Alexander Wallace wrote: >This may be unrealistic, but how hard would it be to port the linux driver to >solaris? I've never written a driver either but i could give it a try.... > >Thanks! >This message posted from opensolaris.org >_______________________________________________ >laptop-discuss mailing list >laptop-discuss at opensolaris.org > > > Just figured I'll reference what was discussed on [osol-discuss]. It was about getting mini-pci WIFI cards working. If you have a mini-pci WIFI card, this might help you.
Just wanted to post my findings on getting my laptop wifi working. I have an HP pavilion ze4430 which came with a "Broadcom" wifi "mini-pci" card internally. After reading about the "Solaris Wireless Driver for the Atheros 52xx Chipset (ath)" ref http://www.opensolaris.org/os/community/laptop/wireless/ I searched ebay and came across a company that has generic "mini-pci" cards with the Atheros 5212 chip. I purchased the card, removed the old Broadcom card, loaded the SUNWatheros package and it just worked. This company has plenty more cards for $29.99 each as "buy it now". I'm not affiliated with them, I just thought it was cheap and just worked without any glitches and some people might be interested. The link for this company store on ebay is http://stores.ebay.com/Prime-Electronic-Components . They have about 10 - 15 of them posted right now, you have to scroll through various pages to find them. Sorry if this sounded like a plug, it wasn't, I'm just so happy it works now. I have more to add. I sent an e-mail to the seller of the atheros cards and what he has to say is promising. Please note, I have not tested what is listed below, but I have no reason not to believe him. Again, use your own discretion. "We don't have a list of laptops that it works with, but I can tell you this. Out of over 2000 we have sold I have only had to take back 5 of them because they wouldn't work and then it is usually an IBM that causes the problems. You are correct that some manufacturers do not use a completely standard mini-pci slot. The way I understand it is that certain pins are designated for vendor use. We have run into the problem where a card doesn't completely work. What will happen the OS will recognize the card and install the drivers, but you will not be able to pickup any wireless networks or the card will come up that the radio is off. This happens when it is installed into a machine that has a proprietary mini-pci slot. These machines are usually ones that have a hardware switch to turn the radio on and off. The manufacturers do not all wire this option the same way. All you need to do to work around it is to cover 2 pins on the card and it corrects the problem by disabling the hardware switch. I have instructions on how to do this for anyone that runs into the problem. We offer a pretty liberal return policy. Any buyers who can not get it to work are more than welcome to return it for a refund if they feel it is incompatible." Instructions below: "Cover pins 11 and 13 on your m-pci wireless card (even pins are on the bottom side, the odd are on the top. For orientation, the top of the card is where you plug the two antenna in. While facing the top of the card count to pin 11 and 13. (from the cut in the card over, don't forget to count the lone pin as well 1,2) cover both pins 11 and 13 with tape (or finger nail polish) Place card back, start laptop, and you should be able to configure it from there."
