OpenSolaris

Atmel AT76C50x USB IEEE 802.11b Wireless Device Driver (atu)

The current version is 0.1

This driver is based on the source code from OpenBSD, and is provided
under the same BSD-type License.

Links

• SUNWatu package (v0.1) 

Note that this version supports 802.11b, WEP

Note that the atu driver works under Opensolaris build 105+

Requirements

Before downloading the source or installing the binaries, please
make sure that your system meets the following requirements:

• Atmel AT76C50x USB based 802.11b devices.
• Solaris Nevada build 105+

Hardwares

The following adapters should work: 

The following adapters are supposed to work, but not tested:

How to use

The easiest way to install the driver is from pre-compiled binary package:

    # wget http://www.opensolaris.org/os/community/laptop/downloads/atu-0.1-pkg.tar.gz
    # gzip -dc atu-0.1-pkg.tar.gz | tar xvf -
    # pkgadd -d . SUNWatu

You should be able to see the interface right after installing this
package without having to reboot first:

    # dladm show-link
    # ifconfig atu1 plumb

If plumbing failed, your card may be not supported or there is no driver alias for it.  Please try:

    # echo '::prtusb' | mdb -k			(check your device vendor ID and product ID)
    # update_drv -a -i 'usbxxxx,xxxx' atu	(manually add the device to driver alias)

If the above commands failed, please send us a note and we'll try to help.

If you can plumb the atu1 interface, you can use wificonfig/dladm to config the wireless interface. Alternatively, you can enable nwam.

    # svcadm disable physical:default
    # svcadm enable physical:nwam

You will have to use a little trick to make the device hotplugging work.
If you disconnected the device while the interface is plumbed and reconnected it to the USB port again, driver will print a warning messages (in /var/adm/messages):

    WARNING: atu1: device open, stage2 firmware not loaded

Then you need to gently unplug the USB connector only half way out of the hub (about 2 milimeters) the data pins are disconnected from the hub, but the device is still powered. This means the hub will detect the device is gone, but the firmware will stay in the RAM of the device. When you plug the device back in now, the hub will detect the device again. Doing this is fairly easy, but it won't always work on the first attempt. Just try a couple of times.

Once the stage2 firmware loaded, you will see a notification (in /var/adm/messages):

    NOTICE: atu1: stage2 firmware loaded

From this point on, the device is ready. Happy networking.

Notes

This is work in progress. Please send your questions and comments <mailto:laptop-discuss@opensolaris.org> discussion forum.