mac80211 vs. hostapd

mac80211 vs. hostapd

[Joerg Pommnitz]

Hello all,
can somebody explain the relationship between hostapd and mac80211? To =
be more specific:

I'm used to the Madwifi driver where one could create a virtual interfa=
ce in AP mode and the net80211
stack included in Madwifi would then provide the AP functionality.
I understand that things are differently with mac80211 based drivers. T=
he kernel part of the stack does
not include the AP functionality at all. Handling of associated station=
s is done by hostapd. Is this
correct so far? Does "iwconfig wlan0 mode master" have any meaning? How=
 does one create multiple
virtual interfaces (the equivalent of Madwifis wlanconfig command)?

If so, I could not find a sample configuration for hostapd that provide=
s a simple, unsecured AP.
I suspect that this is because traditionally hostapd has only been used=
 to provide a WPA secured AP.

Is this the right list to ask for such a sample configuration?
=20
--=20

Thanks in advance and kind regards

       Joerg








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Re: mac80211 vs. hostapd

[Johannes Berg]

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On Fri, 2007-03-30 at 01:37 -0700, Joerg Pommnitz wrote:

> The kernel part of the stack does
> not include the AP functionality at all.

Well, it includes some of the required functionality obviously...

>  Handling of associated stations is done by hostapd. Is this
> correct so far?

If I understand you correctly, then yes.

>  Does "iwconfig wlan0 mode master" have any meaning? 

It prepares mac80211 to accept hostapd commands on the interface.

> How does one create multiple
> virtual interfaces (the equivalent of Madwifis wlanconfig command)?

Through nl80211 or cfg80211's sysfs.

> If so, I could not find a sample configuration for hostapd that provides a simple, unsecured AP.
> I suspect that this is because traditionally hostapd has only been used to provide a WPA secured AP.

The hostapd config file is well commented. Go read it.

johannes

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