====== Configuring the ipw3945 module for the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller ======
**Note:** This guide has now been superseded by newer guides in our [[Installation Guide|Guides]] section.


===== Author(s) =====
Bill Giannikos
===== Editing This Page =====
If you would like to edit this page please first view our [[Editing Guidelines]].
===== 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 [[http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net|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 [[http://http://bughost.org/ipw3945/LICENSE|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 [[http://www.atrpms.net|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:
<code>[atrpms]
name=CentOS $releasever - $basearch - ATrpms
baseurl=http://dl.atrpms.net/el$releasever-$basearch/atrpms/stable
gpgkey=http://ATrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms
gpgcheck=1</code>
Then execute the following command:
<code>yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945</code>
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:
<code>apt-get install ipw3945-modules-`uname -r` ipw3945d firmware-ipw3945</code>
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 [[http://www.atrpms.net|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:
<code>[atrpms]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch - ATrpms
baseurl=http://dl.atrpms.net/fc$releasever-$basearch/atrpms/stable
gpgkey=http://ATrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms
gpgcheck=1</code>
Then execute the following command:
<code>yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945</code>
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 [[http://www.atrpms.net|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:
<code>[atrpms]
name=Fedora $releasever - $basearch - ATrpms
baseurl=http://dl.atrpms.net/f$releasever-$basearch/atrpms/stable
gpgkey=http://ATrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY.atrpms
gpgcheck=1</code>
Then execute the following command:
<code>yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945</code>
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:
<code>emerge ipw3945 ipw3945d</code>
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:
<code>sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic</code>
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.