From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Dax Kelson Subject: Re: [Announce] Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 16:34:50 -0700 Message-ID: <1140824090.3475.56.camel@mentorng.gurulabs.com> References: <43FF88E6.6020603@linux.intel.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: NetDev , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Return-path: To: James Ketrenos In-Reply-To: <43FF88E6.6020603@linux.intel.com> Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org List-Id: netdev.vger.kernel.org On Fri, 2006-02-24 at 16:29 -0600, James Ketrenos wrote: > Intel is pleased to announce the launch of an open source project to > support the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection mini-PCI > express adapter (IPW3945). Cool! > In order to meet the requirements of all > geographies into which our adapters ship (over 100 countries) we have > placed the regulatory enforcement logic into a user space daemon that > we provide as a binary under the same license agreement as the > microcode. We provide that binary pre-compiled as both a 32-bit and > 64-bit application. The daemon utilizes a sysfs interface exposed by > the driver in order to communicate with the hardware and configure the > required regulatory parameters. It was exciting to watch the "centrino" wireless cards go from the least supported cards in the Linux to the near the best G and A cards from a feature and licensing stand point (modulo the firmware restart issues). I have a ipw2200 and have recommended it and now the ipw2915 to anyone who has asked (myself and ipw2xxx using co-workers have taught thousands of students and decision makers in Linux classes worldwide). It is very disappointing to see this binary user space daemon (that must run as root, presumably to write into /sys/) requirement. I recognize that it is a better poison than a binary kernel module. At the point when I'm in the market for a mini-PCI express wireless adapter I hope there are other cards available that don't require any kernel or userland binary pieces. I'll vote with my wallet so to speak. Dax Kelson Guru Labs