WVLAN_CS(4) Kernel Interfaces Manual WVLAN_CS(4)
NAME
wvlan_cs - Lucent WaveLAN/IEEE 802.11 device driver
SYNOPSIS
insmod wvlan_cs.o [irq_list=i,j,...] [port_type=n] [station_name=s] [network_name=s] [channel=n] [ap_density=n] [medium_reservation=n]
[frag_threshold=n] [transmit_rate=n] [eth=n] [mtu=n]
DESCRIPTION
wvlan_cs is the low-level Card Services driver for the Lucent WaveLAN/IEEE 802.11 and compatible (the NCR WaveLAN/IEEE 802.11, the
Cabletron RoamAbout 802.11 DS, the Melco WLI-PCM-L11) wireless ethernet adapters. When this driver is attached to a card, it allocates the
next available device (eth0..eth#). This device name will be passed on to cardmgr(8) for the card configuration, and reported in the ker-
nel log.
PARAMETERS
irq_list=i,j,...
Specifies the set of interrupts that may be allocated by this driver.
port_type=n
Select WaveLAN port type: [1] BSS - Basic Service Set (default), [2] WDS - Wireless Distribution System, [3] Pseudo-IBSS - ad-hoc
network (no AccessPoint, PtP).
station_name=s
Sets the station name. The default is card-configured.
network_name=s
Sets the independent network name in ad-hoc mode. Sets the desired network (desired ESSID) to connect to if using an access point.
The default is card-configured.
channel=n
Channel (frequency) for ad-hoc networks and is useless if using an access point. Valid range: [0-14] (depends on local restric-
tions) and defaults to [3]
ap_density=n
Sets the access point density (sensitivity). This affects modem and roaming thresholds. [1] low density (default), [2] medium den-
sity, [3] high density.
medium_reservation=n
Sets the medium reservation (RTS/CTS frame length), which affects the number of octets in a message or fragment above which a
RTS/CTS handshake is performed. [500] hidden stations, [2347] no RTS/CTS (default). Valid range: [0-2347]
frag_threshold=n
Defines the number of bytes used for the fragmentation boundary for directed messages (Fragmentation length unicast message trans-
mission). [2346] is the default, valid range: [256-2346] (even numbers only!).
transmit_rate=n
Transmit rate control. [1] fixed low, [2] fixed high, [3] auto select high (default), [4] fixed medium, [5] fixed high, [6] auto
select standard, [7] auto select medium.
eth=n Network device naming. By default [1] devices are named eth#, set this to [0] to have devices named wvlan#.
mtu=n Maximum transfer unit. [1500] is the default, valid range: [256-2296]
WIRELESS EXTENSIONS
Use iwconfig(8) to manipulate wireless extensions. You need a kernel which was compiled with CONFIG_NET_RADIO set. It is recommended that
you run at least Linux kernel 2.2.11 and use wireless_tools 19. Older version do not support all of the current commands.
ESSID (network ID)
Set the network ID of the desired network to connect to (with access point) or the name of your private ad-hoc network (no access point).
Mode
Set the operating mode to Ad-Hoc or Managed. In managed mode, the card will try to connect to an Access Point, to get access to the infra-
structure. In Ad-Hoc mode, the card doesn't require an Access Point and can communicate directly with its peers.
Frequency & channels
Channel (frequency) for ad-hoc networks. The frequency is changed immediately and is only changeable in ad-hoc network mode. You may enter
a frequency value in the 2.4 GHz band or the channel number.
Valid values: 2.412, 2.417, 2.422, 2.427, 2.432, 2.437, 2.442, 2.447, 2.452, 2.457, 2.462, 2.467, 2.472 or 2.484 GHz (depends on local
restrictions) and defaults to 2.422 GHz
Sens
Set the Access Point density (sensitivity). This affects modem and roaming thresholds. [1] low density (default), [2] medium density, [3]
high density.
Rts
Sets the medium reservation threshold (RTS/CTS frame length), which affects the number of octets in a message or fragment above which a
RTS/CTS handshake is performed.
Use [500] when there are hidden stations or large number of nodes and [2347] for no RTS/CTS (default). Valid range: [0-2347]
Frag
Defines the number of bytes used for the fragmentation boundary for directed messages (Fragmentation length unicast message transmission).
To be used when you have interference on the radio, because it significantly decreases the performance.
[2346] is the default, valid range: [256-2346].
Rate
Set the rate used for transmission (but not reception). You may want to set it to a fixed value for high number of nodes.
The default is auto, or you may use 1, 2, 5.5 or 11 Mb/s (of course, 2 Mb/s cards cannot get the higher speeds).
Enc
Set the encryption key [0 to FFFF-FFFF-FF]. Use [off] and [on] to disable and reenable the hardware encryption. This feature works only
for device with encryption option (Silver or Gold).
The card has 4 different keys that you may select, and you can choose the default key for transmission (see iwconfig(8)).
Nick (station name)
Set the station name (only used for debugging purpose).
Statistics spy
Set a list of MAC addresses in the driver (up to 8) and get the last quality of link for each of those (see iwspy(8)).
/proc/net/wireless
status is the status reported by the modem. Level and Noise refer to the signal level and noise level in dBm.
PRIVATE IOCTL
You may use iwpriv(8) to manipulate private ioctls.
Histogram
This functionality allow to set a number of signal level intervals and to count the number of packets received in each of those defined
intervals. This distribution might be used to calculate the mean value and standard deviation of the signal level.
SPECIFIC NOTES
Some of the mentioned features are optional. You may enable to disable them by changing flags in the driver header and recompile.
It's currently not possible to use the WaveLAN/IEEE as a bridge (MAC level). This is not a restriction of the driver, the NIC firmware
doesn't allow to send out packets with another source MAC address than its own (which is mandatory required for bridgeing to work).
Also the WaveLAN/IEEE can be used to connect to an Access Point, but cannot be an Access Point itself (because lack of bridgeing).
AUTHOR
Andreas Neuhaus <andy@fasta.fh-dortmund.de>
http://www.fasta.fh-dortmund.de/users/andy/wvlan
THANKS
I would like to thank Lucent Technology for making the necessary information available to public. Thanks to Nico Valster and Jan Martejin
at Lucent for technical support. Thanks to Frank Bruegmann, who managed to get additional hardware for me so that I can now do tests in
different environments. And thanks to Jean Tourrilhes for many patches and wireless kernel extensions. Also many thanks to everybody who
tested and helped me developing this driver :-)
SEE ALSO
cardmgr(8), pcmcia(5), ifconfig(8), insmod(1), iwconfig(8), iwspy(8), iwpriv(8).
27/12/99 WVLAN_CS(4)