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compat-wireless [2010/11/16 09:21] – update info on ancient kernels and cw-old sleekcompat-wireless [2018/07/20 22:58] (current) – compat-wireless is deprecated mister_x
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-====== compat-wireless ======+====== compat-wireless - DEPRECATED ======
  
 +
 +**UPDATE: DO NOT USE ANYMORE. If successful, it is a downgrade from the curent version of your existing drivers**
 +**UPDATE: compat-wireless is now known as [[https://backports.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Main_Page|backports]]**
  
  
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-We distinguish [[http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download#Compat-wireless_release_types|two]] versions of compat-wireless, development (//bleeding edge//) and stable. The development version may include more drivers, supported hardware and bug-fixes but may not be as stable as the 'stable' version which implies its nature. With minor exceptions, both versions will suffice in your bid to enable //aircrack-ng// support for your card/driver.+We distinguish [[http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download#Compat-wireless_release_types|two]] versions of compat-wireless, development (//bleeding edge//) and stable. The development version may include more drivers, supported hardware and bug-fixes but may not be as stable as the 'stable' version which implies its nature. With minor exceptions, both versions will suffice in your bid to enable //aircrack-ng// support for your card/driver. For the majority of the users the stable version is the preferred one to use
  
  
  
 The home page of the package is [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download|here]]. The home page of the package is [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download|here]].
 +Visit the compat-wireless [[http://forum.aircrack-ng.org/index.php?topic=6951.0|forum thread]] to share your experience if you need assistance.
  
  
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-==== Kernels newer than and 2.6.24 ====+==== Kernels 2.6.24 or higher ====
  
  
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 The installation process is as follows: The installation process is as follows:
  
-   $ wget http://wireless.kernel.org/download/compat-wireless-2.6/compat-wireless-$(date -I).tar.bz2 +// Download the latest available package from  http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Download/stable/ // 
-//**note:** compat-wireless tar balls aren't released everydayso you're probably better off going straight to http://wireless.kernel.org/download/compat-wireless-2.6/ and grabbing the latest available package// +   $ tar xvjf compat-wireless-3.6-rc6-1.tar.bz2 
-   tar -jxf compat-wireless-$(date -I).tar.bz2 +//**note:** the exact filename of the tarball depends on which version you have downloadedsubstitute the example filename with the one corresponding to the file you downloaded// 
- +   cd compat-wireless-3.6-rc6-1
-   $ cd compat-wireless-$(date -I)+
  
    $ wget http://patches.aircrack-ng.org/mac80211.compat08082009.wl_frag+ack_v1.patch    $ wget http://patches.aircrack-ng.org/mac80211.compat08082009.wl_frag+ack_v1.patch
        
 +   $ patch -p1 < mac80211.compat08082009.wl_frag+ack_v1.patch
 +
 +//**note:** the next two steps are only required for compat-wireless versions before v3.3-rc1-2 //
    $ wget http://patches.aircrack-ng.org/channel-negative-one-maxim.patch    $ wget http://patches.aircrack-ng.org/channel-negative-one-maxim.patch
- +      
-   $ patch -p1 < mac80211.compat08082009.wl_frag+ack_v1.patch +
-   +
    $ patch -p1 < channel-negative-one-maxim.patch    $ patch -p1 < channel-negative-one-maxim.patch
  
-   ( apply any additional patches that you may need ) +   ( apply any additional patches that you may need) 
 +//Before compiling, take a look at "driver-select" down the page//
    $ make    $ make
  
    $ sudo make install    $ sudo make install
  
 +   $ sudo make wlunload
  
- +   $ sudo modprobe driver-name 
- +Reboot, if you're unsure.
 ==== Kernels 2.6.22 - 2.6.24 ==== ==== Kernels 2.6.22 - 2.6.24 ====
  
-If you're using an ancient kernel, currently 2.6.24 or lower, you won't have much success enabling aircrack-ng. There used to be a package called //compat-wireless-old// which is no longer supported. You could try and dig in to [[http://www.orbit-lab.org/kernel/compat-wireless-2.6/|Orbit's]] archives for older releases, be warned, the likelihood of you succeeding is very slim. Your best bet to enable compat-wireless, thus aircrack-ng, is to install a supported kernel version. An other convenient option is to utilize linux Live CD with preconfigured settings for easy aircrack-ng operation. +If you're using an ancient kernel, currently lower than 2.6.24, you won't have much success enabling aircrack-ng. There used to be a package called //compat-wireless-old// which is no longer supported. You could try and dig in to [[http://www.orbit-lab.org/kernel/compat-wireless-2.6/|Orbit's]] archives for older releases, be warned, the likelihood of you succeeding is very slim. Your best bet to enable compat-wireless, thus aircrack-ng, is to install a supported kernel version. An other convenient option is to utilize linux Live CD with preconfigured settings for easy aircrack-ng operation. 
 ===== Uninstalling the package ===== ===== Uninstalling the package =====
  
  
- +Should you be in any way dissatisfied with the new drivers, you can uninstall them very easily and return to your default wireless kernel drivers: 
-Should you be in any way dissatisfied with the new drivers, you can uninstall them very easily by using "make uninstall" while in the original source directory. +  $ cd compat-wireless-$(date -I) 
- +  $ sudo make uninstall 
- +  $ sudo make wlunload 
- +Then reboot or sudo modprobe your-desired-driver to complete the process.
- +
 ===== Driver Select ===== ===== Driver Select =====
  
 +compat-wireless offers one very useful script, called //driver-select//, which allows you to save time when compiling your preferred driver. Currently not all drivers are available via driver-select but the most common ones are. Its useful if you install compat-wireless frequently or if you have one card on your computer. Enter the compat-wireless directory and issue:
 +  ./scripts/driver-select
 +to see all of the available drivers and options. An example of installing singular module would be
 +  ./scripts/driver-select ath9k
 +  followed by "sudo make && sudo make install"
  
- +Refer to the linux-wireless [[http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download#Selecting_your_driver|driver-select]] page for more details.
-compat-wireless now supports [[http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download#Selecting_your_driver|driver-select]], which is very useful for people with one card only or for those who debug and test a lot as it saves time when compiling.  See [[http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Download#Selecting_your_driver|driver-select]] for the full details. +
- +
- +
 ===== Troubleshooting ===== ===== Troubleshooting =====
  
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 If you encounter compilation problems, please make sure you've got kernel headers installed and that the system knows where to look for them. Generally, there should be a symlink under If you encounter compilation problems, please make sure you've got kernel headers installed and that the system knows where to look for them. Generally, there should be a symlink under
- 
  
  
    /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build    /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build
- 
  
  
 which points to the directory containing the kernel headers. which points to the directory containing the kernel headers.
  
 +**Compilation errors**
  
 +Every now and then, you may stumble upon errors during compilation and the process may end because of them. Its not necessarily **//your//** fault. Sometimes, the compat-wireless tar balls do come out with compile errors built in, which are usually resolved in the next few releases. Should this happens to you, simply download an older version from the previous days and try again. If your problem persists and you're stuck, share your difficulties with the community in this [[http://forum.aircrack-ng.org/index.php?topic=6951.0|forum]] thread
 ==== Module loading problems ==== ==== Module loading problems ====
  
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- +Secondly, as shown aboveit is imperative to unload ALL wireless modules before you attempt to load your newly compiled ones. While in the compat-wireless directory 
-Secondly, you will need to reload any modules you're currently using, as well as their dependenciesin order to make sure that there are no unresolved symbols (i.e. functions/macros/variables that are present in the new version but not in the old one). The best way to do this is to reboot. If you don't want to reboot, then simply rmmod all the wireless-related modules that are currently being used. For example, if you're using the b43 driver, then you would have to do : +  sudo make wlunload 
- +will make sure all of the wireless modules are unloadedwhich will pave the way for your new driver take its placeReboot if you're unsure.
- +
- +
-   # rmmod b43 +
- +
-   # rmmod ssb +
- +
-   # modprobe b43 +
- +
- +
- +
-Another approach is to use the unload script provided by the authors of the compat-wireless package. Just run **make unload** when the installation finishes. +
- +
- +
- +
- +
- +
-==== Broadcom firmware missing ==== +
- +
- +
- +
-Because of Broadcom's licensing, the firmware - which is essential for the card to run - cannot be freely distributed and is obtainable only by “extracting” their proprietary driver.  See [[http://aircrack-ng.org/doku.php?id=b43#installing_the_firmware|installing the firmware instructions here]] to learn the required steps. +
  
compat-wireless.txt · Last modified: 2018/07/20 22:58 by mister_x