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Solaris Wireless FAQ

 Jan. 25, 2008

Contents:

  • NOTE
    Solaris Wireless GENERAL INFORMATION 
    • 1.
       Q: How to install WiFi driver?
      • Step 1: Check WiFi hardware
   # prtconf -pv

 You can grep "pciclass, 028000" for WiFi card's vendor id, and device id; To check compatible list to make sure it is supported.
 You can also read information from scanpci output directly to check if the hardware is supported or not:

   # /usr/X11/bin/scanpci -v
      • Step 2: Choose right driver & right versions according to the compatible list ;
      • Step 3: Install driver by specific command:
   # cp driver_32bit /kernel/drv
   # cp driver_64bit /kernel/drv/amd64
   # add_drv -i '"pcixxxx,xxxx"' driver_name

 or, install driver by pkgadd command:

   # pkgadd -d . SUNWxxxx

topopensolaris wireless 

    • 2.
       Q: My laptop has WiFi driver installed, how come it doesn't work?
      • Make sure driver is correctly installed by:
   # modinfo | grep [driver_name]

 Also, run devfsadm to make sure a link to WiFi interface is created under /dev:

   # devfsadm -i [driver_name]
      • Do not forget plumb interface:
   # ifconfig [WiFi_interface] plumb
      • Make sure radio switch is ON. It is very easy to be neglected. Although wificonfig support get radio status, but not all drivers support this feature. For ipw and iwi drivers, you can try:
   # wificonfig getparam radio
      • If you are using build(snv_62+), you can try GUI tool nwam. The usability is friendly. Initiate it, by:
   # svcadm disable svc:/network/physical:default
   # svcadm enable svc:/network/physical:nwam
      • If GUI doesn't work, or you run earlier build, or you want to try command line tools(dladm), you can try some basic commands:
   # svcadm disable nwam /* disable nwam firstly */
   # dladm scan-wifi
   # dladm show-wifi

 For WEP/WPA network, please create security object first:

   # dladm create-secobj -c wep/wpa [key_name]
   ...input key here...

 Then, you can connect to a specific AP:

   # dladm connect-wifi -e [essid_name] -k [key_name] [WiFi_interface]

 for other scenario, dladm manpage has more detailed information.

      • The other command line tool, wificonfig, can be used as well:
   # wificonfig -i [WiFi_interface] scan

 wificonfig support profile, so user can connect to specific profile directly:

   # wificonfig createprofile [myprofile_name] essid=[essid_name] encryption=wep wepkey1=[key]
   # wificonfig -i [WiFi_interface] connect [myprofile_name]

 for more usage, please refer to wificonfig manage.
laptop community
topopensolaris wireless 

   1. # eeprom console=ttya        /* redirect console */
   2. # eeprom boot-file=kmdb      /* enable kmdb at boot */
   3. # reboot
   4. connect the serial port in you laptop to that in another machine with a
      DB9 serial cable.

   5. # tip -9600 /dev/ttya        /* open a serial console */

   6. push key 'Shift'+'~'+'#'     /* enter kmdb */
   7. in kmdb
      7.1 >pcwl_intr:b             /* set breakpoint */
      7.2 >:c                      /* continue */
      7.3 >$C                      /* print the interrupt stack frame */

topopensolaris wireless 

    • 6.
       Q: Is there any WiFi support in S10 and updates?
      topopensolaris wireless 
    • 7.
       Q: Is there any GUI tool for WiFi that I can use in Solaris?
   # svcadm disable svc:/network/physical:default
   # svcadm enable svc:/network/physical:nwam
# man nwamd

topopensolaris wireless 

    • 8.
       Q: I do not know how to use command line tool for WiFi set up, do you have any document that I can refer to?dladm
      wificonfig
      • Please refer to the document "System Administration Guide: IP Services" on how to configure WiFi with dladm:
        http://docs.sfbay.sun.com/app/docs/doc/819-3000/gduew?a=view
         When this section was written, WPA was not supported. So for setting WPA, you still need to # man dladm
         and check dladm create-secobj section.
         Detailed info about nwam is on opensolaris.org:
        http://opensolaris.org/os/project/nwam/
         Currently phase 0 has been integrated into OpenSolairs b62.
      • Wificonfig is going to be obsolete. But as it's the first WiFi configuration tool and has been there for years, many GUI tools, like inetmenu and the network admin panel, are developed on its basis. The available doc is # man wificonfig
        .
   # dladm create-secobj -c wpa wpa_key
   # dladm connect-wifi -e ap_name -k wpa_key

topopensolaris wireless 

   . ath: ath_dbg_flags
   . wpi: wpi_dbg_flags
   . ipw: ipw2100_debug
   . iwi: ipw2200_debug
   . wpa: wpa_debug_level
   . ndis: debug-level
      • Add debug flag line in the bootom of /etc/system for different drivers:
   set driver-name:debug_flag = 0xffffffff
      • use mdb to set up message log, for example(wpa):
   # echo "wpa_debug_level, 1/w 1" | mdb -p `pgrep wpad`
      • modify configuration file, for example(ndis):
   insert one line in /kernel/drv/bcmndis.conf:
   debug-level=0xf;
      • a specifical case, wpad(OpenSolaris version), you can use command like below:
   # wpa_supplicant -i ath -F -dd

topopensolaris wireless 
DRIVER INFORMATION

    • 1.1
       Q: The wpi(Intel 3945 driver) doesn't work because of I/O error, is there any work around for this?
       1.2
       Q: The wpi has permission denied error, how to fix it?# ifconfig wpi0 plumb
   # ifconfig wpi0 plumb
   ifconfig: plumb: wpi0: I/O error
   # ifconfig wpi0 plumb
   ifconfig: SIOCSLIFNAME for ip: wpi0: permission denied

CR6419924
wpi-bdg-workaround.tar.gz

   # gzip -dc wpi-bdg-workaround.tar.gz | tar xvf -
   # ./wpi_bdg_workaround.ksh

topopensolaris wireless 
2. WPA(wireless protected access) :-> OpenSolaris WPA page

   # /usr/sfw/bin/openssl version
   OpenSSL 0.9.7d 17 Mar 2004

topopensolaris wireless 

   # wget http://opensolaris.org/os/community/laptop/wireless//os/community/laptop/downloads/Wireless_Success.pdf

topopensolaris wireless 
4. IPW/IWI-> OpenSolaris ipw page, iwi page

    • 4.1
       Q: radio parameter is supported, can I set radio on by command?WL_RADIO
      wificonfig
      # wificonfig -i ipw0 getparam radio

      topopensolaris wireless 
last modified by admin on 2009/10/26 12:08
 
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