Robert G. (Doc) Savage wrote:
On Mon, 2004-03-15 at 18:49, Rick Stevens wrote:
I can assure you that the D-Link DWL-650+ card (the one with the curved
antenna) will NOT work with Linux as it uses a TI chipset and they won't
release the API to open source. It works quite well with ndiswrapper,
however.
Rick,
The same is true of D-Link's DWL-A650 5GHz 802.11a card. Its
corresponding DI-754 access point works fine with Linux, but requires
only a web browser to configure for operation.
As does their AP-900+ and AP-1000+ access points/clients/repeaters. I
use an AP-900+ at home to link my garage/lab's hub to the DI-614+
wireless router/hub/firewall in the house.
I have heard thru the grapevine (believe it, why not?) that the actual
reason D-Link will not relase its APIs to open source is that they have
a very strict NDA with the chip's manufacturer. For all I really know
this may be just another urban legend, but it has a curious ring of
truth to it. As the story goes, D-Link respects this NDA not so much
because of some minor trade secrets, but because the chipset reportedly
has frequency and power capabilities with potential for real abuse.
Yes, I know. The chip maker is Texas Instruments and yes, the chips can
"speak" outside the frequency spectrums permitted by 802.11a/b/g. The
power is also adjustable up to a certain point.
D-Link would not want to become known as the maker of WiFi cards that,
in irresponsible hands, could cause significant interference to military
and public safety communications. To avoid this, says the story, they
supply only Windows drivers in binary form.
I understand that and I respect it. However, as I said, any binary
driver can be disassembled and tweaked or the operation can be inspected
and simulated. For legal reaons, yes, D-Link and TI want to distance
themselves as much as possible from such shenannigans. I'm not blaming
them. I'm simply making a statement about the inavailability of open
source drivers from TI and a number of other chip makers.
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- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer rstevens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -
- VitalStream, Inc. http://www.vitalstream.com -
- -
- I won't rise to the occasion, but I'll slide over to it. -
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