Slashdot Log In
Atheros Releases Free Linux Driver For Its 802.11n Devices
Posted by
timothy
on Sat Jul 26, 2008 05:29 PM
from the a-pleasant-present dept.
from the a-pleasant-present dept.
mcgrof writes "Atheros has released a shiny new Atheros driver for all their 11n devices aimed for inclusion in the Linux kernel. This new driver has no proprietary HAL and is licensed under the ISC license, so the BSD community should be able to benefit as well. Note: no firmware required!"
Related Stories
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
if only there were a similar driver (Score:4, Informative)
There is one, silly... (Score:3, Informative)
And it's been in the kernel for at least one major release. ath5k is the name
I have a few of these devices and they work pretty well with the driver. They don't do access point mode yet, but that will come soon.
Broadcomm next?? (Score:5, Insightful)
Now... if we can just get Broadcomm to do the same.....
Re:Broadcomm next?? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Broadcomm next?? (Score:4, Interesting)
BCM supports linux for other chipsets directly, go look on their website they provide GPL'd drivers for a bunch of stuff, just not the BCM94311 cores for some reason, probably licensing.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Broadcomm next?? (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I haven't looked at the ath9k driver code, but based on the web pages, it appears that what's different is that they finally decided that publishing the driver source code doesn't violate FCC regulat
Have you ever dealt with Broadcom? (Score:2, Interesting)
I have. Screw Broadcom. Anyone who buys their products deserves the hell they are helping to support.
Broadcom is EXTREMELY anal retentive about anything that looks remotely proprietary. On their CPU's, they dropped Linux support for the Sibyte stuff that they bought up as soon as they could. I know some guys who are stuck having to support development efforts with such products, and my heart goes out to them.
The one good bit of news is that they do have a suppposedly serious effort on the Wifi side. The bad
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Hey, Linux would have Broadcom support if only they had not been such geeks.
All that they needed was a Linux grotto, full of Coke, E, and chicks... They would have had the full support of the president of the company!
But no, the Linux dudes are all concerned about freedom (and not the freedom to slip drugs into the food and drinks of business associates)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
That's why I bought the Dell Inspiron 1420n. I KNEW that everything would work under Linux.
When I finally upgrade my home's network, you can bet I'll be going with Atheros.
Re:As a new Linux desktop user (Score:4, Informative)
After struggling with Zydas ZD1211, various Broadcrap cards and two TI ACX cards, I tried using atheros. After that, I ordered 10 minipci cards to use in my various devices (NAS, Laptop, routers etc.). And by the look of things, I'm never going back ;)
Parent
Re:As a new Linux desktop user (Score:5, Informative)
I just get Intel laptops with Centrino...works perfectly.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Unfortunately the Centrino driver (at least the one included with Backtrack 3) does not support injection, so isn't much good for wardriving.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Please don't take this as an insult, I actually congratulate you for don't giving up and learning about your OS while solving an actual issue.
Anyway, my point is: If you know Unix, and have at least some specific knowledge of GNU/Linux, the atheros cards work out of the box. There are two drivers, one proprietary, the other free, both of them work like a charm if you are connecting as a client (I Haven't tried them in other modes since I have an ath chipset in the built-in wlan of my Toshiba laptop, which b
Seriously? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Not having read the article (this is Slashdot, of course) I don't know exactly what chipset(s) this is for, but this [atheros.com] might help...
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Seriously? (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.ubnt.com/products/sr71a.php [ubnt.com]
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed this is great news. Nonetheless, there are multiple companies pushing products which are blessed with this chip and, although the support is obviously there, some of those companies don't even bother to cite linux as a supported OS. Therefore it would be nice if those who are in the market for one of these babies would spend their cash on the company that at least acknowledges that linux exist.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I fundamentally believe proprietary software is both unfair and stupid.
Fortunately for people who write code and don't want to work for a megacorp, others who respect other people's rights have an edge over you. :)
Hurray, that makes choosing the next laptop easier (Score:5, Informative)
No more weighing the lesser of two evils, I can cross off all the laptops with Broadcom chips and narrow the playing field.
I wasted untold hours with the b43 driver and routinely get bitten when I upgrade kernels and madwifi falls apart and I can't load the new source because it fell apart. Wireless hardware that just works will be a relief.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Sabayon Linux works out of the box with all the hardware on my laptop, INCLUDING a broadcom 4318 wireless adapter. It's the distro, kids, because ubuntu couldn't even bother to use my wireless until I fiddled around for an hour, and even then it wouldn't work for more than 20-30 seconds. Sabayon had it working during the install, so I could wirelessly surf the web from the liveDVD, and it still works flawlessly. Hell, it works better than it did on Windows!
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Not entirely sure what you mean.
If you Google the at risk bits in your computer (wifi, webcam) then you'll very easily be able to tell if it works or not.
The number of things that dont work is very small these days.
Its improving all the time.
Cool (Score:5, Interesting)
Does anybody know the HW capabilities of the Atheros chipset?
Thinking of Software Radio...
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
So was I, the previous chips and drivers used that HAL to prevent out of spec tuning of the software radio i believe, so are they doing this in hardware now?
No firmware, no HAL, open driver. Either they can't be tuned out of spec by software, or they are hard locked at manufacture time.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
As a part 97 FCC license holder, I am also interested.
The not so long article - fyi (Score:5, Informative)
ath9k - Atheros unveils free Linux driver for its 802.11n devices Â
We are pleased to announce Atheros has released ath9k to the community. This driver is aimed at inclusion to the Linux kernel and supports all Atheros IEEE 802.11n devices. This represents a major shift in terms of support from Atheros with respect to Linux. The ath9k driver comes shortly after Atheros hired two key Linux wireless developers -- Luis Rodriguez and Jouni Malinen.
We have been informed Atheros does plan to add access point support to ath9k and to work with the community to enhance and complete access point support in the Linux kernel. It is understood there is plenty of work required on the wireless stack to complete full access point support. Jouni Malinen will help drive this process within the community while Luis helps enhance regulatory compliance in the Linux kernel.
We are eager to work with Atheros with ath9k and applaud their efforts for properly supporting Linux.
The ath9k driver includes supports for the following chipsets:
* AR5418+AR5133
* AR5416+AR5133
* AR5416+AR2133
* AR9160
* AR9280
* AR9281
B and G (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
No relation. 802.11n is completely different hardware than a/b/g.
Re:B and G (Score:5, Informative)
Yes but, due to the physical differences (MIMO, etc) the software->hardware interface is likely significantly different.
The specifications for 802.11n are mostly compatible with a/b/g, but what you are saying is, to use a car analogy, putting a truck transmission into a coup. Sure, they do the same thing, but they are still completely different 'under the hood'.
Another example: a CD and DVD do the same thing, a DVD is backwards compatible, and a DVD does more. But a DVD is not a CD, and you cannot interface with the DVD the same way as you do a CD. (this is usually abstracted away from you, by the chips in the actual drive, but it is still true)
Parent
whatcouldpossiblygowrong? (Score:2, Interesting)
No, really, this is GREAT news all around and I can't think of a catch. Kudos Atheros!
Hired ath5k developer (Score:5, Interesting)
Atheros hired Luis R. Rodriguez [lwn.net], the developer of the Linux kernel Atheros driver, back in April with the intention of doing just this. Congratulations!
Great news! Vote with you wallet. (Score:5, Insightful)
I applaud Atheros for taking this step, and I will be buying Atheros hardware in the future due to this move.
May other companies learn from this initiative.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Now if I can just find a list of OTC parts and retailers using the Atheros chips so I can make sure to purchase only them in the future.
I build and upgrade a lot of systems. Most of which get made into Linux machines at one point in their life. I'm in the process of taking 2 old win98 workstations and turning them into internet kiosks for patrons to use and we already have wifi on site for them. This potentially means I can put more in without having to pull cable through the walls. and just in time too.
I second that! Here's the choices (Score:3, Informative)
Belkin
* N1 Wireless Notebook Card
D-Link
* DWA-642 RangeBooster N Notebook Adapter
* DWA-645 RangeBooster N650 Notebook Adapter
* DWA-542 RangeBooster N Desktop Adapter
* DWA-547 RangeBooster N650 Desktop Adapter
* DWA-652 XtremeN Notebook Adapter
* DWA-552 XtremeN Desktop Adapter
* DWA-643 Xtreme N ExpressCard Notebook Adapter
* DWA-556 Xtreme N PCIe Desktop Adapter
Linksys
* WPC300Nv2
* WMP300Nv2
* WPC100N
* WMP110N
NEC
* WL300NC
Netgear
* WNHDE111 Video Bridge
* WN711, Wireless-N eXpresscard adapter
Sweet!!!! (Score:2)
Does this mean (Score:2)
...we'll be seeing 'Works on Linux' stickers featuring Tux on the wireless card boxes?
Well, it better, because I don't feel like rushing out and spray painting all those boxes myself right now. It's Saturday, and I got better things to do than make that one free phone call...
My wonderful HP Pavilion laptop (Score:5, Interesting)
I have a dv5030us of the dv5000 series. But this applies to nearly all Pavilion models. If you take out the Broadcom card and replace it with something that is not Broadcom (or does not have its ID in the BIOS), then the BIOS will boot and say "Unsupported hardware detected. Remove and reboot." I wanted official support for wireless. I bought an Atheros card off eBay, installed it, got exactly what everyone was saying it would do. Then, I found this web site: http://www.richud.com/HP-Pavilion-104-Bios-Fix/ [richud.com] . And, I had to hex edit my BIOS and reflash as well. Quite something, HP, doing a hardware lock-in with a vendor who refuses to release specs on their hardware.
Access Point? (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyone know of a good WAP that uses the Atheros chipset? I have a Linksys WRT600N (wifi-N, GbE and USB) and while their European models use Atheros, the U.S. models use Broadcom chipsets.
Come to think of it, anyone interested in doing a little gray market exporting?
Woot! (Score:3, Interesting)
Awesome, spectacular and I hope everyone buys atheros based chipsets.
Hopefully with a concerted effort we can provide atheros enough cash to buy broadcom, fire its board, and can its management.
Then, have a massive open source party wuv fest with opening the broadcom chipsets and publishing the specifications.
I am pleased that at least, some manufacturers are beginning to see, that open hardware yields better drivers and better experience for the consumer.
I hope it continues.
VIA, Atheros look like they just "get it".
Awesome.
-Hackus
madwifi? (Score:2)
What's wrong with madwifi?
Re:madwifi? (Score:4, Informative)
The driver itself is open source but depends on the proprietary Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that is available in binary form only.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
From the MadWifi homepage: [madwifi.org]
The driver itself is open source but depends on the proprietary Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that is available in binary form only.
That's for the madwifi driver.
...yes, they're all written by the madwifi group...
We're talking about the ath9k driver.
There's also ath5k, that does not uses HAL.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Buy hardware, and if it doesn't contain the right chipset send it back to the manufacturer with the reason for the return ("Unlabeled change in chipset, product is no longer compatible").
I've seen some hardware have the chipset printed on the box. My PCMCIA card from Netgear incidentally had the Atheros logo on the box.