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ZyDAS ZD1201 devices
This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on the ZyDAS ZD1201 chipset on Debian systems.
Contents
zd1201 is a Linux kernel driver for the ZyDAS ZD1201 USB 802.11b wireless LAN chipset. Supported devices are listed at the end of this page.
The driver is part of the Linux kernel since version 2.6.12 and is present in Debian kernel images. Non-free firmware is required.
For support of ZD1211 and ZD1211B 802.11g-based devices, see zd1211rw.
Installation
Firmware is required for device operation.
Acquire the firmware tarball:
$ wget -O zd1201-0.14-fw.tar.gz 'http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/linux-lc100020/zd1201-0.14-fw.tar.gz?download'
Extract and place the firmware files in /usr/local/lib/firmware:
$ tar xvf zd1201-0.14-fw.tar.gz $ su # mkdir /usr/local/lib/firmware # mv zd1201-0.14-fw/*fw /usr/local/lib/firmware
Install the wireless-tools package:
# aptitude install wireless-tools
Connect the device to your system. The zd12101 kernel module is automatically loaded for supported devices.
Verify your device has an available interface:
# iwconfig
Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.
Troubleshooting
Examine the kernel ring buffer (dmesg(1)) to verify required firmware is being loaded by the driver:
[11790.000729] usb 10-1: firmware: requesting zd1201.fw [11790.070317] usb 10-1: Failed to load zd1201.fw firmware file! [11790.070328] usb 10-1: Make sure the hotplug firmware loader is installed. [11790.070336] usb 10-1: Goto http://linux-lc100020.sourceforge.net for more info. [11790.070346] usb 10-1: zd1201 firmware upload failed: -2
- If requested firmware is not available, no wireless interface will be created.
After the firmware is installed, reload the driver: modprobe -r zd1201 ; modprobe zd1201
Known Issues
Other Notes
The zd1201 driver supports master mode operation, for use as a basic access point. This requires access point firmware (zd1201-ap.fw) to be downloaded to the device, instead of the default station firmware.
Provide ap=1 as a option to the zd1201 module:
echo options zd1201 ap=1 >> /etc/modprobe.d/local.conf
Physically disconnect your ZD1201-based device and remove the zd1201 driver:
modprobe -r zd1201
Connect the device to your system. The module and access point firmware will be loaded, your device will now operate in master mode.
Supported Devices
The page HowToIdentifyADevice/USB explains how to identify a USB device.
The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo zd1201 in Debian 2.6.32 (2.6.32-45) kernel images.
USB: 050D:6051 Belkin Components F5D6051 802.11b Wireless Network Adapter [ZyDAS ZD1201] USB: 0586:3400 ZyXEL Communications Corp. ZyAIR B-220 IEEE 802.11b Adapter USB: 0ACE:1201 ZyDAS ZD1201 802.11b USB: 0DB0:6823 Micro Star International UB11B/MS-6823 802.11b Wi-Fi adapter USB: 1044:8005 Chu Yuen Enterprise Co., Ltd GN-WLBZ201 802.11b Adapter
Unsupported
Zyxel ZyAIR B-120 (16-bit PC Card), also not supported via NDISwrapper.
External Links
http://linux-lc100020.sourceforge.net/ - driver homepage
See Also
zd1211rw - ZyDAS ZD1211/ZD1211B and Atheros AR5007UG devices