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ath5k is included in the mainline Linux kernel since 2.6.25. It is present in Debian kernel images since 2.6.24, and is included in lenny. ath5k is included in the mainline Linux kernel since 2.6.25. It is present in Debian kernel images since 2.6.24 and included in Lenny.
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 * Installation of DebianPkg:madwifi-tools (version 1:0.9.4~rc2+dfsg-1 and later) installs {{{/etc/modprobe.d/madwifi}}}, which [[KernelModuleBlacklisting|blacklists]] the ath5k driver.  Either purge the madwifi-tools package (<code>apt-get purge madwifi-tools</code> or, if you’ve already removed the package, <code>dpkg -P madwifi-tools</code> just to purge the configuration files), or amend {{{/etc/modprobe.d/madwifi}}} as follows:  * Installation of DebianPkg:madwifi-tools (version 1:0.9.4~rc2+dfsg-1 and later) installs {{{/etc/modprobe.d/madwifi}}}, which [[KernelModuleBlacklisting|blacklists]] the ath5k driver.

Either purge the madwifi-tools package ({{{aptitude purge madwifi-tools}}}) or amend {{{/etc/modprobe.d/madwifi}}} as follows:
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 * Devices with an Atheros AR5005VL (AR5513) chipset [168c:0020]:  * Devices with an Atheros AR5005VL (AR5513) chipset (PCI-ID: 168c:0020):

Translation(s): none

(!) ?Discussion


Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414, AR2413, AR242x wireless devices (ath5k)

This page describes how to enable support for Atheros AR5xxx wireless chipsets using the ath5k driver on Debian systems.

ath5k is a module for Atheros AR5xxx wireless LAN chipsets.

Unlike the MadWifi driver, ath5k does not require a binary HAL (hardware abstraction layer) for its use. No firmware is required to be loaded from userspace. It is a completely free and open-source driver. Supported devices are listed at the end of this page.

{i} Atheros 802.11n PCI devices are supported by the ath9k driver.

Missing Features

As stated1 on the Linux Wireless ath5k driver page:

  • Turbo mode
  • XR (eXtended Range)

If required, the above features are available in the MadWifi driver.

Known Issues

The ath5k driver is in a constant state of development, with varying levels of support for chipsets depending on their age.

AR242x chipset

Found in the Acer eMachines D620 laptop, among others. This suffers from a "noise floor calibration timeout" bug, which means the wireless may not function after installing Lenny. The bug is fixed since kernel 2.6.28.1.

Lenny users: install a backported kernel 2.6.29 (or later) image package from Debian Backports.

Installation

ath5k is included in the mainline Linux kernel since 2.6.25. It is present in Debian kernel images since 2.6.24 and included in Lenny.

  • <!> DebianEtch users: This driver is not present in the stock 2.6.18 kernel.

  • Install an EtchAndAHalf kernel: apt-cache search linux-image-2.6- | grep etchnhalf and install a package appropriate for your system.

  • Restart your system with this kernel before continuing.

Switching from MadWifi to ath5k

The following section can be skipped if MadWifi was not previously used.

  • Installation of madwifi-tools (version 1:0.9.4~rc2+dfsg-1 and later) installs /etc/modprobe.d/madwifi, which blacklists the ath5k driver.

    Either purge the madwifi-tools package (aptitude purge madwifi-tools) or amend /etc/modprobe.d/madwifi as follows:

  • From

    blacklist ath5k
    
    ## madwifi (non-free)
    #blacklist ath_hal
    #blacklist ath_pci
    #blacklist ath_rate_amrr
    #blacklist ath_rate_onoe
    #blacklist ath_rate_sample
    #blacklist wlan
    #blacklist wlan_acl
    #blacklist wlan_ccmp
    #blacklist wlan_scan_ap
    #blacklist wlan_scan_sta
    #blacklist wlan_tkip
    #blacklist wlan_wep
    #blacklist wlan_xauth

    To

    #blacklist ath5k
    
    ## madwifi (non-free)
    blacklist ath_hal
    blacklist ath_pci
    blacklist ath_rate_amrr
    blacklist ath_rate_onoe
    blacklist ath_rate_sample
    blacklist wlan
    blacklist wlan_acl
    blacklist wlan_ccmp
    blacklist wlan_scan_ap
    blacklist wlan_scan_sta
    blacklist wlan_tkip
    blacklist wlan_wep
    blacklist wlan_xauth

  • Amend /etc/network/interfaces, changing all references of 'ath0' to 'wlan0'.

  • Restart your system.
  • Verify that wireless networking is functional. If you can connect but not send/receive anything, you might need to adjust your firewall configuration. For example, if you have configured your firewall using shorewall, find and replace all occurrences of 'ath0' with 'wlan0' in files within /etc/shorewall.

Configuration

  1. Install the wireless-tools package:

    aptitude update
    aptitude install wireless-tools
  2. The necessary kernel module should be automatically loaded. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

    modprobe ath5k
  3. Verify your device has an available interface:

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

    ifconfig wlan0 up
  5. Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Supported Devices

Devices containing Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414, AR2413 or AR242x chipsets are supported by ath5k.

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

The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo ath5k on Lenny.

  • PCI: 10B7:0013 3Com Corporation AR5212 802.11abg NIC (3CRDAG675)
    PCI: 168C:0007 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5000 802.11a Wireless Adapter
    PCI: 168C:0011 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5210 802.11a NIC
    PCI: 168C:0012 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5211 802.11ab NIC
    PCI: 168C:0013 Atheros Communications Inc. Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter
    PCI: 168C:0014 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:0015 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:0016 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:0017 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:0018 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:0019 Atheros Communications Inc. (Device name unknown)
    PCI: 168C:001A Atheros Communications Inc. AR2413 802.11bg NIC
    PCI: 168C:001B Atheros Communications Inc. AR5413 802.11abg NIC
    PCI: 168C:001C Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
    PCI: 168C:0023 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5008 Wireless Network Adapter
    PCI: 168C:0024 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5008 Wireless Network Adapter
    PCI: 168C:0207 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5210
    PCI: 168C:1014 Atheros Communications Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC
    PCI: A727:0013 3Com Corporation 3CRPAG175 Wireless PC Card

Unsupported

  • All Atheros-based USB devices:
    • For Atheros AR9170 (802.11n), see ar9170usb.

    • For Atheros AR5007UG (802.11g), see zd1211rw.

    • For Atheros AR5005UG (802.11b/g) and AR5005UX (802.11a/b/g), see ar5523.

  • Devices with an Atheros AR5005VL (AR5513) chipset (PCI-ID: 168c:0020):
    • D-Link DWL-G520M (PCI)
    • D-Link DWL-G650M (Cardbus)
    • ZyXEL Zyair M-102 (Cardbus)
    • ZyXEL Zyair M-302 (PCI)

Use of NDISwrapper may be possible for support of your device.

See Also


CategoryHardware


ToDo: Move ath5k-specific content from DebianEeePC/HowTo/UseUpstreamAtherosModules to here?