AR5007EG finally supported

[scottro]

I upgraded today, and once again, the latest MadWifi snapshot wouldn't compile. I decided to see how ath5k was doing with this card. I did a modprobe ath5k, which showed me a wlan0 interface. Doing iwlist showed the nearby networks.

I edited /etc/sysconfig/wpa_supplicant to change ath0 to wlan0 and ran through my little wireless startup scripts and it worked. I'm actually writing this from the laptop, connected through my wireless which is using the latest rawhide kernel's ath5k module rather than the MadWifi snapshot. I'm guessing that this might be connected with Atheros opening the code for the ath9k (for newer cards using 802.11n) but I don't know.

Anyway, thought I'd post that information. This is on a 64 bit system running the latest rawhide, kernel
2.6.27-0.244.rc2.git1.fc10.x86_64

[kevmif]

As indicated here: http://madwifi.org/ticket/1192

They are on track for full support in 2.6.27 - as indicated by one of the comments from Proski near the bottom. Hears hoping they get it fully and completely implemented.

[scottro]

I missed that. I tend to look at the last few posts on the ticket, and completely overlooked those.

(I saw your posts though. I tend to be lazy and just post as anonymous.)

I join you in hoping it gets fully implemented. We are quite fortunate to have the MadWifi team doing this.

[kevmif]

Yes it certainly is good news - I the the ath_pci drivers may very well be redundant sooner rather then later hehe.

I know that myself and plenty of other users have been greatly inconvenienced by lack of wireless support. Thankfully prior to the new HAL being released the HAL patch from the eePC or whatever it was worked for me.

Without groups such as madwifi, Linux would be a lot harder on desktop PC's.

[robert-e]

Yippeee...That is really good news. I hope it included in the F8 updates (32 and 64 bit), before F8 reaches the end of it's rope. Geez...best news all day.
Regards,
Bob

[scottro]

Yup, I remember how excited I was when Sam Leffler finally got us a 64 bit version. Then came some kernel updates in the Fedora and Ubuntu alphas, and it didn't work, but they made new snapshots which did. (And many thanks to the folks who created the patches for these problems.)

I think Kevinmf has been paying closer attention to the ticket than I have, so can probably give a better idea of when ath5k first began working with some later kernels. For what it's worth, so far, I've only gotten it to work with that very recent kernel I mentioned in my first post. I'm glad I tried it, I wasn't going to bother, and was either going to file a new MadWifi ticket or wait and hope someone fixed it.

Actually, we've been lucky (and I am grateful) that MadWifi fixed the issues with the various alpha versions. I believe they don't support testing or distro specific kernels, though they will certainly accept patches if it doesn't break things for everyone else.

[kennedyprojects]

Good to hear - although your site helped out a lot scott

I just d/l'd the live iso and installed to a usb stick.. waiting for the 10 dvd to finish downloading then i'm going to try the usb live boot..

Rob

[MEX]

... I did a modprobe ath5k, .... This is on a 64 bit system running the latest rawhide, kernel
2.6.27-0.244.rc2.git1.fc10.x86_64

My current kernel is 2.6.25.14-108.fc9.i686 and I havn't installed WLAN on my FSC ESPRIMO Mobile V5535 with a AR5007EG chip until now.

Except waiting until Fedora 9 finally updates to a kernel working with AR5007EG and the ath5k device driver, what will I have to do to activate WLAN on my notebook ?

MfG, MEX

[scottro]

I have a page that covers this. In Fedora 9, there's a good chance that you will be able to easily do it by enabling livna-testing.
See http://home.nyc.rr.com/computertaiju...less.html#5007

Start by trying with livna-testing. (Explanations at the link above).
Waves to Rob, Hey there, good to see you here.

[MarcoA]

I have up(down?)graded my laptop to Fedora 10 and found that, efectively, Atheros support works finally.
BUT:
- Even when I'm connected wireless, there appears a box asking for the WAP password?
- The connection is somewhat unstable, even with 100% of power
- Sometimes I can't connect and the password box appears, but I never have connected when it happens.

[MEX]

I have a page that covers this. In Fedora 9, there's a good chance that you will be able to easily do it by enabling livna-testing.
See http://home.nyc.rr.com/computertaiju...less.html#5007

Start by trying with livna-testing. (Explanations at the link above).
Waves to Rob, Hey there, good to see you here.

livna looks like using a CLOSED SOURCE device driver, which i want to avoid

As I am not in a hurry, I intend to wait until kernel 2.6.27 is available for f9 too

MfG, MEX

[scottro]

Yes, it is closed source, and I admire your patience (and dedication to avoiding closed source.) On the other hand, I already use flash, and these days, have less patiences, (and, unfortunately) less idealism, so I use closed source when it's all that's available.

That being said, you have my admiration. 2.6.27 should be out soon.

When running wpa it gives an error similar to that which is given when it can't find something (can't check right now, I do have to add the info to my page) but works anyway.

[stevea]

Sadly AR5007EG is a family of distinct parts with different programmable features. You'll probably still have to parse the SUB-vendorid/partid to determine if any driver will work.

[pembo13]

Anyone knows what is the status of the 2.6.27 kernel that supposedly has the working ath5k for the AR5007EG in F9?

With the currently ath_pci drivers from livna-testing, the laptop works, but wifi fails after suspend-restore. And any attempt to use a script rmmod ; modprobe the ath_pci module causes a system freeze requiring shutdown via power button.

I have been attempting to keep the following smolts page updated:
http://smolts.org/wiki/pci/168c/001c/103c/137a

[scottro]

Well, it's in rawhide, and seems to be relatively stable. With the various issues about repos, rawhide hasn't been updated for a bit, so I am not sure if it's on track for F10 or not.

I don't use suspend restore, I'm afraid. I use the laptop mostly for testing, so I haven't needed to use it.