Virtual Network Interface

Virtual Network Interface

[Duy Tai Nguyen]

Dir sir!
I'm a student of University of Technology HCMC, When I find whether
Android is able to support virtual network interface (vif) like vif in
linux (wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/iw/vif/)
I am wondering if you can help me explain some questions below.
1. does android kernel support virtual network interface (vif)?
2. does 802.11 standard consist of vif?
3. does all WiFi cards support vif or only some of them?
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Nguyen Duy Tai
Ym: kimjiwoo741
Phone: +841676919422
Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering.
University of Technology HCMC.
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Re: Virtual Network Interface

[Ben Greear]

On 01/07/2014 05:24 AM, Duy Tai Nguyen wrote:
> Dir sir!
> I'm a student of University of Technology HCMC, When I find whether
> Android is able to support virtual network interface (vif) like vif in
> linux (wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/iw/vif/)
> I am wondering if you can help me explain some questions below.
> 1. does android kernel support virtual network interface (vif)?
> 2. does 802.11 standard consist of vif?
> 3. does all WiFi cards support vif or only some of them?

The android phone I looked at briefly was running an Atheros
based NIC, but it did not support more than one station VIF.

Possibly other systems can do more, but I think it is not
very likely.

In general, if you want multiple stations vifs, you need
ath9k, and for more than just a few stations, you need a
pci or pci-e based NIC (not USB).

Ath5k might work in some cases, and with proper firmware and
some driver tweaks, ath10k should support some as well.

Thanks,
Ben



-- 
Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>
Candela Technologies Inc  http://www.candelatech.com

Re: Virtual Network Interface

[Krishna Chaitanya]

On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 11:59 PM, Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com> wrote:
> On 01/07/2014 05:24 AM, Duy Tai Nguyen wrote:
>> Dir sir!
>> I'm a student of University of Technology HCMC, When I find whether
>> Android is able to support virtual network interface (vif) like vif in
>> linux (wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/iw/vif/)
>> I am wondering if you can help me explain some questions below.
>> 1. does android kernel support virtual network interface (vif)?
>> 2. does 802.11 standard consist of vif?
>> 3. does all WiFi cards support vif or only some of them?
>
> The android phone I looked at briefly was running an Atheros
> based NIC, but it did not support more than one station VIF.
>
> Possibly other systems can do more, but I think it is not
> very likely.
>
> In general, if you want multiple stations vifs, you need
> ath9k, and for more than just a few stations, you need a
> pci or pci-e based NIC (not USB).
>
> Ath5k might work in some cases, and with proper firmware and
> some driver tweaks, ath10k should support some as well.
>
> Thanks,
> Ben
>
>
Adding to that, its not a question of android supports or not, rather
your wifi chipset supports or not. iw (if its available will give info
of the NIC capabilities).

VIF is a implementation term, no the 802.11 standard concept.

My phone has a qualcomm WCN chipset which does support multiple
VIF's, one for STA, SoftAP, P2P etc..

Once you have rooted the phone you can use the same commands
as desktop linux and play around with the VIF's.

Re: Virtual Network Interface

[Duy Tai Nguyen]

thank for clear answer !

2014/1/8 Krishna Chaitanya <chaitanya.mgit@gmail.com>:
> On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 11:59 PM, Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com> wrote:
>> On 01/07/2014 05:24 AM, Duy Tai Nguyen wrote:
>>> Dir sir!
>>> I'm a student of University of Technology HCMC, When I find whether
>>> Android is able to support virtual network interface (vif) like vif in
>>> linux (wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/iw/vif/)
>>> I am wondering if you can help me explain some questions below.
>>> 1. does android kernel support virtual network interface (vif)?
>>> 2. does 802.11 standard consist of vif?
>>> 3. does all WiFi cards support vif or only some of them?
>>
>> The android phone I looked at briefly was running an Atheros
>> based NIC, but it did not support more than one station VIF.
>>
>> Possibly other systems can do more, but I think it is not
>> very likely.
>>
>> In general, if you want multiple stations vifs, you need
>> ath9k, and for more than just a few stations, you need a
>> pci or pci-e based NIC (not USB).
>>
>> Ath5k might work in some cases, and with proper firmware and
>> some driver tweaks, ath10k should support some as well.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ben
>>
>>
> Adding to that, its not a question of android supports or not, rather
> your wifi chipset supports or not. iw (if its available will give info
> of the NIC capabilities).
>
> VIF is a implementation term, no the 802.11 standard concept.
>
> My phone has a qualcomm WCN chipset which does support multiple
> VIF's, one for STA, SoftAP, P2P etc..
>
> Once you have rooted the phone you can use the same commands
> as desktop linux and play around with the VIF's.



-- 
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Nguyen Duy Tai
Ym: kimjiwoo741
Phone: +841676919422
Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering.
University of Technology HCMC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re: Virtual Network Interface

[Duy Tai Nguyen]

Dear sir!
In my project, I need a mesh network between a group of android
devices. But one complex issue is that :
" I need to create at least 2 interfaces based on only one physical device ".
When @BenGreear said that not all of android devices supported that
function. I have searched for other solution with WiFi Direct, but I
have met the same problem.  Now, I need some answers to explore my
problems:
1. What is the different between supported virtual interface NIC and
NIC, which don't support virtual interface?(about channel, firmware or
something like that) ?
2. When android device connected to an AP, It also see a list of other
APs at the same time. That mean android device can interact
concurrently with many APs. Therefore, I think we can find the way
that one android device can talk with many android devices at the same
time. Is that true ?
3. Can I modify the content of Mac802.11 frame by only modifying the
kernel code?
Because I am a newbie and Information about wireless kernel is scarce.
I hope I can receive your answer! thanks you!
Best regard !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nguyen Duy Tai
Ym: kimjiwoo741
Phone: +841676919422
Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering.
University of Technology HCMC.
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