Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Atheros Releases Free Linux Driver For Its 802.11n Devices

Posted by timothy on 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!"

14 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. if only there were a similar driver by sensei+moreh · · Score: 4, Informative

    for my AR5212

    --
    Geology - it's not rocket science; it's rock science
  2. Broadcomm next?? by LVSlushdat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now... if we can just get Broadcomm to do the same.....

    --
    THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    1. Re:Broadcomm next?? by palegray.net · · Score: 5, Funny

      Listen, Broadcomm has repeatedly stated that they fully intend to release open source drivers for their wireless chipsets as soon as Duke Nukem Forever is released.

      --
      512 MB RAM, 20 GB disk, 200 GB transfer, five datacenters. $19.95/month.
    2. Re:Broadcomm next?? by Skinkie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think the point is pretty clear. Atheros realises that it might be cheaper, in the long run, to add a memory chip to the chipset that contains a firmware, than actually uploading it everytime or using a wintel solution to control the hardware in a way that the FCC stays happy.

      --
      Support Eachother, Copy Dutch Property!
  3. Seriously? by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No blob, ISC license, and supporting .11n? That only leaves one question: is there a miniPCI card available containing this chipset that I can plug into a little router board?

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  4. Hurray, that makes choosing the next laptop easier by victim · · 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.

  5. Cool by rrohbeck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does anybody know the HW capabilities of the Atheros chipset?
    Thinking of Software Radio...

    --
    thegodmovie.com - watch it
  6. The not so long article - fyi by **loki969** · · 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

  7. B and G by phiz187 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How does this affect 802.11 B and G devices? Can I expect greater stability in those products, or does this only help out 802.11n hardware?

    --
    Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
    1. Re:B and G by X0563511 · · Score: 4, 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)

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  8. Hired ath5k developer by symbolset · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Atheros hired Luis R. Rodriguez, the developer of the Linux kernel Atheros driver, back in April with the intention of doing just this. Congratulations!

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
  9. Great news! Vote with you wallet. by nikolajsheller · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is great!
    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.

  10. Re:As a new Linux desktop user by FishWithAHammer · · Score: 4, Informative

    I just get Intel laptops with Centrino...works perfectly.

    --
    "You can either have software quality or you can have pointer arithmetic, but you cannot have both at the same time."
  11. My wonderful HP Pavilion laptop by Tatsh · · 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/ . 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.