Marvell 88w8385, 88w8386, 88w8686 devices (libertas)
This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on Marvell Libertas chipsets on Debian systems.
?TableOfContents(3)
Drivers
The libertas driver is a collection of modules providing support for Marvell Technology Group's Libertas chipsets:
- libertas_cs ([#supported_libertas_cs supported devices])
Supports the 88w8385 chipset, used in compact flash and [wiki:Secure_Digital_card SDIO] wireless devices.
- Introduced in kernel 2.6.24.
- libertas_sdio ([#supported_libertas_sdio supported devices])
- Supports the 88w8686 chipset, used in SDIO wireless devices.
- Introduced in kernel 2.6.24.
- usb8xxx ([#supported_usb8xxx supported devices])
Supports the 88w8386 USB chipset, used in the OLPC ([http://laptop.org One Laptop Per Child]) [wiki:OLPC_XO-1 XO-1] laptop.
- Introduced in kernel 2.6.22.
Non-free firmware is required for all drivers. Firmware for the usb8xxx driver is packaged for Debian as libertas-firmware.
The Libertas 88w8335 (PCI) chipset is not supported by any driver (see [:NdisWrapper:NDISwrapper]).
Installation
Etch with 2.6.18 kernel
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.
Restart your system, then follow the [#etch_2624 Etch with 2.6.24 kernel] procedure below.
?Anchor(etch_2624)
Etch with 2.6.24 kernel
The driver is not present in the stock 2.6.18 kernel.
Install an [:EtchAndAHalf:] kernel: apt-cache search linux-image-2.6.24-etchnhalf and install a package appropriate for your system.
- Restart your system with this kernel before continuing.
Install the wireless-tools package:
aptitude update aptitude install wireless-tools
Manually acquire the lenny/libertas-firmware package from http://packages.debian.org/lenny/all/libertas-firmware/download. For example:
wget http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/non-free/libe/libertas-firmware/libertas-firmware_5.110.22.p14-1_all.deb
Install lenny/libertas-firmware via ["dpkg"]:
dpkg -i /path/to/libertas-firmware*deb
Libertas CF/SDIO and SDIO/GSPI devices: Manually acquire and install firmware as described on the [http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas#devicefirmware libertas Linux Wireless page].
- If not already peformed, connect the device to your system.
The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via one of the following commands (depending on your device's relevant interface):
modprobe libertas_cs
or
modprobe libertas_sdio
or
modprobe usb8xxx
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.
Troubleshooting
- Examine the kernel ring buffer (dmesg) to verify the required firmware files are being loaded by the driver. Lack of firmware is the usual reason for the "SIOCSIFFLAGS: No such file or directory" error message.
Libertas USB devices: Ensure the lenny/libertas-firmware package is installed.
Libertas CF/SDIO and SDIO/GSPI devices: Manually acquire and install firmware as described on the [http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas#devicefirmware libertas Linux Wireless page].
Lenny
Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:
# Debian Lenny/5.0 deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian lenny main contrib non-free
Update the list of available packages and install the libertas-firmware and wireless-tools packages:
aptitude update aptitude install libertas-firmware wireless-tools
Libertas CF/SDIO and SDIO/GSPI devices: Manually acquire and install firmware as described on the [http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas#devicefirmware libertas Linux Wireless page].
- If not already peformed, connect the device to your system.
The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via one of the following commands (depending on your device's relevant interface):
modprobe libertas_cs
or
modprobe libertas_sdio
or
modprobe usb8xxx
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.
Troubleshooting
- Examine the kernel ring buffer (dmesg) to verify the required firmware files are being loaded by the driver. Lack of firmware is the usual reason for the "SIOCSIFFLAGS: No such file or directory" error message.
Ensure the libertas-firmware package is installed.
Libertas CF/SDIO and SDIO/GSPI devices: Manually acquire and install firmware as described on the [http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas#devicefirmware libertas Linux Wireless page].
Supported Devices
?Anchor(supported_libertas_cs)
libertas_cs
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas - supported devices
?Anchor(supported_libertas_sdio)
libertas_sdio
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas - supported devices
?Anchor(supported_usb8xxx)
usb8xxx
The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo usb8xxx.
USB: 05A3:8388 ARC International (Device name unknown) USB: 1286:2001 Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. (Device name unknown)
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas - supported devices
See Also
[:WiFi/HowToUse:?HowToUse] WiFi adapter
External Links
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/libertas - Driver page on Linux Wireless
irc://irc.freenode.net/#libertas - Driver ["IRC"] channel