CibbuanoAtheros released open source drivers for Linux
July 30th 2008 09:19
As Linux matures and grows, a few naggling problems still prevent it from being as easy-to-use as Windows or OS/X: some manufacturers refuse to release the drivers to the open source crowd, making Linux resort to hacks and spackle to get things to work.
I know this from firsthand experience... I recently bought a new low-end laptop from Acer and it has an Atheros wireless adapter. I installed Kubuntu Hardy Heron and it detected almost all the hardware I needed - except for the wireless adapter.
The workaround isn't so complicated, but it is intimidating. I had to download a MadWifi driver, which is a reverse engineered driver developed by some heroic Linux warriors. I compiled it and loaded it, which worked great, but everytime I update my system, I have to repeat the process.
Instead, Atheros did the slick thing: they hired the MadWifi guys and released the driver as open source. With the army of slick Linux hackers on it, Atheros cards will get integrated into the kernal in no time.
"While Atheros had long offered some support for Linux, it has always insisted on keeping its HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) code proprietary. Last year, an open-source alternative, OpenHAL, became available, but it wasn’t completely compatible with the newer chipsets.
This change by Atheros isn’t too much of a surprise because the company just hired two of Madwifi’s top developers: Luis Rodriguez and Jouni Malinen. "
This change by Atheros isn’t too much of a surprise because the company just hired two of Madwifi’s top developers: Luis Rodriguez and Jouni Malinen. "
We're laughing now. One down, Broadcom and NVidia to go....
| 59 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Also, I think companies are starting to realize that it's better for them, in the long run, to provide open source drivers. In the case of Atheros, they got two developers who know their equipment inside out!
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
It is a desktop PC.
The card is a Guillemot ISIS.
Works fine on winme.
But nothing XP due to technical issues.
I have seen a half written driver for Linux but nothing that can access its 8 input breakout box.
Sad but true.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Well, there is a reverse engineering project happening, but I see it's in pre-alpha.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Yes I followed that for a while but they dropped it and failed to get the break out box going.
I am seeing if Hackintosh have a solution.
Comment by StephenT
--------
This post has been listed on TechShoe.