Writing my own wireless driver?

saajii · 05-15-2004, 07:48 PM

hey guys;

i am a budding wireless engineer and would like to write my own wireless driver for my linux box.i know there are heapz of drivers out there for my intersil prism 2 based dlink card,but i still want to write my own to get an indepth knowledge of its working.Has anyone sucessfully written a wireless driver before or know of any documentation i can refer to which will assist me in my task?your comments are much appreciated.

zaphodiv · 05-16-2004, 09:37 AM

Sources of information available to you include the linux kernel source to see the API's and the book "Linux device drivers", there is a pdf copy on the web. There might be some useful info in the archives of the linux kernel mailing list.

To write a device driver you need to know how the hardware works. You will have to get the information from the card manufacturer or chipset manufacturer, disassemble the windows driver, or take the device apart, connect a logic analyser and watch the signals .

saajii · 05-16-2004, 07:29 PM

thnx zaphodiv.dat really did help.actually i am new at writing drivers so i guess the smart thing would be to get the basics right by reading "linux device driver".

well i think intersil has published the firmware for its prism chipsets on the web.will dat give me enough information about the hardwares working?comments are much appreciated.

saajii · 05-16-2004, 10:22 PM

hey guys;

i jst found this programmers manual for my interisil prism chipset at http://home.eunet.cz/jt/wifi/RM0251.pdf.But now what i am wondering is,because i am using a pcmcia card,do i have to modify my pcmcia driver in any way or for that matter the kernel source at all?cuz i downloaded hostap driver today and it gave me this additional modules to update my kernel and pcmcia driver.would appreciate if someone could explain as to whats happening :s