Linux Wireless Networking

1
Linux Wireless Networking

• An overview of the state of wireless networking
  on Linux

2
Linux Wireless Layers
3
Kernel Modules

• In Linux, drivers are actually pieces of the core
  kernel called modules
• Modules - pieces of the Linux kernel that can be
  turned on or off as necessary, very useful for
  optional components

4
Wireless Firmware

• Free vs. Non-Free firmwares
• Political (not Technical) Issue
• Partially FCC (cards could be turned into
  radios), partially companies (not wanting to open
  their work)

5
Interface Abstraction Layer

• Where OSI model pays off
• Interfaces are identified by a short identifier
  and a number (beginning from 0)
• Wired and Wireless Interfaces all show up as
  devices (eth0, wlan3, atm0, gre2, etc.)
• Ifconfig and iwconfig interface with this layer

6
Userspace Daemons

• Daemon is a program that runs persistently on the
  server (Think Windows NT service)
• Wireless daemons provide user-land
  functionality, or functionality that isnt in the
  kernel
• 802.1x, WPA, and 802.11i functions here

7
Setup Scripts/GUI Tools

• Graphical equivalents of ifconfig and iwconfig
• Nice, but different across distributions