Differences between revisions 5 and 6

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Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366, 88W8687 devices (mwl8k)

This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on Marvell TopDog chipsets on Debian systems.

Contents

Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366, 88W8687 devices (mwl8k)

mwl8k is a free and open source mac80211 driver introduced at Linux 2.6.30.

It supports wireless LAN devices based on specific Marvell Technology Group PCI/PCIe chipsets:

88W8363 (since Linux 2.6.34)
88W8366 (since Linux 2.6.33)
88W8687

Supported devices are listed at the end of this page. Non-free firmware is required for device operation.

For support of Marvell Libertas chipsets (802.11g), see libertas.

Installation

Debian 7.0 "Wheezy"

This release supports Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366 and 88W8687-based devices. Firmware is required for device operation:

88W8363-based devices

Install the build-essential, cabextract, unshield and wget packages:

$ su
# apt-get install build-essential cabextract unshield wget && exit

Acquire 88W8363 device firmware:

$ wget ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/wn311t_4_2_setup.exe
$ cabextract -F Disk1/data* wn311t_4_2_setup.exe
$ unshield -g Driver x Disk1/data1.cab

Download and compile a utility for extracting the firmware, then execute it:

$ wget -O extract.c 'http://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=126540674419330&q=p3'
$ gcc -o extract extract.c
$ ./extract Driver/netmw145.sys

Install the firmware:

$ su
# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
# cp fmimage_8XX1.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k/fmimage_8363.fw
# cp helper_8XX1.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k/helper_8363.fw

As the mwl8k module is automatically loaded for supported devices, reinsert this module to access installed firmware:
```
# modprobe -r mwl8k ; modprobe mwl8k
```
Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

88W8366 and 88W8687-based devices

Install the git package:
```
$ su
# apt-get install git && exit
```

Acquire device firmware from the linux-firmware GIT tree:

$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git

Install the firmware:

$ su
# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
# cp linux-firmware/mwl8k/* /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k

As the mwl8k module is automatically loaded for supported devices, reinsert this module to access installed firmware:
```
# modprobe -r mwl8k ; modprobe mwl8k
```
Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Debian 6.0 "Squeeze"

This release supports Marvell 88W8687-based devices only. Firmware is required for device operation:

Install the git package:
```
$ su
# apt-get install git && exit
```

Acquire 88W8687 device firmware from the linux-firmware GIT tree:

$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git

Install the firmware:

$ su
# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
# cp linux-firmware/mwl8k/*8687.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k

As the mwl8k module is automatically loaded for supported devices, reinsert this module to access installed firmware:
```
# modprobe -r mwl8k ; modprobe mwl8k
```
Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Supported Devices

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

The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo mwl8k in Debian 3.2.0 (3.2.41-2) kernel images.

PCI: 11AB:2A0A Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8363 [TopDog] 802.11n Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A0C Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8363 [TopDog] 802.11n Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A24 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8363 [TopDog] 802.11n Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A2B Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8687 [TopDog] 802.11b/g Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A30 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8687 [TopDog] 802.11b/g Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A40 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8366 [TopDog] 802.11n Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A43 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8366 [TopDog] 802.11n Wireless

External Links

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/mwl8k

CategoryHardware | CategoryWireless

-  ⇤ ← Revision 5 as of 2013-02-06 00:20:52 → 
  Size: 5504
  Editor: GeoffSimmons
  Comment: Update supported devices.
+   ← Revision 6 as of 2013-05-05 05:39:33 → ⇥
  Size: 5084
  Editor: GeoffSimmons
  Comment: Amend for Wheezy release.
-Deletions are marked like this.
+Additions are marked like this.
 Line 10:
-mwl8k is a free and open source mac80211 driver introduced in Linux 2.6.30.
+mwl8k is a free and open source mac80211 driver introduced at Linux 2.6.30.
 Line 26:
-=== Squeeze ===
+=== Debian 7.0 "Wheezy" ===
 Line 28:
-This release supports Marvell 88W8687-based devices.  Firmware is required for device operation:

 1. Install the DebianPkg:git package: {{{
# aptitude install git
# exit
}}}
 1. Acquire 88W8687 device firmware from the [[http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git|linux-firmware]] GIT tree: {{{
$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git
}}}
 1. Install the firmware: {{{
$ su
# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
# cp linux-firmware/mwl8k/*8687.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
}}}
 1. As the mwl8k module is [[Modules|automatically loaded]] for supported devices, reinsert this module to access installed firmware: {{{
# modprobe -r mwl8k ; modprobe mwl8k
}}}
 1. [[WiFi/HowToUse|Configure]] your wireless interface as appropriate.

=== Wheezy ===

The [[DebianTesting|testing]] distribution currently supports Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366 and 88W8687-based devices.  Firmware is required for device operation:
+This release supports Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366 and 88W8687-based devices.  Firmware is required for device operation:
-Line 54:
+Line 33:
-# aptitude install build-essential cabextract unshield wget
# exit
+$ su
# apt-get install build-essential cabextract unshield wget && exit
-Line 81:
+Line 60:
-# aptitude install git
# exit
+$ su
# apt-get install git && exit
-Line 97:
+Line 76:
+=== Debian 6.0 "Squeeze" ===

This release supports Marvell 88W8687-based devices only.  Firmware is required for device operation:

 1. Install the DebianPkg:git package: {{{
$ su
# apt-get install git && exit
}}}
 1. Acquire 88W8687 device firmware from the [[http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git|linux-firmware]] GIT tree: {{{
$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git
}}}
 1. Install the firmware: {{{
$ su
# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
# cp linux-firmware/mwl8k/*8687.fw /usr/local/lib/firmware/mwl8k
}}}
 1. As the mwl8k module is [[Modules|automatically loaded]] for supported devices, reinsert this module to access installed firmware: {{{
# modprobe -r mwl8k ; modprobe mwl8k
}}}
 1. [[WiFi/HowToUse|Configure]] your wireless interface as appropriate.
 Line 102:
-The following list is based on the ''alias'' fields of {{{modinfo mwl8k}}} in Debian 2.6.32 (2.6.32-46) kernel images.
+The following list is based on the ''alias'' fields of {{{modinfo mwl8k}}} in Debian 3.2.0 (3.2.41-2) kernel images.
 Line 105:
- ~- {{{
PCI: 11AB:2A2B Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8687 [TopDog] 802.11b/g Wireless
PCI: 11AB:2A30 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88W8687 [TopDog] 802.11b/g Wireless
}}} -~
##TAG:LIST_1_END

The following list is based on the ''alias'' fields of {{{modinfo mwl8k}}} in Debian 3.2.0 (3.2.35-2) kernel images.
## list generated with: http://www.klabs.be/~fpiat/linux/hardware/modinfo-devnames/
##TAG:LIST_2_START
-Line 123:
+Line 114:
-##TAG:LIST_2_END
+##TAG:LIST_1_END

Diff for "mwl8k"

Marvell 88W8363, 88W8366, 88W8687 devices (mwl8k)

Installation

Debian 7.0 "Wheezy"

88W8363-based devices

88W8366 and 88W8687-based devices

Debian 6.0 "Squeeze"

Supported Devices

See Also

External Links