Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414 wireless devices (ath5k)
This page describes how to enable support for Atheros AR5xxx wireless chipsets using the ath5k driver on Debian systems.
?TableOfContents(3)
ath5k is a module for Atheros AR5xxx wireless LAN chipsets.
Unlike the [:WiFi/ath_pci:?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
Devices containing Atheros AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213 or AR5414 chipsets are supported by ath5k.
Missing Features
As stated?FootNote(http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath5k#features) on the Linux Wireless ath5k driver page:
- Access Point mode
- Turbo mode
- XR (eXtended Range)
If required, the above features are available in the [:WiFi/ath_pci:?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.
Installation
ath5k is included in the mainline Linux kernel since 2.6.25. It is present in Debian kernel images since 2.6.24.
[:DebianEtch:Etch] users: This driver is not present in the stock 2.6.18 kernel. Install and boot an [:EtchAndAHalf:] kernel to provide: apt-cache search linux-image-2.6.24-etchnhalf and install a package appropriate for your system.
Switching from MadWifi to ath5k
The following section can be [#configuration skipped] if [:WiFi/ath_pci:?MadWifi] was not previously used.
Installation of the madwifi-tools package installs /etc/modprobe.d/madwifi, which blacklists the ath5k driver. Either purge the madwifi-tools package 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.
?Anchor(configuration)
Configuration
Install the wireless-tools package:
aptitude update aptitude install wireless-tools
The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:
modprobe ath5k
Verify your device has an available interface:
iwconfig
Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
ifconfig wlan0 up
[:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.
External Links
http://madwifi.org/ - project homepage;
http://madwifi.org/wiki/About/ath5k - more information on ath5k
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath5k - driver page on Linux Wireless
See Also
["WiFi/ath_pci"] - MadWifi driver
[:WiFi/HowToUse:?HowToUse] WiFi adapter
ToDo: Move ath5k-specific content from ["DebianEeePC/HowTo/UseUpstreamAtherosModules"] to here?