Differences between revisions 18 and 19
Revision 18 as of 2011-08-11 23:12:38
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Editor: GeoffSimmons
Comment: Update supported devices.
Revision 19 as of 2011-11-23 11:39:32
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Editor: GeoffSimmons
Comment: Amend firmware location for Lenny, update supported devices.
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$ wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/mcgrof/firmware/ar9170/ar9170.fw $ wget http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/kernel/dists/squeeze/firmware-nonfree/atheros/ar9170.fw?view=co -O ar9170.fw
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The following list is based on the ''alias'' fields of {{{modinfo ar9170usb}}} in Debian 2.6.32 (2.6.32-35) kernel images. The following list is based on the ''alias'' fields of {{{modinfo ar9170usb}}} in Debian 2.6.32 (2.6.32-38) kernel images.
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USB: 057C:8401 AVM GmbH AVM Fritz!WLAN N [Atheros AR9001U]
USB: 057C:8402 AVM GmbH AVM Fritz!WLAN N 2.4 [Atheros AR9001U]
USB: 057C:8401 AVM GmbH Fritz!WLAN N [Atheros AR9001U]
USB: 057C:8402 AVM GmbH Fritz!WLAN N 2.4 [Atheros AR9001U]

Translation(s): none


Atheros AR9170 devices (ar9170usb)

This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on the Atheros AR9170 chipset on Debian systems.

{i} Wheezy users, see carl9170 for device support.

ar9170usb is a module for the Atheros AR9170 ("otus") 802.11 draft-n USB wireless LAN chipset, introduced in Linux 2.6.30. Supported devices are listed at the end of this page.

{i} Atheros AR9271/AR7010-based USB devices are supported by ath9k_htc. Atheros 802.11n PCI devices are supported by ath9k.

Installation

Squeeze

The ar9170usb module is present in Debian kernel images. Firmware is required to be installed prior to device operation.

  1. Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

    # Debian Squeeze/6.0
    deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free
  2. Update the list of available packages and install the firmware-atheros and wireless-tools packages:

    # aptitude update
    # aptitude install firmware-atheros wireless-tools
    If not already performed, connect the device to your system.
  3. As the driver may already be loaded, reinsert the module to access installed firmware:

    # modprobe -r ar9170usb ; modprobe ar9170usb
  4. Verify your device has an available interface:

    # iwconfig
  5. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

    # ifconfig wlan0 up
  6. Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Lenny

For the oldstable release, a backported kernel is necessary to provide the ar9170usb module. Installation of firmware is also required.

  1. Acquire the AR9170 one stage firmware:

    $ wget http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/kernel/dists/squeeze/firmware-nonfree/atheros/ar9170.fw?view=co -O ar9170.fw
  2. Install the firmware:

    $ su
    # mkdir /usr/local/lib/firmware
    # mv ar9170.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware
  3. Add the Debian Backports repository to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

    # Backported packages for Debian Lenny/5.0
    deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports lenny-backports main
  4. Update the list of available packages:

    # aptitude update
  5. Install a 2.6.32 kernel image appropriate for your system, along with the wireless-tools package. For example:

    # aptitude -t lenny-backports install linux-image-$(uname -r|sed 's,[^-]*-[^-]*-,,') wireless-tools
  6. Restart your system and boot with the newly installed kernel. If not already performed, connect the device to your system.
  7. The necessary kernel module should be automatically loaded. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

    $ su
    # modprobe ar9170usb
  8. Verify your device has an available interface:

    # iwconfig
  9. Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

    # ifconfig wlan0 up
  10. Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Wheezy

The ar9170usb driver was removed at Linux 3.0.1 See carl9170 for device support.

Troubleshooting

  • Examine the kernel ring buffer (dmesg(1)) to verify required firmware files are being loaded by the driver:

    [ 7032.396963] usb 2-1: firmware: requesting ar9170.fw
    [ 7032.427345] usb 2-1: ar9170.fw firmware file not found, trying old firmware...
    [ 7032.442582] usb 2-1: firmware: requesting ar9170-1.fw
    [ 7032.495148] usb 2-1: file with init values not found.
    [ 7032.514607] ar9170usb: probe of 2-1:1.0 failed with error -2
    • If requested firmware is not available, no wireless interface will be created.
    • After the firmware is installed, reload the driver: modprobe -r ar9170usb ; modprobe ar9170usb

  • Use of the Qwest/Actiontec 802AIN device requires the usb-modeswitch package to be installed.2

Supported Devices

The page HowToIdentifyADevice/USB explains how to identify a USB device.

The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo ar9170usb in Debian 2.6.32 (2.6.32-38) kernel images.

  • USB: 0409:0249 NEC Corp. Aterm WL300NU-G
    USB: 04BB:093F I-O Data Device, Inc. WNGDNUS2 802.11n
    USB: 057C:8401 AVM GmbH Fritz!WLAN N [Atheros AR9001U]
    USB: 057C:8402 AVM GmbH Fritz!WLAN N 2.4 [Atheros AR9001U]
    USB: 0586:3417 ZyXEL Communications Corp. NWD271N 802.11n Wireless Adapter [Atheros AR9001U-(2)NG]
    USB: 07D1:3A09 D-Link System DWA-160 802.11abgn Xtreme N Dual Band Adapter(rev.A2) [Atheros AR9170+AR9104]
    USB: 07D1:3C10 D-Link System DWA-160 802.11abgn Xtreme N Dual Band Adapter(rev.A1) [Atheros AR9170+AR9104]
    USB: 083A:F522 Accton Technology Corp. Arcadyan WN7512 802.11n
    USB: 0846:9001 NetGear, Inc. WN111(v2) RangeMax Next Wireless [Atheros AR9170+AR9101]
    USB: 0846:9010 NetGear, Inc. WNDA3100v1 802.11abgn [Atheros AR9170+AR9104]
    USB: 0846:9040 NetGear, Inc. WNA1000 Wireless-N 150 [Atheros AR9170+AR9101]
    USB: 0ACE:1221 ZyDAS ZD1221 802.11n
    USB: 0CDE:0023 Z-Com UB81 802.11bgn
    USB: 0CDE:0026 Z-Com UB82 802.11abgn
    USB: 0CDE:0027 Z-Com (Device name unknown)
    USB: 0CF3:1001 Atheros Communications, Inc. Thomson TG121N [Atheros AR9001U-(2)NG]
    USB: 0CF3:1002 Atheros Communications, Inc. TP-Link TL-WN821N v2 802.11n [Atheros AR9170]
    USB: 0CF3:1010 Atheros Communications, Inc. 3Com 3CRUSBN275 802.11abgn Wireless Adapter [Atheros AR9170]
    USB: 0CF3:1011 Atheros Communications, Inc. (Device name unknown)
    USB: 0CF3:9170 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9170 802.11n
    USB: 1435:0326 Wistron NeWeb (Device name unknown)
    USB: 1435:0804 Wistron NeWeb AR9170+AR9104 802.11abgn Wireless Adapter
    USB: 1668:1200 Actiontec Electronics, Inc. [hex] 802AIN Wireless N Network Adapter [Atheros AR9170+AR9101]
    USB: 2019:5304 PLANEX GWUS300 802.11n
    USB: CACE:0300 CACE Technologies Inc. AirPcap NX [Atheros AR9001U-(2)NG]

See Also


CategoryHardware | CategoryWireless