Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04, suitable for all ath_9K chip too.
UPDATE: Now there is a much easy way to solve this problem. A much GUI control way and suitable for all the Atheros 9K wireless chips: see post from vagrale13 --> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1564278 .
this update is the final one, because more and more new distributions of Linux will default support this wireless chip. I will not update this post any more. Pardon me!!
Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04 Original text
Recently, the Lucid Lynx Ubuntu 10.04 released. Many funs maybe can’t wait to install & use it on their
own PC just like me too. But my experience may not be very happy, thought the new version is very cool with its friendly user interface and faster staring up. Because my wireless care AR2427 [ 168c:002c ] on Asus EeePC 900HA doesn’t work. In some days google-ing and waiting the solution coming from Ubuntu Bug Team & the forum postings. Finally I now get out of my wifi trouble.
It seams that the kernel version( 2.6.32.22-generic ) now Ubuntu 10.04 used does not su- pport this maybe new-released wireless chip. I googled some news saying the AR2427
[ 168c:002c ] will be support in the 2.6.33+ kernel releasing. So it means Ubuntu maybe can autofixing AR2427-ath9k chip in the next coming( maybe the next next ) kernel update( there have been some relative Bug noticed in the Lunchpad. and you can wait for the update time coming but the waiting time is very boring or you can use the fellow solution to get a pre-wifi-working before the next( doesn’t be sure ) kernel update.
Maybe many guys may be likely to prefer using the Ndiswrapper to fixing the AR2427 in the linux OS due to the simple build directly using the wifi driver from windows. But a friend of mine told me it may not work perfectly since wifi speed may have a little crap. some others may choose the mdwifi to get AR2427 work, because I had try a time on Ubuntu 10.04 beta2 and failed due to my lacking skill. So I now use the Compat Wireless Drivers to solve my wifi trouble witch really runs perfectly on my EeePC 900HA. The step follow is How I Get my wifi work.
Out put of the comman ’ $ lspci ’ from my PC on Ubuntu 10.04.
……
01:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller [1969:1026] (rev b0) (wire NIC)
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Atheros Communications Inc. Device [168c:002c] (rev 01)
(wireless)
…… !more detail
In order to compile the driver you’ll need at least a C compiler and the make utility, so you firstly make sure you have install them in your Ubuntu. If not you can get it with the apt-get to
install the package just as:
sudo apt-get install build-essential
You’ll also need your kernel headers installed, but they most is likely to be installed by default. Double check that the directory /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build exists. If not please get it
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`
#the mark ” ` ” is located on the top of Tab key on the keyboard
Download compat wireless drivers from here. I used the compat-wireless-2010-04-26.tar.bz2 , also you can choose it by yourself because it may update everyday and the latest version always is compat-wireless-2.6.tar.bz2.
Extract your Download file and cd into the resulting directory.
tar -xjvf name-download-filedestination-directory
cd destination-directory+name-download-file
The AR2427 chip is covered by the ath9k driver, so we firstly select the modules ath9k for this driver
./scripts/driver-select ath9k
then make and install
make
#make sure this step without notice errors, If error occur, you’d better copy it and google in the google to #get answer. or you can select another version compat wireless drivers.
sudo make install
#wait ... ...
sudo make unload
#this step maybe can cancel, when you cancel it and the next step printing error. then you can add this #step before sudo modprobe ath9k.
sudo modprobe ath9k
after the above step your wifi device may appear under iwconfig, you can check you have compile AR2427 in the right way, run modinfo:
modinfo ath9k
#in the output, there must be a line RED word like the fellow post
ilename: /lib/modules/2.6.32-18-generic/updates/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.ko
license: Dual BSD/GPL
description: Support for Atheros 802.11n wireless LAN cards.
author: Atheros Communications
srcversion: A50A865BAAB45E03B5852F0
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000029sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000027sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000024sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000023sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: ath9k_hw,mac80211,led-class,ath,cfg80211,ath9k_common
vermagic: 2.6.32-18-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 586
parm: debug:Debugging mask (uint)
parm: nohwcrypt:Disable hardware encryption (int)
If that occured, CONGRATULATIONS! then reboot you PC, sening it whether the wifi device appears in the iwconfig or in the NetworkManager( on the Top right of desk ).
If failed, you can uninstall it whetherever you like by
sudo make unload
sudo make uninstall
THANKS TO James LittleThe Asus Eee PC 1005PE & Ubuntu
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
That worked well on my ASUS Eee PC 1005P running EasyPaesy 1.6. Thanks a lot :)
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
Thanks so much for this post!
It worked like a charm for me! :KS
I had tried "ndiswrapper" and even a custom-built kernel, both to no avail. I had all but given up hope, but then I found your post on how you solved the problem on your Eee PC 900HA and since I have the exact same model I thought it was worth to at least try.
Now it works, at least I can see the card, it's managed by NetworkManager and it detects some wireless networks close by. I will test it with a network I have access to, as soon as possible.
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
ahh!! ^_^,:P before I fixing it on my EeePC, I have the same experience like yours.
maybe the step follow can more simply fix it now, but I never try that on my pc before, someone who may like geekly try.
- ENABLE wlan in BIOS.
- Download new version of kernal image from here :
http://kernel dot ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/daily/
for example :
$ wget http://kernel dot ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/daily/2010-05-12-lucid/linux-image-2.6.34-999-generic_2.6.34-999.201005121008_i386.deb
$ sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.34-999-generic_2.6.34-999.201005121008_i386.deb
Reboot.
Atheros AR2427 Card will/may be now recognised.
Enjoy.
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
this is really nice post.Solve my problem for the 1005pe..Thanx
bump
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
thank you for the post, looking for to trying it out.
I will say, this is why Linux(Ubuntu)fails to significantly gain ground.
I dont care what kind of fancy interface or neat tricks you can do, wifi is an essential, especially in a netbook. all three of my laptop/netbooks have had to do some decent amount of fiddling.
Its very frustrating to get a new netbook, wipe and partition, install *******(everything smooth), install unr and as usual no wifi. really tempted to uninstall, but then I remember how much I like buntu and will wait 'til they are done with neat interfaces and get to work on some basic network connectivity.
sorry, rough day..............
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
worked like a charm on the asus 1001p. thanks again.
definitely easier than messing with those darn broadcom 43's use to be.
now to but this thing through its paces.
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
Just purchased an eee 1005P as I'm moving countries soon and will it will be a perfect travelling PC. Thanks to your post, wireless is working perfectly! No way could I have done this by myself.
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
please someone make this simple.
Extract your Download file and cd into the resulting directory.
tar -xjvf name-download-filedestination-directory
cd destination-directory+name-download-file
i put:
tar -xjvf compat-wireless-2.6.tar.bz2-downloads-rachel
and i hasn't worked so im not sure what im doing wrong :(
Re: Compile AR2427 Wireless Chip on Ubuntu 10.04
Could this work for an Atheros AR5001?