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.

[enkrypt0r]

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.