Re: [Announce] Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

["Jeff V. Merkey" <jmerkey@wolfmountaingroup.com>]

Awesome. Now all we need is someone to write the bcm series for wireless 
and ndiswrapper
can go away.

Jeff

James Ketrenos wrote:

> Intel is pleased to announce the launch of an open source project to
> support the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection mini-PCI
> express adapter (IPW3945).
>
> The project is hosted at http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net.  A development
> mailing list is available (linked from the top of the IPW3945 project
> page.)  You can find the current development release for the adapter by
> following the links on the project home page.
>
> A stable [end user targetted] version is not yet available. Those
> interested in using the development version should review
> the notice linked to from the project page.  A stable version should
> be available in the next few weeks.
>
> Aside from a form factor change (our prior wireless cards were mini PCI
> while this one is mini PCI express), this project has also changed the
> division of work between what occurs on the adapter and what the host is
> responsible for performing.  The microcode and hardware provide lower
> level MAC services (timings, backoffs, transmit queue management, etc.)
> The host is responsible for middle and upper layer MAC services.
>
> As a result of this change, some of the capabilities currently required
> to be provided on the host include enforcement of regulatory limits for
> the radio transmitter (radio calibration, transmit power, valid
> channels, 802.11h, etc.)  In order to meet the requirements of all
> geographies into which our adapters ship (over 100 countries) we have
> placed the regulatory enforcement logic into a user space daemon that
> we provide as a binary under the same license agreement as the
> microcode.  We provide that binary pre-compiled as both a 32-bit and
> 64-bit application.  The daemon utilizes a sysfs interface exposed by
> the driver in order to communicate with the hardware and configure the
> required regulatory parameters.
>
> Those familiar with our prior projects may be pleased with the changes
> we have made with the license agreement for binary portions of this new
> project.  We were able to provide a more easily understood agreement
> for the binary components required for the adapter to function.  While
> this new license still restricts against reverse engineering and
> modification, it has been changed to allow easier redistribution.  You
> can find the terms of the agreement accessible from the microcode
> and daemon download page linked to from the project site.
>
> The current development snapshot contains backward compatibility code
> to allow the driver to work in older kernels.  We will be removing 
> that code prior to submitting the driver for inclusion in the kernel.
>
> Thanks,
> James
>
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