Ipw3945

2008-03-13T15:46:45Z

Spuk: Updated Mandriva information

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.

This project has been deprecated by Intel in favor of the newer [[Iwlwifi]] driver.

== External Discussion ==
This issue already sparked [http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/2/24/266 discussions] on the [http://lkml.org/ Linux Kernel Mailing List].

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. The [[Ipw|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:
[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.

== 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)
*CentOS
** Packages: ipw3945d (i386 [http://apt.sw.be/redhat/el5/en/i386/dag/RPMS/] or x86_64 [http://apt.sw.be/redhat/el5/en/x86_64/dag/RPMS/]), 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 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].
* [[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.
*[[ArchLinux]]
** [http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_Setup Wireless Setup for ArchLinux]

== See also ==
* [[Iwl3945]]

[[Category: Drivers]]

ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Ipw3945