Newly release ath9k drivers for Atheros 802.11n cards.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item&px=NjYyMw
Anyone with a MacBookPro2,1 or MacBookPro3,1 want to test?
OK, I Ubuntu. Do you Ubuntu?
Newly release ath9k drivers for Atheros 802.11n cards.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item&px=NjYyMw
Anyone with a MacBookPro2,1 or MacBookPro3,1 want to test?
5 Cups of Ubuntu
I'm waiting for the Access Point support in the new ath9k drivers. I want to use my WMP300N (AR5416) in my Linux router.
Tea Glorious Tea!
This is OLD and OBSOLETE. Please don't use it!
Answering requests, I have created a shell script that will compile the ath9k wireless driver for your kernel. You might be using any official ubuntu kernel (including kubuntu, xubuntu and ubuntu-studio), or a kernel that you compiled from source. This script will generate a custom deb package just for you!
To use it, just extract the script from the tar.gz attached.
Then run:
If you have compiled your own kernel from source, just run it like this:Code:$ bash compat-wireless-ath9k-20080916.sh
The script will generate a shiny new deb package for you!Code:$ bash compat-wireless-ath9k-20080916.sh --custom
Please, try it and report any bugs to me here!
----
Warning 1: This is still an experimental driver and might have some problems.
Warning 2: You don't need this if you are using Intrepid Ibex Alpha. It's already included there!
----
Current Version:
compat-wireless-ath9k-20080916.tar.gz (Hosted at Rapidshare)
Old Versions:
compat-wireless-ath9k-20080907.tar.gz (Hosted at Rapidshare)
compat-wireless-ath9k-20080806.tar.gz (Hosted at Rapidshare)
Last edited by volanin; April 28th, 2009 at 03:17 PM.
OK, I Ubuntu. Do you Ubuntu?
well darn. Maybe we will need to package the wireless-testing modules and the ath9k together...Originally Posted by volanin
It is not so trivial to test this driver yet. The source code only applies
against the wireless-testing kernel tree, and cannot be applied cleanly
against any version of the vanilla kernel.
Since it's too late to be part of 2.6.26, we will probably only see it on
2.6.27 or even 2.6.28, which means that it will not be available for
Intrepid as well...
Unless the Ubuntu Kernel Team manages to backport it, of course!
Tea Glorious Tea!
#####################################
OUTDATED!!!
Check the new instructions here!
#####################################
Well, I took your advice to heart and did just that!well darn. Maybe we will need to package the wireless-testing modules and the ath9k together...
But I must say... it was hard, I mean... very damn HARD!
Next time I shall think twice before following your suggestions!
Well, here it is!
This is the just released ath9k driver backported to the Ubuntu kernel.
I have been using it for a few hours now, and it works pretty well!
How to install:
1. You can either download the correct package (i386 or amd64) linked at the end of this post and install it directly... or you can download it via the mactel PPA (for mac-users only), so it'll always be up-to-date!
To download it via the mactel PPA, just add the following line to your file /etc/apt/sources.list:
And then execute this in the command line:Code:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mactel-support/ubuntu hardy main
2. After installing it, add the following line to the end of your /etc/modules:Code:$ sudo aptitude update $ sudo aptitude install compat-wireless-ath9k-generic
This will automatically load the driver everytime you boot your computer!
3. Restart and enjoy your wireless connection!Code:ath9k
Remember to disable ndiswrapper temporarily if you use it.
Caveats:
A- Due to limitations in PPA, this driver could only be compiled to the kernel currently in the main repository (2.6.24-19-generic). If you enabled the proposed repository, you should be using kernel 2.6.24-21-generic, and this driver will not install. You may opt to downgrade your kernel though! (Updated! Read the end of the post.)
B- Since the Ubuntu kernel 2.6.24-19-generic was not compiled with the CONFIG_NETDEVICES_MULTIQUEUE option, the 802.11n mode will not work. But you will have full 802.11g support. This has already been fixed in the kernel 2.6.24-21-generic, so it's just a matter of time until it hits the main repository. (Updated! Read the end of the post.)
C- This driver will report a lower signal strength then the ndiswrapper driver. I believe this is purely cosmetic though, since I have no problems connecting to my network from afar.
D- Since this is still an experimental driver, trying to unload it will panic your kernel and hardlock your computer. Normally, you don't have to worry about that since the driver is never unloaded in normal use.
Final comments:
This is it!
A pure linux driver to all of us who have Macbooks with Atheros cards!
If you find any problems with the installation of the driver, please report it to me here so that I can fix the packages.
Also, I have included ONLY the ath9k driver. If there is any interest in extra drivers that could be provided by the compat-wireless source (eg. ath5k, iwl3945, iwl4965), just ask politely and I might add them as well!
Enjoy!
Direct Downloads:
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-19-generic_20080806-mactel1_i386.deb
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-19-generic_20080806-mactel1_amd64.deb
### Update ###
Although I can't use the PPA auto-build system to create a driver for the kernel 2.6.24-21-generic, I managed to build it locally on my machine! It means that, if you use this newest kernel version, now you have full 802.11n support! (for i386 only)
Since I cannot host it at the PPA repository, and since the file is larger than the allowed attachment size, you will have to download it from Rapidshare. I hope you don't mind!
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-21-generic_20080806-mactel1_i386.deb (Hosted at Rapidshare)
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-20-generic_20080806-mactel1_i386.deb (Hosted at Rapidshare)
### Update 2 ###
Answering requests, I have created a shell script that will compile the ath9k wireless driver for the kernel you are using right now. It might be any of the Ubuntu kernels, or even a custom kernel: this script will generate a custom deb package for you.
To use it, just extract the script from the tar.gz attached.
If you have an Ubuntu kernel, just run:
If you have a custom kernel, you must edit the script before running it, to remove the Ubuntu-specific kernel dependencies. Just open the extracted script in any text editor and change both lines:Code:$ bash compat-wireless-ath9k-20080806.sh
To:Code:PACKAGE_DEPENDENCIES="linux-image-`uname -r`" BUILD_DEPENDENCIES=(build-essential module-init-tools linux-headers-`uname -r`)
And then run it!Code:PACKAGE_DEPENDENCIES="" BUILD_DEPENDENCIES=(build-essential module-init-tools)
The script will generate a shiny new deb package for you!
Please, try it and report any bugs to me here!
compat-wireless-ath9k-20080806.tar.gz (Hosted at Rapidshare)
Last edited by volanin; September 7th, 2008 at 04:12 PM.
5 Cups of Ubuntu
Works like a charm here! I downloaded wireless-testin earlier but you've saved a TON of hassle.
Many, many thanks!
But yes you are correct in that I can only see about half of the networks in the area so it may be a bit weaker than madwifi previously.
..Oh and it loaded automatically without needin to alter /etc/modules
Now need to try with 80211n
Cheers
Mark
First Cup of Ubuntu
Hey Volanin-
Complete Ubuntu/Linux n00b here. I just installed Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and im frustrated that I cant get my atheros card to work (AR5418 ).
I know very basic terminal commands but I can follow directions well.
I downloaded the
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-20-generic_20080806-mactel1_i386.deb
and double clicked it, got a status message that said something about the kernel not being correct. Do I need to install or download anything besides that file? Any help appreciated.
Last edited by pilotbo; August 8th, 2008 at 07:28 AM.
Tea Glorious Tea!
#####################################
OUTDATED!!!
Check the new instructions here!
#####################################
No problem there pilotbo!
To check your kernel version quickly, just type this in the command line:
If you just installed Ubuntu 8.04, and updated it completely, you probably have kernel 2.6.24-19-generic,Code:$ uname -r
because the kernel 2.6.24-20-generic is NOT installed by default.
So I recommend you download this file instead:
compat-wireless-ath9k-2.6.24-19-generic_20080806-mactel1_i386.deb
Good luck!
Last edited by volanin; September 7th, 2008 at 04:13 PM.
OK, I Ubuntu. Do you Ubuntu?
Wow, I was really making the suggestion kinda tongue-in-cheek since I figure that you would have to backport a large portion of the kernel code... This is really awesome though!Well, I took your advice to heart and did just that!
But I must say... it was hard, I mean... very damn HARD!
Next time I shall think twice before following your suggestions!
I made a linking post in Networking & Wireless since I figured there might be some non Apple users that could enjoy this:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=883731
P.S. Volanin, you might want to add a note to your post to reiterate that the PPA is only for Mac users.
Last edited by cyberdork33; August 8th, 2008 at 01:41 PM.
First Cup of Ubuntu
I have been using the MadWifi wireless driver for my Macbook Pro, is ath9k a replacement for this? I don't quite understand, is it just for specific atheros hardware, or their whole range?
I think my MBP model is second generation, its one with NVIDIA graphics.
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