add support for atheros wifi drivers in ibex

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This bug did not have a package associated with it, which is important for ensuring that it gets looked at by the proper developers. You can learn more about finding the right package at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage . I have classified this bug as a bug in linux.

There is an early module in the mactel-support PPA: https://edge.launchpad.net/~mactel-support/+archive

To clarify, ath9k was introduced in Linux 2.6.27. This is a request to backport ath9k to the kernel in Intrepid Ibex.

There are a few debs floating around with ath9k in 'em. Is this request too out outlandishly hard to accomplish?

Sorry if I seem a bit ignorant ...

Hi Guys,

Just a note that the kernel team is actually looking to bump the Intrepid kernel to 2.6.27. This should be available for testing shortly and should also be available in the next Alpha5 release for Intrepid - http://ww.ubuntu.com/testing . So if you can wait about a week or so and then please test and let us know your results that would be great. Thanks.

Just testing on Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 4 with all updates (as of today) and Wi-Fi does not work. The notebook is a MacBook Pro rev. 3. The WiFi chip is Atheros Communications Inc. AR5418 802.11abgn Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01). The kernel is 2.6.26-5-generic.

Ath9k is not in kernel 2.6.26. Please retest using 2.6.27.

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

Hi Guys,

I'm setting this to "Fix Released" since the 2.6.27 kernel is now available for Intrepid and the ath9k driver looks to be included:

ogasawara@emiko:~$ modinfo ath9k
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.27-2-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath9k/ath9k.ko
license: Dual BSD/GPL
description: Support for Atheros 802.11n wireless LAN cards.
author: Atheros Communications
srcversion: 68D2286E51D30C0052DF5CC
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000029sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000027sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000024sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000023sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: mac80211
vermagic: 2.6.27-2-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 586

I'm glad to hear it!

Unfortunately, I am unable to test ath9k. I am having troubles with my machine, but I hope to be re-building the beast soon. I should be able to post back with results in probably less than 4 weeks.

Don't hold me to it, but once I get it all sorted out, I'll be sure to report back here when ever that may be.

Thanks to the kernel team :D

I just upgraded my kernel to 2.6.27-3 and I can confirm that wireless "just works" (TM) on my MacBook (Atheros Communications Inc. AR5418 802.11abgn Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)):

santosjj@macbook:~$ modinfo ath9k
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.27-3-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/ath9k/ath9k.ko
license: Dual BSD/GPL
description: Support for Atheros 802.11n wireless LAN cards.
author: Atheros Communications
srcversion: 03E7D27607F9A10A0B8069D
alias: pci:v0000168Cd0000002Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000029sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000027sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000024sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v0000168Cd00000023sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: mac80211
vermagic: 2.6.27-3-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 586

wicked.

I'm actually having problems getting ath9k working in Intrepid. When I run modinfo ath9k, I get the same info as above but even after uninstalling my ndiswrapper driver and ensuring ath_pci was/was not blacklist (tried both ways), it still doesn't seem to work. I'll experiment some more though.

The Hardware Drivers GUI was useless, it failed and gave me no feedback what the problem was.

Maybe ath9k needs ot be in /etc/modules? [/noob]

Nope, putting ath9k in /etc/modules and modprobing it later was useless. For me at least, this is not necessarily working out of the box.

Also not working for me. See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/259157

Just to add my two cents:

I do not believe support for atheros drivers works out of the box. Didn't for me with 2.6.27. I refused to upgrade my HH kernel, and when I upgraded to II, i found that my wireless connxn would not work. So, I had to compile the madwifi drivers by hand.

Per a decision made by the Ubuntu Kernel Team, bugs will longer be assigned to the ubuntu-kernel-team in Launchpad as part of the bug triage process. The ubuntu-kernel-team is being unassigned from this bug report. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeamBugPolicies for more information. Thanks.