Configuring the ipw3945 module for the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller

Note: This guide has now been superseded by newer guides in our Guides section.

Bill Giannikos

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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.

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.

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:

[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

Then execute the following command:

yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945

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

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:

apt-get install ipw3945-modules-`uname -r` ipw3945d firmware-ipw3945

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

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:

[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

Then execute the following command:

yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945

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

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:

[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

Then execute the following command:

yum install ipw3945-kmdl-`uname -r` ipw3945

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

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

emerge ipw3945 ipw3945d

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

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.

To do.

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

Then execute the following command:

sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic

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

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.

To do.

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