Ipw3945

2007-03-14T11:26:59Z

Falco: /* Packages */ typo

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=== Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter ===
This is a Mini-PCI Express WiFi Adapter

=== Features ===
* Chipset: Intel WM3945AG
* IEEE Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
* PCI ID: 8086:4227
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[[image:3945abg.jpg|Mini-PCI WiFi Adapter]]
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=== IBM Partnumbers ===
41A4068 (From [http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-62764 Wireless & networking accessories - ThinkPad T60/p])

{{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}}

=== Also known (in IBM literature) as.... ===
* 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 ===

Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that must be in the '''on''' position for the radio to work, regardless of driver state:

[[Image:Wireless-switch.png|(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)]]

=== 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... --[[User:Herlo|Herlo]] 18:06, 22 June 2006 (CEST)
*{{Mandriva}}
** Mandriva's kernel comes with the ipw3945 module (since at least 2006.0 Update One)
** dkms package (dkms-ipw3945) can be found in contrib (currenlty cooker only, thus will probably be in 2007.0)
** Additional Packages: ipw3945d and ipw3945-ucode, both either available in the commercial distribution (or club) or from http://plf.zarb.org/
*{{Gentoo}}
** The net-wireless/ipw3945 package contains everything you need
*{{Debian}}
** 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].
* [[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 edgy. Requires ''restricted'' repository.

=== Linux WiFi driver ===
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/]. However, as of today, 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".

==== Current State ====
The [[ipw2200]]-drivers in kernel 2.6.15 (and possibly later) do '''not''' work with this adapter. There is '''no mainline-kernel support''' at the moment, and without a change in the license of the required user-space-daemon, or mechanics of the code itself, '''probably''' will never be any.

==== 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.

=== ThinkPads this card may be found in ===
* {{T43}}, {{T43p}} as an external ExpressCard
* {{R60}}
* {{T60}}, {{T60p}}
* {{X60}}, {{X60s}}
* {{Z61e}}, {{Z61m}}, {{Z61t}}, {{Z61p}}
[[Category:Components]]

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