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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: ncafferkey on September 13, 2004, 11:21:45 PM

Title: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: ncafferkey on September 13, 2004, 11:21:45 PM
Hi,

I'm looking for a small number of people to test an 802.11b wireless network driver I'm writing. My driver is written to support Prometheus (as well as PCMCIA and other PCI solutions), but I don't have a Prometheus board. So if you have a Prometheus and a suitable wireless network card (see below), I'd appreciate your help.

To check if a card you have is suitable, see this list (http://www.linux-wlan.org/docs/wlan_adapters.html.gz). Suitable PCI cards have a "Prism2/2.5/3" chipset. Suitable cards can also be identified by their PCI ID, which is 0x1260/0x3873. Please reply to this thread or e-mail me at caffer@cs.ucc.ie. Thanks.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: EzdineG on September 13, 2004, 11:31:46 PM
I've a Prometheus and several of the D-Link units on the list, as well as both MiamiDX and Genesis to test your driver with.  

Sign me up!  PM or post a link..

Adrian
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: adolescent on September 13, 2004, 11:33:51 PM
If you need PCMCIA testers I have a Netgear MA401 (Prism 2.5 I believe).  I've been thinking of trying this myself but I think it's too great for a first Amiga programming job (I think starting with Hello World would be better).  
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Crumb on September 14, 2004, 09:22:10 AM
Are you using DMA functions? I just ask this to know if the betatesters should have an updated firmware.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: ncafferkey on September 14, 2004, 10:22:23 AM
Quote

Crumb wrote:
Are you using DMA functions? I just ask this to know if the betatesters should have an updated firmware.


No, these cards don't use DMA.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Brian on September 14, 2004, 10:28:14 AM
Sweet.. PCMCIA support... finaly I might be able to get rid of the ugly dongle on the side then once and for all. Question is, do there exist 16bit PCMCIA whireless ethernet cards with combo for ordinary LAN in case no whireless is available? I'd like to see a small compact thing on the side instead of the flimsy card and dongle routine I use now.

I don't have a card to test with though so keep me/us up to date on how it's going. You say other PCI solutions, I don't suppose Mediator is in that category?
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: ncafferkey on September 14, 2004, 10:48:25 AM
Quote

Brian wrote:
Sweet.. PCMCIA support... finaly I might be able to get rid of the ugly dongle on the side then once and for all. Question is, do there exist 16bit PCMCIA whireless ethernet cards with combo for ordinary LAN in case no whireless is available? I'd like to see a small compact thing on the side instead of the flimsy card and dongle routine I use now.


I'm not aware of any. That might be handy for a laptop, but I wouldn't see the point for a desktop computer.

Quote

I don't have a card to test with though so keep me/us up to date on how it's going. You say other PCI solutions, I don't suppose Mediator is in that category?


I'll try to support any bus-boards/platforms I can get the docs for.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Brian on September 14, 2004, 10:56:15 AM
I'd like to see a PCMCIA ethernet card for my A1200 that doesn't requier a dongle, that doesn't stick out all that far as the ehternet card I have today (possibly being half the length so it sit nicely snugg to the computer side) and a card that support both LAN and WLAN.

Getting docs for the Mediator... hmm... guess it won't work on that busboard then. :/
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: redrumloa on September 14, 2004, 12:39:27 PM
Sweet:-)

Do you need a Prometheus board? I can be of assistance :-D

I am certainly equiped to beta test drivers, I'll purchase a test card.

BTW we have a Prometheus developer mailing list in place if you are interested.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Acill on September 14, 2004, 03:55:05 PM
I'm guessing you will be using OpenPCI for the drivers? If so will you be making a MorphOS/Pegasos version of the driver? I bet if you go to morphzone.org you can find a lot of willing help with that.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: on September 14, 2004, 06:57:07 PM
How are you planning to maintain the WEP/WPA/etc. configuration of the WLAN card?

Through SANA-II "driver options"?

I have always thought the driver model needs updating for WEP/WPA, maybe you could play a part in defining a new SANA-II revision :)

Neko
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: leirbag28 on September 14, 2004, 09:20:32 PM
@ncafferkey
@Brian

Quote:


    Brian wrote:
    Sweet.. PCMCIA support... finaly I might be able to get rid of the ugly dongle on the side then once and for all. Question is, do there exist 16bit PCMCIA whireless ethernet cards with combo for ordinary LAN in case no whireless is available? I'd like to see a small compact thing on the side instead of the flimsy card and dongle routine I use now.



I'm not aware of any. That might be handy for a laptop, but I wouldn't see the point for a desktop computer.
----------------------------------------------------------------


YES!  there are tons of 16bit Wireless PCMCIA cards out there, with 802.11b or whatever.  I plan on getting one or two.

 As for whats the point?  how about being able to place my A600 or A1200 anywhere in the house at will?
Evenmore so, How about the Portable A600 I am working on?  I am adding an LCD flat screen to it and maybe the 1200 a well...............then I can walk into Starbucks anytime with my A600 and go online wirelesly............thats the point :-)  Also sometimes people buy only a wireless hub.........I want to be able to go to my cousins house and log onto their wireless hub effortlessly!  trust me....theres tons of uses, and I believe such a driver is totally necessary.............Also when doing a presentation or something like at an Amiga meeting.............lets say you tried to do a demo and it fails telling you you are missing Version3.4 of asl.library or NListtree.library.......you can just go to aminet wirelessly and download it instantly as to not interrupt the demo too much!  Wow!   that would be so lovely!

Good Luck man!  I hope it turns out good!

I hope you can definitely create this driver............boy!    

I for one will totally appreciate it!
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: adolescent on September 14, 2004, 09:40:17 PM
@leirbag

I think you mis-read the message.  Brian was asking if there was a combo ethernet and wireless card available to which the answer is no.  
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Brian on September 14, 2004, 10:49:51 PM
What I would like to have is one card that I can use at home on my LAN and also on the whireless in our clubhouse. The PCMCIA card should be short model that doesn't petrude so far out from the computer and with the stuff (RJ45 and wireless receiver) in the end of the card without extra dongle. Yes and once you find one of those do inform me of brand and model. ;)
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Sparky on September 14, 2004, 11:11:00 PM
There are actually loads of 16 bit 802.11b cards in the wild, try here for a rough list (quick google showed it up) :

http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/Client_5fAdapters_5f802_5f11b

Now drivers are a totally different matter :-)
Be nice to see if it could be done for the A600/1200 though.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: ncafferkey on September 14, 2004, 11:32:12 PM
Quote

redrumloa wrote:
Sweet:-)

Do you need a Prometheus board? I can be of assistance :-D


Thanks, but I don't have a suitable Amiga to put one into. The driver already works in the AmigaOne, so hopefully porting it to the Prometheus should be fairly straight-forward.

Quote

I am certainly equiped to beta test drivers, I'll purchase a test card.


E-mail me when you've got one and I'll send you the driver.

Quote

BTW we have a Prometheus developer mailing list in place if you are interested.


I'll keep that in mind.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: ncafferkey on September 14, 2004, 11:45:08 PM
Quote

Neko wrote:
How are you planning to maintain the WEP/WPA/etc. configuration of the WLAN card?

Through SANA-II "driver options"?


No, I've written a utility that sets wireless parameters and makes them available to the driver via a public data structure. Only WEP encryption will be supported.

Quote

I have always thought the driver model needs updating for WEP/WPA, maybe you could play a part in defining a new SANA-II revision :)


Yes, I've looked into that a bit.

Quote

Acill wrote:
I'm guessing you will be using OpenPCI for the drivers? If so will you be making a MorphOS/Pegasos version of the driver? I bet if you go to morphzone.org you can find a lot of willing help with that.


I probably won't be using OpenPCI. Do you know anything about docs availability for cybpci.library?
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Hakon on September 16, 2004, 04:55:02 PM
i hope those drivers will work under amithlon one day :). would be great.
Title: Re: Alpha testers wanted for wireless network driver on Prometheus
Post by: Crumb on September 16, 2004, 05:16:16 PM
OpenPCI drivers don't work correctly with Prometheus & Amithlon so I would keep away from them until Titan fixes them.