Re: APs from the Kernel Summit run Linux

Vojtech Pavlik
2005-08-30T12:17:58Z

On Tue, Aug 30, 2005 at 12:19:59PM +0200, Harald Welte wrote:

> > The D-Link DWL-G730AP devices from the Kernel Summit run Linux, And it's
> > likely a GPL violation, too, since sources are nowhere to be found.
>
> *lol*. Interestingly they must have twiddled the IP stack since when I
> tried an "nmap" on the device, it didn't recognize it as a Linux TCP/IP
> stack.

> > They're based on a Marvell Libertas AP-32 (ARM9) design, similar
> > to the ASUS WL-530g. A bootlog from the ASUS (which has telnet enabled
> > for some reason, and thus can be logged in) is at the end of the mail.
>
> So you grabbed that bootlog from the ASUS device, or from the D-Link?

This is from the ASUS.

> If it is from the ASUS, what makes you think that the D-Link runs the
> same OS? It is quite often the case that one chipset design has
> multiple operating systems ported to it (you see systems with the same
> broadcom or Intersil chipset, one running Linux, the other VxWorks).

> Please indicate how you came to the conclusion that the D-Link really
> runs Linux.

The device's ESSID during boot is 'Marvell AP-32', and the Libertas
AP-32 and AP-52 design toolkits contain only ports of Linux and eCos to
the device, according to Marvell. Considering the device's routing
capabilities I'm believe it's running Linux, but I don't have a solid
proof yet, unfortunately. The eCos port is intended for the non-router
variety of the design.

On the other hand, eCos seems to be GPL, too, although it's possible
that the owner dual-licenses it.

> > A firmware image is available from D-Link
> > and it seems to be composed of compressed blocks padded by zeroes. I haven't
> > verified yet that it's indeed a compressed kernel, cramfs, etc, but it seems
> > quite likely.
>
> I'm downloading it right now, and I'll see whether I can find any Linux
> in there.

Good luck. I'll try to take a look, too.

> > Anyone interested in dissecting it, and pushing D-Link/Marvell to release
> > the kernel sources?
>
> Sure, it's (unfortunately) not the first time I'm dealing with D-Link on
> their GPL [in]compliance :((

Rather unrelated, I'm trying to figure out what to do with Elo
Touchsystems, they used my HID driver as a base of their own binary-only
driver and don't answer to e-mail.

> > I'd love to get more out of this cute device ...
>
> If the design really is identical enough to the ASUS device, then I
> suggest looking into
> http://dlsvr02.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/WL-530g/GPL_1825.zip

I'll take a look, thanks!

--
Vojtech Pavlik
SuSE Labs, SuSE CR