Madwifi-hal for Atheros 5k cards under Linux

[coroner]

For some users having trouble with their Atheros cards under Linux, some cards like the AR5007EG for example require a specific branch of Madwifi-hal.. posted here:
http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...-hal-0.10.5.6/

I have compiled a package specifically for the stock Fedora 9 kernel, 2.6.25-14 for i686 and have that available in RPM form here:
http://autopsy.liveprojects.info/REPO/RPMS/i386/

The SRPM for building a package against your own kernel, if you are using Fedora or another distribution which uses the same RedHat/Fedora style package build system with RPM and rpmbuild is here:
http://autopsy.liveprojects.info/REPO/SRPMS

This is the first package build for this particular branch that I have done, so if you look at the SPEC file, please don't puke. It still needs some BuildRequires and Requires fields set properly.

In any case, if you have another distribution and are wondering why your Atheros card does not work, or need help compiling and installing this particular MadWifi-HAL branch for your machine, I think we can help. The Ubuntu user who posted about his card is running into this same issue, I believe.

If you need a package built for another kernel version, let me know the kernel version and I can build that package for you also.

Sweet, that's the exact card I've got! I've had trouble with getting the stupid thing into monitor mode on Backtrack 3 for capturing packets with the aircrack-ng suite. Any tips/drivers/advice/ideas on that? I appreciate your hard work.

[Longhorner]

im going to give this a try thanks alot



>>>edit>>> i still do not know how to install anything on linux based systems im using ubuntu.

[coroner]

For Ubuntu Linux, compiling and installing from source would include using apt-get to install kernel-source or kernel-devel package or a similar kernel development package under Ubuntu.. then downloading the latest snapshot from the website listed here:
http://snapshots.madwifi-project.org...-hal-0.10.5.6/

They have a date you can see in the filename, then unarchiving it using tar command or something else in X windows like Archive Manager or similar.

cd into the extracted directory of the archive, and run:
make && make install

Blacklist the ath5k module like so:
echo "blacklist ath5k" >/etc/modules.d/ath5k

Reboot into Ubuntu, or modprobe -r the existing resident modules, and load ath_pci and ath_hal with modprobe.

See the manual pages and/or the website.

[Longhorner]

you know now that you break it down like that it makes perfect sense to a guy who grew up with windows

[Prometheum]

I have the same card (a AR242x). I've heard that this card is supported fully under later versions of ath5k/ath9k in ubuntu-backports-modules, but this is how I have it working with madwifi.

1. Install the packages build-essential, linux-source, and linux-headers-generic.

   sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-source linux-headers-generic subversion

2. Grab the latest SVN of this branch: http://svn.madwifi.org/madwifi/branc...i-hal-0.10.5.6
   

   svn co http://svn.madwifi.org/madwifi/branches/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6

3. cd into the directory you just created (cd mad<tab><enter>)

4. ./configure && make && sudo make install

5. Unload the current madwifi modules: [code] ./scripts/madwifi-unload[code]
6. echo 'blacklist ath5k' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
7. Load the new drivers:

   sudo depmod -ae && sudo modprobe -r ath_pci

The system should be fully functioning now.

[Longhorner]

is there a step before that i might be missing before the first line of code prometh or could it be because of ubuntu

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by Longhorner

is there a step before that i might be missing before the first line of code prometh or could it be because of ubuntu

Well possibly. Mind telling me what's going on?

[coroner]

Originally Posted by Longhorner

is there a step before that i might be missing before the first line of code prometh or could it be because of ubuntu

Pr0 /bin/bash
You need to open a terminal window Longhorner.
Mine is in Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal

[Prometheum]

Yes, there is that. Sorry for not mentioning it.

[Fate]

I actually wound up not having to blacklist any modules for this. I just went into Ubuntu's "Restricted Drivers" tool and disabled the stock modules from there. Maybe that accomplishes the same thing, I haven't checked.

Anyway, it's worth a mention that you'll have to run "make install" every time you upgrade kernels (or do some judicious copying of modules around) so you'd best keep your madwifi source code around. Ubuntu updated itself to the 2.6.27-9 kernel last night and my wireless magically stopped working. Re-doing "make install" and rebooting brought it back.

[coroner]

Originally Posted by Fate

Anyway, it's worth a mention that you'll have to run "make install" every time you upgrade kernels (or do some judicious copying of modules around) so you'd best keep your madwifi source code around.

This is why I like any distribution's build system, especially Fedora's.
With SRPMS, I don't really have to do anything, per kernel, in fact I can script rpmbuild to rebuild my modules as soon as bootstrap occurs on a new kernel, no I don't mean when I hit X windows and after opening a terminal, I mean when the modules try to get loaded out of the kernel tree, and don't exist because it's a new kernel, compilation happens through rpmbuild, then rpm inserts the package, and the modules are tried to reload.. and I never hit a desktop with a broken module set. It's nearly transparent.

Now you may ask, well doesn't that take too much time though during bootstrap, who wanrts to sit there and wait for a module set compilation right at bootstrap? Nobody probably, who wants to hit a desktop with no modules that aren't already there? Nobody probably.

While this is not how Fedora is currently set up stock, it might be something to look into soon for RAWHIDE or F11. Other distributions might look into it also. I think it would take the fun out of fucking off with my Linux system and building modules, but it isn't something that is mandatory, and unless you have akmods installed, this won't happen.. nothing is mandatory in Linux. This is where akmods are going I believe currently.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by coroner

This is why I like any distribution's build system, especially Fedora's.
With SRPMS, I don't really have to do anything, per kernel, in fact I can script rpmbuild to rebuild my modules as soon as bootstrap occurs on a new kernel, no I don't mean when I hit X windows and after opening a terminal, I mean when the modules try to get loaded out of the kernel tree, and don't exist because it's a new kernel, compilation happens through rpmbuild, then rpm inserts the package, and the modules are tried to reload.. and I never hit a desktop with a broken module set. It's nearly transparent.

Now you may ask, well doesn't that take too much time though during bootstrap, who wanrts to sit there and wait for a module set compilation right at bootstrap? Nobody probably, who wants to hit a desktop with no modules that aren't already there? Nobody probably.

While this is not how Fedora is currently set up stock, it might be something to look into soon for RAWHIDE or F11. Other distributions might look into it also. I think it would take the fun out of fucking off with my Linux system and building modules, but it isn't something that is mandatory, and unless you have akmods installed, this won't happen.. nothing is mandatory in Linux. This is where akmods are going I believe currently.

dkms is superior, rpm is for the nubs

[coroner]

Just so anyone reading is curious about DKMS and AKMODS, these are the project pages for the two:

DKMS
http://linux.dell.com/dkms/

AKMODS:
http://rpmfusion.org/Packaging/KernelModules/Akmods

Oh and Pr0, straight from the AKMODS website:

This is similar to dkms, but has one important benefit: one only needs to maintain a single kmod spec file which can be used both in the repos buildsystem and on the clients systems if needed.

Apparently DKMS is not used by any large distribution's build systems.
AKMODS is a Fedora buildsystem tool, for any distribution which uses rpm/rpmbuild and for client machines if you so choose.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by coroner

Just so anyone reading is curious about DKMS and AKMODS, these are the project pages for the two:

DKMS
http://linux.dell.com/dkms/

AKMODS:
http://rpmfusion.org/Packaging/KernelModules/Akmods

Oh and Pr0, straight from the AKMODS website:


Apparently DKMS is not used by any large distribution's build systems.
AKMODS is a Fedora buildsystem tool, for any distribution which uses rpm/rpmbuild and for client machines if you so choose.

Ubuntu uses DKMS. And using only one file isn't an upside: that means packages can't install their own files that have parts of the global configuration that pertain to that package.

[Longhorner]

oh right.... right i just started typing at random and hoped that it would work ....no im not that stupid

i went to the root terminal

typed the first line of code and if i remember correctly it could not find the source

i ignored that and moved on to the next line of code and of course svn was not a valid command.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by Longhorner

oh right.... right i just started typing at random and hoped that it would work ....no im not that stupid

i went to the root terminal

typed the first line of code and if i remember correctly it could not find the source

i ignored that and moved on to the next line of code and of course svn was not a valid command.

Oops, you'd have to install subversion. I'll add that.

However, linux-source is indeed a valid package, at least in 8.10. Try looking on packages.ubuntu.com for the package for another version, if it is different (I don't think it is, though if it is, it's likely linux-source-generic).

[coroner]

Originally Posted by Prometheum

Ubuntu uses DKMS. And using only one file isn't an upside: that means packages can't install their own files that have parts of the global configuration that pertain to that package.

I'm not sure what you mean here, AKMODS and DKMS only deal with kernel modules as packages, but the single file statement in my post states you need only one configuration file for the build system on RedHat's server and on your own machine.. if you're building packages for anyone's system, including your own opf course.. I'm not sure how DKMS differs, but all RPM packages have the ability to install configuration files that are globally part of that package, and ANY package if you so choose.. however that is out of the bounds of proper packaging.. I'm not sure what you mean but if you can elaborate please do so.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by coroner

I'm not sure what you mean here, AKMODS and DKMS only deal with kernel modules as packages, but the single file statement in my post states you need only one configuration file for the build system on RedHat's server and on your own machine.. if you're building packages for anyone's system, including your own opf course.. I'm not sure how DKMS differs, but all RPM packages have the ability to install configuration files that are globally part of that package, and ANY package if you so choose.. however that is out of the bounds of proper packaging.. I'm not sure what you mean but if you can elaborate please do so.

Then I misunderstood.

Hey guys new to this but i ran into a problem in the steps prometheum listed on the previous page. when I run the command { sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist } in terminal my terminal does nothing not even an error? any ideas on this.

thanx for all help...

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by Draven

Hey guys new to this but i ran into a problem in the steps prometheum listed on the previous page. when I run the command { sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist } in terminal my terminal does nothing not even an error? any ideas on this.

thanx for all help...

That's because the full command is

echo 'blacklist ath5k' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Though running just what you did and typing "blacklist ath5k<enter><control-D>" would also work.

Thanks Pro I am trying it now update u in a sec..

Okay well I got a new error as follows:

draven@Dravens-RIG:~$ ls
aircrack-ng Desktop Firefox_wallpaper.png Music Templates
airpwn-1.3 Documents GrabIt Downloads Pictures Videos
airpwn-1.3.tar Examples madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6 Public
draven@Dravens-RIG:~$
draven@Dravens-RIG:~$ cd madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ /scripts/madwifi-unload
bash: /scripts/madwifi-unload: No such file or directory
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ sudo /scripts/madwifi-unload
[sudo] password for draven:
sudo: /scripts/madwifi-unload: command not found
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ sudo /madwifi-unload
sudo: /madwifi-unload: command not found
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ /madwifi-unload
bash: /madwifi-unload: No such file or directory
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ ls
ath hal Makefile.kernel README THANKS
ath_hal include Module.markers README.dfs tools
ath_rate INSTALL modules.order regression
BuildCaps.inc kernelversion.c Module.symvers release.h
contrib Makefile net80211 scripts
COPYRIGHT Makefile.inc patch-kernel svnversion.h
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ sudo madwifi-unload
Unloading "ath_pci"
Unloading "wlan_wep"
Unloading "wlan_scan_sta"
Unloading "ath_rate_sample"
Unloading "wlan"
Unloading "ath_hal"
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ echo 'blacklist ath5k' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
blacklist ath5k
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$ sudo depmod -ae && sudo modprobe -r ath_pci
WARNING: /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist line 47: ignoring bad line starting with 'sudo'
draven@Dravens-RIG:~/madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6$

[Prometheum]

That command works perfectly for me. Maybe you should just open that file in a text editor (make sure to be root) and remove the offending line.

Line 47 reads as the las command
sudo depmod -ae && sudo modprobe -r ath_pci

if I removewont it cause probs plus it reads

"
# low-quality, just noise when being used for sound playback, causes
# hangs at desktop session start (Ubuntu: #246969)
blacklist snd_pcsp

sudo depmod -ae && sudo modprobe -r ath_pci <----line 47
blacklist ath5k
blacklist ath5k
blacklist ath5k
"

should I remove the 2 of the black list ath5k's?
and the sudo?

[Prometheum]

Yes, you should do that.

okay removed and redid commands but now its saying depmod is the problem can you look at the code make sure I am inserting it right? Like maybe the spelled wrong?


I really appreciate all your help

oh and I cant seem to locate the command depmod

[Prometheum]

That is a very odd thing, because depmod is most assuredly on any Ubuntu system. Or any other system, for that matter, as far as I know.

[coroner]

Nonsense. Ubuntu doesn't have depmod, just like it doesn't have LVM in the installer.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by coroner

Nonsense. Ubuntu doesn't have depmod, just like it doesn't have LVM in the installer.

:~$ which depmod

/sbin/depmod

:~$ whereis depmod

depmod: /sbin/depmod /etc/depmod.d /usr/share/man/man8/depmod.8.gz

Are we making statements based on five-year-old versions again?

And while LVM might not be integrated with Ubiquity, it's most certainly in debian-installer.

[coroner]

Originally Posted by Prometheum

Are we making statements based on five-year-old versions again?

Ubuntu doesn't have 5 year old versions.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by coroner

Ubuntu doesn't have 5 year old versions.

Yeah yeah, I rounded up. The oldest is 4 years now (counting from 9.04). Doesn't change the fact you were in fact wrong, and if it's the same reason as last time, it was because you're basing all of this on Warty.