PCMCIA: use WaveLan PCMCIA cards

Support knowledgebase (pcmcia_wavelan)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 7.2
PCMCIA: Version 3.1.25-

Request:

You want use your WaveLan PCMCIA card with SuSE Linux.

Background:

Please note, that WaveLan using the standard 'ieee802.11b', should not be mixed up with other standards like HomeFree, DECT or Bluetooth.

Several WaveLan PCMCIA cards are supported (SuSE Linux 7.2, PCMCIA 3.1.25), respective the file '/usr/share/doc/packages/pcmcia/SUPPORTED.CARDS' and according to the manufacturers´ statement.Cards with a Lucent/Agere chipset are plain supported (also wireless extensions), e.g.:

It transmits via the ISM (industrial sientific medical) wave band 2,4 Ghz, intervisibility is recommended. If you use DSSS (direct sequence spread spectrum) procedure the transfer rate up to 11 Mbit/s will be achieved; the FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) procedure just up to 2 Mbit/s. Please pay attention on the legal basis for suretyship (a plot cross-bordered connection is not allowed) and the immunity of your wavelan against wiretapping.

Procedure:

It is recommended to use cards from manufacturers with the same current firmware which support the same level of encryption (WEP wired equivalency privacy 40 or 128 Bit encryption) and the same radio procedure (FHSS, DSSS).

Now the 'Ad Hoc Mode' will be described for instance if you use an ARtem Onair card with Agere/Lucent chipset. If you find in '/var/log/messages' the following entry:

Jul 17 14:38:05 linux cardmgr[3159]: executing: './network start eth0'
Jul 17 14:38:05 linux PCMCIA: /etc/pcmcia/wireless will not be executed
Jul 17 14:38:05 linux PCMCIA: package wireless-tools is not installed
install the package 'wireless-tools' from series 'ap'. Configure the network as habitual by the use of YaST1/2 whereupon you should activate the option 'PCMCIA' and please make sure, that the respective 'scheme' SuSE is activated:
cardctl scheme SuSE
The settings for the 'wvlan_cs' driver do in the file '/etc/pcmcia/wireless.opts', by suiting the already existing section for the 'Ad Hoc Mode' to, e.g.:
...
*,*,*,00:02:2D:*)
    INFO="my WaveLan card with Agere/Lucent Chip "
    ESSID="Wavelan Network"
    MODE="Ad-Hoc"
    KEY="s:secu1"
    ;;
...
Now the encryption is active with the password 'secu1'. The opposite side should also use the same keys and the same passwords. In the file /var/log/messages you can now find the following entries, e.g.:
...
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: socket 1: ARtem Onair ComCard11
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]:   product info: "ARtem", "Onair", "Version 1.0", ""
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]:   manfid: 0x0268, 0x0001  function: 6 (network)
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: executing: 'insmod -v /lib/modules/2.4.4-4GB//pcmcia-dhinds/wvlan_cs.o'
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: WaveLAN/IEEE PCMCIA driver v1.0.6
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: (c) Andreas Neuhaus <andy@fasta.fh-dortmund.de>
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + Using /lib/modules/2.4.4-4GB//pcmcia-dhinds/wvlan_cs.o
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + Symbol version prefix ''
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0100-0x04ff: excluding 0x2f8-0x2ff 0x378-0x37f 0x3c0-0x3df 0x4d0-0x4d7
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0300-0x0377: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0380-0x03bf: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x03e0-0x04cf: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x04d8-0x04ff: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0800-0x08ff: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0a00-0x0aff: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: cs: IO port probe 0x0c00-0x0cff: clean.
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: index 0x01: Vcc 5.0, irq 5, io 0x0100-0x013f
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: Registered netdevice eth0
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: MAC address on eth0 is 00 02 2d 2b d1 6b
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: Found firmware 0x7001C (vendor 1) - Firmware capabilities : 1-2-1-1-1
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: executing: './network start eth0'
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + Wavelan IEEE example (Lucent default settings)
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + /usr/bin/iwconfig eth0 mode Ad-Hoc
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + /usr/bin/iwconfig eth0 key s:secu1 [1]
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + /usr/bin/iwconfig eth0 essid "Wavelan Network"
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: MAC address on eth0 is 00 02 2d 2b d1 6b
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux kernel: wvlan_cs: Found firmware 0x7001C (vendor 1) - Firmware capabilities : 1-2-1-1-1
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + Sample private network setup
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux cardmgr[1255]: + /sbin/ifconfig eth0 up 192.168.0.10 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.0.255
Jul 17 20:30:36 linux modify_resolvconf: Service pcmcia modified /etc/resolv.conf. See info block in this file
...
Here instantly should the fact become clear that the 'messages' and the file '/etc/pcmcia/wireless.opts' should only be readable for the user root because the password is shown in plaintext. Please change the rights for 'wireless.opts':
chmod 640 /etc/pcmcia/wireless.opts
To deactivate the encryption, please type:
iwconfig eth0 key off
You can find further possibilities of 'iwconfig' in the respective manual page 'man iwconfig'.

The connection quality can be shown with:

iwspy eth0 + <IP address of the other host>
iwspy eth0
using 'watch -d -n 1 iwspy eth0' you can have a look at the output permanently.

Another possibility to configure a wavelan network is to use 'Structure Mode' with 'Access Points'.


Sources
  1. Wireless LAN resources for Linux: http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/
  2. Linux-Magazin 08/2000 S. 98 ff., Klaus-Dieter Baer: Angefunkt - WaveLAN im Einsatz http://www.linux-magazin.de/ausgabe/2000/08/Wavelan/WaveLAN.html
  3. iX, 1/2001, S. 64 ff.,Heinz W. Huber, Olaf Krause: Schwärmende Roboter
  4. Wireless Howto ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/howto/Wireless-HOWTO
  5. Orinoco: http://www.wavelan.com/
  6. The man pages for these modules: man wavelan_cs, wvlan_cs, wavelan_cs, airo_cs, asplus_cs, spectrum_cs, ray_cs, netwave_cs

Keywords: WAVELAN, WIRELESS NETWORK, NOTEBOOK, PCMCIA, ELSA, ORINOCO, LUCENT, ARTEM, IEEE802.11B, FHSS, DSSS, WIRELESSTOOLS

Categories: Hardware , Frequently asked Questions

SDB-pcmcia_wavelan, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 24. Jul 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 10. Dez 2001 by ast (sdb_gen 1.40.0)