Re: RTL8187 in master mode with hostapd

[Larry Finger <Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net>]

On 04/17/2013 10:42 AM, Joelle wrote:
>
> The driver as distributed with the distros cannot provided AP functionality,
> this is true. However one only needs to patch in the proper call functions
> for AP functionality to work, which is what I did with the power functions.
> The patch is available on the Realtek site but is formatted for kernal ver
> 2.something and thus most be painstakingly edited in. This means that the
> driver as provided by the manufacturer, which was also provided as open
> source, utilized these functions and more. But as this chipset is now
> considered legacy by the manufacturer they no longer update the driver, thus
> breaking compatibility with new generations of linux.

Again, you are mixing apples and oranges. The driver on the Realtek web site 
does not use mac80211; whereas the one in the kernel does.

> I see this as a "crime against technology", and the comment that
> compatibility will 'never' come because the ability is and was available in
> these prior versions, all be it patched. This means that very little work
> needs to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. As for myself, I
> only 'almost' know what I'm doing and can't provide the technical expertise
> required to build a reliable enough driver to be given to the distros, nor
> do I have the repute to suggest an integration.

If you do not have the skills to integrate the changes, then you need to find 
someone that can. I must say that accusing peoples of "crimes against 
technology" is hardly tghe way to start.

> It's also a crime that the windows drivers continue to be updated, at the
> least a newish win 7 is available, but the linux community does not wish to
> peruse greater functionality. While I can't substantiate this with any
> degree of certainty I do recall an Ubuntu mod saying that they will never
> provider greater support because the primary use for the Alfa adapters,
> which was the primary purchaser of said chipsets, is for hacking purposes.
> This is a tragedy as the rtl8187, or any in that series, as well as the Alfa
> adapters can and do provide an excellent platform for many wifi needs.

If the Ubuntu quote was referring to using the driver with air-crack, then I agree.

> I also should address the transmit issue as well if I'm to maintain any
> credibility. High priority kernal patches can be used to provide one's
> software router with appropriate timing. In fact there were, perhaps are, a
> lot of 'very cheep' wifi router which had limited capabilities in their
> chipsets but made up for those deficiencies with software 'cheats'. At this
> moment I'm serving my 'very' small town with free wifi internet through a
> Windows XP Aspire One, with routing provided by my dedicated linux soft
> router. Despite the slowness of the laptop, idiocies of windows, and other
> drawbacks with my setup I've had up to 30 people surfing at once with a peek
> of 50 or so sitting authenticated.

If you have the ability to setup and maintain something like that, then I would 
think you should be able to port the non-mac80211 driver to modern kernels, or 
modify the kernel driver. At the moment, I am working on 3 drivers for which 
there is *NO* Linux driver publicly available. To me, that has a much higher 
priority. Besides, I am not getting paid to do this, and you are making me want 
to go fishing.

Larry