Re: Software and kernel modules for Linksys WPC54G / WPC54GS


Date: 11/26/05

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    Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:53:17 -0500
To: Nico Gulden <cilugnedon@gmx.de>

    On Fri, Nov 25, 2005 at 12:22:51PM +0100, Nico Gulden wrote:
    > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
    > Hash: SHA1
    >
    > Hello all,
    >
    > I plan to set up a WLAN environment und I'm looking for the right
    > componenents. I'd like to use the Linksys WPC54GS or WPC54G WLAN
    > adapter.
    >
    > How are your experiences with these devices? Do they work easily with
    > debian? What chipset do the devices use and what modules or extra
    > software do I need in order to get it working.

    I acquired one of these from a windows using friend (who has sinced
    switched to Debian!). Getting the device to work was a simple matter
    of:

    $ sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper
    $ sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver.inf
    $ sudo modprobe ndiswrapper
    $ sudo sh -c 'echo ndiswrapper >> /etc/modules'

    Of course, you also have to edit /etc/network/interfaces and bring up
    the interface -- note that ndiswrapper by default will use wlan0 (not
    eth?) as the interface name.

    However, DO NOT BUY WPC54G*. Use free software drivers. Proprietary
    XP drivers cannot be trusted. They cannot even be trusted to obey FCC
    regulations -- their use may well be illegal -- there is no way to know.
    Nor should Linksys/broadcom be rewarded in any way for their unnecessary
    and counter-productive secrecy. Such rewards only hurt the progress of
    free software. Note that Linksys has actually written Linux drivers for
    the Broadcom chipset, but these are not free software. See link:

    http://linux-bcom4301.sourceforge.net/

    There are wireless PCMCIA devices with free software drivers. I do
    not know of any particular wireless-G cards which have them, but there
    are wireless-B cards which do (those using the Intersil Prism chipset,
    at least). See http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/hardware.html for a list
    which, unfortunately, does not distinguish PCMCIA cards from PCI. There
    is more information here:

    http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/#whard

    If you must buy WPC54G*, at least try to buy one used. Even if this
    behavior is multiplied, it is not likely to benefit linksys/broadcom
    in any way, since the used market is probably undifferentiated. While
    prices of new cards may go up as the used cards leave the market, prices
    of new or even used linksys cards are unlikely to go up any faster than
    the market as a whole. The Windows-using masses will just buy competing
    used cards if they can't find used linksys ones. At least, this will
    work unless Linux users start buying them new once the used market dries
    up -- but we can hope that Linux users are not so short-sighted. 

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