Differences

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--- compat-wireless [2010/11/16 10:47] – update driver-select sleek
+++ compat-wireless [2018/07/20 22:58] (current) – compat-wireless is deprecated mister_x
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== 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]]**
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
-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
@@ Line 53: / Line 56: @@
 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 everyday, so 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 downloaded, substitute 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
+   $ 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
-   $ patch -p1 < mac80211.compat08082009.wl_frag+ack_v1.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
@@ Line 106: / Line 109: @@
 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
 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 ====
@@ Line 124: / Line 126: @@
+Secondly, as shown above, it 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 dependencies, in 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 unloaded, which will pave the way for your new driver take its place. Reboot 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.