:top" |
 
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<div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
 
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=== Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter ===
 
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This is a Mini-PCI Express WiFi Adapter
 
  
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=== Features ===
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== External Discussion ==
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* Chipset: Intel WM3945AG
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This issue already sparked [http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/2/24/266 discussions] on the [http://lkml.org/ Linux Kernel Mailing List].
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* IEEE Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
 
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* PCI ID: 8086:4227
 
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</div>
 
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|style="vertical-align:top" |
 
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[[image:3945abg.jpg|Mini-PCI WiFi Adapter]]
 
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|}
 
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=== IBM Partnumbers ===
 
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41A4068
 
  
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{{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}}
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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".
  
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=== Also known (in IBM literature) as.... ===
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== History ==
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* 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'
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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.
  
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=== Hardware switch ===
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== Comments ==
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ipw3945 works with [http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/] drivers.
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A Spanish summary, but easy to understand about how to install:
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[http://www.esdebian.org/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=18&showtopic=69543 esDebian Forum], maxim_o message (longer)
  
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Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that must be in the '''on''' position for the radio to work, regardless of driver state:
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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.
  
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[[Image:Wireless-switch.png|(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)]]
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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.
  
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'''If''' it is '''off''', you might encounter following Log-Message on Startup:
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== Packages ==
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  ipw3945: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
 
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  Kill switch must be turned off for wireless networking to work.
 
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=== Packages ===
 
 
*{{Fedora}}  
 
*{{Fedora}}  
 
** Packages: http://www.atrpms.net/dist/fc5/ipw3945
 
** Packages: http://www.atrpms.net/dist/fc5/ipw3945
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** [http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup Wireless Setup for ArchLinux]
 
** [http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup Wireless Setup for ArchLinux]
  
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=== Linux driver ===
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== ThinkPads this card may be found in ==
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==== Older, binary driver ====
 
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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.
 
−
 
 
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===== External Discussion =====
 
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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].
 
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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".
 
−
 
 
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===== 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.
 
−
 
 
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===== Some comments =====
 
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ipw3945 works with [http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/] drivers.
 
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A Spanish summary, but easy to understand about how to install:
 
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[http://www.esdebian.org/forum/viewtopic.php?forum=18&showtopic=69543 esDebian Forum], maxim_o message (longer)
 
−
 
 
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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.
 
−
 
 
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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.
 
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==== Newer, Open driver ====
 
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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.
 
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The new WLAN subsystem mac80211 appears in Linux-2.6.22. All newer WLAN-drivers will use mac80211.
 
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=== ThinkPads this card may be found in ===
 
 
* {{T43}}, {{T43p}} as an external ExpressCard
 
* {{T43}}, {{T43p}} as an external ExpressCard
 
* {{R60}}
 
* {{R60}}

Revision as of 05:58, 27 February 2008

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/. 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. There is the stable binary driver ipw3945 that attracted its fair share of critics from the open source community. Now however there is a "development" version of 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.

Comments

ipw3945 works with http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/ drivers. 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

ThinkPads this card may be found in

See also

  • Iwlwifi provides a newer, Open driver
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