Dreamplug - How To -

WiFi Client

The factory supplied DreamPlug provides a WiFi client setup. This guide is for those who have installed their own Debian rootfs (Squeeze or Wheezy) and/or kernel. These instructions are known to work on kernels later than 2.6.38.8.
Further the instructions work for Dreamplug serial numbers less than DS2-112* .
See this link for Dreamplugs that have the SD8787 WiFi (serial numbers DS2-114*)

Client WiFi support is supposedly in the kernel using the libertas and libertas_sdio modules. We found that they work on random configurations and we could not get the Linux drivers to behave in a consistent manner. Hence we use the Marvell supplied client drivers for client WiFi (and Bluetooth).
The setup below assumes that you do not require WiFi AP mode.

You can download the source at http://www.plugcomputer.org/plugwiki/index.php/File:SD_WLAN.tar.gz

The build process for these drivers is adequately described at http://www.plugcomputer.org/plugwiki/index.php/Setting_GuruPlug_to_be_a_stable_WiFi_Client

For later kernels (including v3 kernels) you need the patch at https://gist.github.com/961478 https://gist.github.com/gists/961478/download

Our intent is to provide precompiled versions of the Marvell wifi modules and utilities for kernels after 3.0.4 at http://www.spinifex.com.au/plugs/downloads/dreamplug/sdlan

You can use the Dreamplug kernels at http://sheeva.with-linux.com/sheeva only if the kernel version is configured with the CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV=y option. Check the .config of the precompiled kernel if you are unsure.

Setup

blacklist libertas

The libertas wireless client drivers need to be excluded. You do this by blacklisting by creating the file /etc/modprobe.d/dpwifiap.conf.
The AP mode wifi driver also needs to be disabled.

# cat /etc/modprobe.d/dpwifiap.conf

# disable dreamplug wireless client modules
blacklist libertas
blacklist libertas_sdio
# disable dreamplug wireless AP mode
blacklist uap8xxx

firmware

Once firmware is loaded it is difficult to unload, unless you reboot. So avoid loading the "libertas-firmware". The firmware we use is placed in /lib/firmware/mrvl. This firmware is the same as the firmware from the orginal micro SD as supplied by Globalscale. A copy is at http://www.spinifex.com.au/plugs/downloads/dreamplug/marvell_wifi_firmware.tar.gz
You can remove the libertas firmware (a good idea) with:

# apt-get remove libertas-firmware

Install the Marvell firmware

# wget http://www.spinifex.com.au/plugs/downloads/dreamplug/marvell_wifi_firmware.tar.gz
# tar x -C '/' --overwrite -zpf marvell_wifi_firmware.tar.gz

Install wireless tools

These are needed for client wifi

# apt-get install wireless-tools
# apt-get install wpasupplicant

Install the Marvell software

The Marvell SDLAN software builds:

mcypt.ko
sd8xxx.ko
wlanconfig
bt8xxx.ko (for bluetooth)

Install these as follows:

# mkdir -p /usr/local/lib/modules
# install -p -m 0644 mcypt.ko sd8xxx.ko /usr/local/lib/modules
# install -p -m 0644 bt8xxx.ko /usr/local/lib/modules
# install -p -m 0755 wlanconfig /usr/local/bin

Marvell documentation

The Marvell download contains some documentation:

sample interface

This allows you to stop and start the client wifi with ifup/ifdown.
Sample #1 is for WEP

# cat /etc/network/interfaces

# Used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8). See the interfaces(5) manpage or
# /usr/share/doc/ifupdown/examples for more information.
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

# example for a simple wep connection using a hex key
iface mlan0 inet dhcp
        wireless-essid myssid
        wireless-mode Managed
        wireless-key restricted 1 1A1AAAAAAABBBBBCCCCCDDDDEE
        wireless-defaultkey 1
        pre-up insmod /usr/local/lib/modules/mcypt.ko 2>/dev/null||true
        pre-up insmod /usr/local/lib/modules/sd8xxx.ko 2>/dev/null||true
        pre-down iwconfig $IFACE ap off || true
        pre-down iwpriv $IFACE radiooff || true
        pre-down iwpriv $IFACE softreset||true
        post-down rmmod sd8xxx||true
        post-down rmmod mcypt||true

Sample #2 is for WPA/WPA2 using wpa supplicant

# cat /etc/network/interfaces

# Used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8). See the interfaces(5) manpage or
# /usr/share/doc/ifupdown/examples for more information.
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

iface mlan0 inet dhcp
        pre-up ifdown uap0||true
        pre-up insmod /usr/local/lib/modules/mcypt.ko 2>/dev/null||true
        pre-up insmod /usr/local/lib/modules/sd8xxx.ko 2>/dev/null||true
        wpa-ssid "myssid"
        wpa-psk "mysecretpassphrase"
        wpa-scan-ssid 1
        wpa_ap_scan 1
        wpa_debug_level -2
        wpa-mode managed
        wpa-proto WPA RSN
        wpa-driver wext
        wpa-key-mgmt WPA-PSK
        wpa-pairwise TKIP CCMP
        pre-down iwconfig $IFACE ap off || true
        pre-down iwpriv $IFACE radiooff || true
        pre-down iwpriv $IFACE softreset||true
        post-down rmmod sd8xxx||true
        post-down rmmod mcypt||true

New WiFi Client

Dreamplugs with serial numbers that start with DS2-114 require minimal setup for client WiFi. This section describes the client setup when using V3 pre-built kernels from sheeva-with-linux.

The Linux driver mwifiex handles the new wifi, no blacklisting or special configuration s required other than installing the Marvell firmware.
Currently this driver provides support for 802.11/bgn managed and ad-hoc modes. The firmware is available at the Spinifex website.

Install the firmware

Install the firmware and reboot.

# wget http://www.spinifex.com.au/plugs/downloads/dreamplug/marvell_wifi_firmware.tar.xz
# tar x -C '/' --overwrite -Jpf marvell_wifi_firmware.tar.xz
# shutdown -r now

Install support software

Install both iw and iwconfig.

# apt-get iw wireless-tools wpasupplicant