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Page Contents Introduction Important Notes Licensing Issues Installing the ipw3945 module CentOS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0 Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (Etch) Fedora Core 6 Fedora 7 Gentoo Linux 2007.0 Mandriva Linux 2007 Commercial/Non-Free Version Free Version SuSE Linux 10.1 Ubuntu/KUbuntu/XUbuntu Linux 6.10 Ubuntu/KUbuntu/XUbuntu Linux 7.04 Generic Method Conclusion

If the guide here does not cover what you were looking for you can view the guides section for coverage of other distributions.

Introduction

The Intel 3945ABG wireless controller is found in the Centrino chipset and is quite common in Intel Core and Intel Core 2 systems. Thanks to the work from Intel, there are a good set of drivers available for Linux which they have called the ipw3945 module. This guide will help you install and configure the Intel 3945ABG for Linux.

Important Notes

Licensing Issues

Due to the license Intel decided to use for this driver, some distributions do not include the driver at all while others only include it as a 'non-free' package. You should read and agree to this license before using the driver.

Installing the ipw3945 module

CentOS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0

The ipw3945 module is not included with CentOS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0 so we will need to use a 3rd party repository. Here we will be using the ATrpms repository.

If you are not currently using the ATrpms repository then, as root, add the following lines to the bottom of your /etc/yum.conf file:

Then execute the following command:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (Etch)

Debian include parts of the ipw3945 module in both the 'contrib' and 'non-free' repositories. You will need to enable both of these to install this driver.

Then, as root, execute the following command:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Fedora Core 6

The ipw3945 module is not included with Fedora Core 6 so we will need to use a 3rd party repository. Here we will be using the ATrpms repository.

If you are not currently using the ATrpms repository then, as root, add the following lines to the bottom of your /etc/yum.conf file:

Then execute the following command:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Fedora 7

The ipw3945 module is not included with Fedora 7 so we will need to use a 3rd party repository. Here we will be using the ATrpms repository.

If you are not currently using the ATrpms repository then, as root, add the following lines to the bottom of your /etc/yum.conf file:

Then execute the following command:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Gentoo Linux 2007.0

For Gentoo you can simple execute the following command as root:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Mandriva Linux 2007

Commercial/Non-Free Version

Mandriva include the ipw3945 module as standard and should automatically install and configure the driver for you. No work on your part should be necessary.

Free Version

To do.

SuSE Linux 10.1

SuSE include the ipw3945 module as standard and should automatically install and configure the driver for you. No work on your part should be necessary.

Ubuntu/KUbuntu/XUbuntu Linux 6.10

Ubuntu includes the ipw3945 module in the 'restricted' repository. You will need to enable this repository to install the driver.

Then execute the following command:

And that's it, the ipw3945 module is now installed ready to be configured. A reboot may be necessary to activate the driver.

Ubuntu/KUbuntu/XUbuntu Linux 7.04

Ubuntu now has a mechinism for auto detecting this wireless controller and install the ipw3945 module. It is all done automatically on install so no user input is necessary.

Generic Method

To do.

Conclusion

There you have it. Your distribution should now be able to see a wireless controller and be able to configure it.