-Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 802.11b Driver for Linux
-README.ipw2100
+Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2100 Driver for Linux in support of:
-October 13, 2004
+Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2100 Network Connection
+Copyright (C) 2003-2006, Intel Corporation
-Release 0.56 Current Features
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+README.ipw2100
-- IBSS and BSS modes
-- 802.11 fragmentation
+Version: git-1.1.5
+Date : January 25, 2006
+
+Index
+-----------------------------------------------
+0. IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE USING THIS DRIVER
+1. Introduction
+2. Release git-1.1.5 Current Features
+3. Command Line Parameters
+4. Sysfs Helper Files
+5. Radio Kill Switch
+6. Dynamic Firmware
+7. Power Management
+8. Support
+9. License
+
+
+0. IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE USING THIS DRIVER
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+Important Notice FOR ALL USERS OR DISTRIBUTORS!!!!
+
+Intel wireless LAN adapters are engineered, manufactured, tested, and
+quality checked to ensure that they meet all necessary local and
+governmental regulatory agency requirements for the regions that they
+are designated and/or marked to ship into. Since wireless LANs are
+generally unlicensed devices that share spectrum with radars,
+satellites, and other licensed and unlicensed devices, it is sometimes
+necessary to dynamically detect, avoid, and limit usage to avoid
+interference with these devices. In many instances Intel is required to
+provide test data to prove regional and local compliance to regional and
+governmental regulations before certification or approval to use the
+product is granted. Intel's wireless LAN's EEPROM, firmware, and
+software driver are designed to carefully control parameters that affect
+radio operation and to ensure electromagnetic compliance (EMC). These
+parameters include, without limitation, RF power, spectrum usage,
+channel scanning, and human exposure.
+
+For these reasons Intel cannot permit any manipulation by third parties
+of the software provided in binary format with the wireless WLAN
+adapters (e.g., the EEPROM and firmware). Furthermore, if you use any
+patches, utilities, or code with the Intel wireless LAN adapters that
+have been manipulated by an unauthorized party (i.e., patches,
+utilities, or code (including open source code modifications) which have
+not been validated by Intel), (i) you will be solely responsible for
+ensuring the regulatory compliance of the products, (ii) Intel will bear
+no liability, under any theory of liability for any issues associated
+with the modified products, including without limitation, claims under
+the warranty and/or issues arising from regulatory non-compliance, and
+(iii) Intel will not provide or be required to assist in providing
+support to any third parties for such modified products.
+
+Note: Many regulatory agencies consider Wireless LAN adapters to be
+modules, and accordingly, condition system-level regulatory approval
+upon receipt and review of test data documenting that the antennas and
+system configuration do not cause the EMC and radio operation to be
+non-compliant.
+
+The drivers available for download from SourceForge are provided as a
+part of a development project. Conformance to local regulatory
+requirements is the responsibility of the individual developer. As
+such, if you are interested in deploying or shipping a driver as part of
+solution intended to be used for purposes other than development, please
+obtain a tested driver from Intel Customer Support at:
+
+http://support.intel.com/support/notebook/sb/CS-006408.htm
+
+
+1. Introduction
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+This document provides a brief overview of the features supported by the
+IPW2100 driver project. The main project website, where the latest
+development version of the driver can be found, is:
+
+ http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net
+
+There you can find the not only the latest releases, but also information about
+potential fixes and patches, as well as links to the development mailing list
+for the driver project.
+
+
+2. Release git-1.1.5 Current Supported Features
+-----------------------------------------------
+- Managed (BSS) and Ad-Hoc (IBSS)
- WEP (shared key and open)
-- wireless extension support
-- 802.1x EAP via xsupplicant
+- Wireless Tools support
+- 802.1x (tested with XSupplicant 1.0.1)
+
+Enabled (but not supported) features:
- Monitor/RFMon mode
-- transmit power control
-- long/short preamble support
-- power states support (ACPI)
+- WPA/WPA2
-TODO
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
-- Fix bugs... The biggies:
- C3 corruption
- Fragmentation
+The distinction between officially supported and enabled is a reflection
+on the amount of validation and interoperability testing that has been
+performed on a given feature.
-Command Line Parameters
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+3. Command Line Parameters
+-----------------------------------------------
If the driver is built as a module, the following optional parameters are used
by entering them on the command line with the modprobe command using this
modprobe ipw2100 [<option>=<VAL1><,VAL2>...]
-For example, to set the interface name for driver, entering:
-
- modprobe ipw2100 if_name=wlan%d
+For example, to disable the radio on driver loading, enter:
-results in the ipw2100 driver defaulting to the wlan prefix, with the system
-assigning a unique number in place of %d. The default interface name is eth%d.
+ modprobe ipw2100 disable=1
The ipw2100 driver supports the following module parameters:
Name Value Example:
debug 0x0-0xffffffff debug=1024
-if_name string if_name=wlan%d
mode 0,1,2 mode=1 /* AdHoc */
channel int channel=3 /* Only valid in AdHoc or Monitor */
associate boolean associate=0 /* Do NOT auto associate */
disable boolean disable=1 /* Do not power the HW */
-Radio Kill Switch
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
-Most laptops provide the ability for the user to physically disable the radio.
-Some vendors have implemented this as a physical switch that requires no
-software to turn the radio off and on. On other laptops, however, the switch
-is controlled through a button being pressed and a software driver then making
-calls to turn the radio off and on. This is referred to as a "software based
-RF kill switch"
+4. Sysfs Helper Files
+---------------------------
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+There are several ways to control the behavior of the driver. Many of the
+general capabilities are exposed through the Wireless Tools (iwconfig). There
+are a few capabilities that are exposed through entries in the Linux Sysfs.
-To determine if you have such a switch, you can check the contents of:
- /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2100/*/rf_kill
+----- Driver Level ------
+For the driver level files, look in /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2100/
+
+ debug_level
+
+ This controls the same global as the 'debug' module parameter. For
+ information on the various debugging levels available, run the 'dvals'
+ script found in the driver source directory.
+
+ NOTE: 'debug_level' is only enabled if CONFIG_IPW2100_DEBUG is turn
+ on.
-A value of:
+----- Device Level ------
+For the device level files look in
- Radio is {en,dis}abled by RF switch
+ /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2100/{PCI-ID}/
-means that you have an RF switch and the radio is in the state
-described.
+For example:
+ /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2100/0000:02:01.0
-A value of:
+For the device level files, see /sys/bus/pci/drivers/ipw2100:
- Your hardware does not have an RF switch
+ rf_kill
+ read -
+ 0 = RF kill not enabled (radio on)
+ 1 = SW based RF kill active (radio off)
+ 2 = HW based RF kill active (radio off)
+ 3 = Both HW and SW RF kill active (radio off)
+ write -
+ 0 = If SW based RF kill active, turn the radio back on
+ 1 = If radio is on, activate SW based RF kill
-is self explanatory. In this case you should not need to worry about
-enabling the radio.
+ NOTE: If you enable the SW based RF kill and then toggle the HW
+ based RF kill from ON -> OFF -> ON, the radio will NOT come back on
-Dynamic Firmware
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+5. Radio Kill Switch
+-----------------------------------------------
+Most laptops provide the ability for the user to physically disable the radio.
+Some vendors have implemented this as a physical switch that requires no
+software to turn the radio off and on. On other laptops, however, the switch
+is controlled through a button being pressed and a software driver then making
+calls to turn the radio off and on. This is referred to as a "software based
+RF kill switch"
+
+See the Sysfs helper file 'rf_kill' for determining the state of the RF switch
+on your system.
+
+
+6. Dynamic Firmware
+-----------------------------------------------
As the firmware is licensed under a restricted use license, it can not be
included within the kernel sources. To enable the IPW2100 you will need a
firmware image to load into the wireless NIC's processors.
See INSTALL for instructions on installing the firmware.
-Power Management
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+7. Power Management
+-----------------------------------------------
The IPW2100 supports the configuration of the Power Save Protocol
through a private wireless extension interface. The IPW2100 supports
the following different modes:
level if `iwconfig eth1 power on` is invoked.
-Support
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+8. Support
+-----------------------------------------------
-For general information and support, go to:
+For general development information and support,
+go to:
http://ipw2100.sf.net/
-License
------------- ----- ----- ---- --- -- -
+The ipw2100 1.1.0 driver and firmware can be downloaded from:
+
+ http://support.intel.com
+
+For installation support on the ipw2100 1.1.0 driver on Linux kernels
+2.6.8 or greater, email support is available from:
+
+ http://supportmail.intel.com
+
+9. License
+-----------------------------------------------
- Copyright(c) 2003 - 2004 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ Copyright(c) 2003 - 2006 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
- Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option)
- any later version.
+ under the terms of the GNU General Public License (version 2) as
+ published by the Free Software Foundation.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
The full GNU General Public License is included in this distribution in the
file called LICENSE.
- Contact Information:
+ License Contact Information:
James P. Ketrenos <ipw2100-admin@linux.intel.com>
Intel Corporation, 5200 N.E. Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6497