HowDoICompileAthk9Driver

I have just switched from Ubuntu 8.04 to the latest gnewsense release :-)

I have also ordered an express card adapter for wireless connectivity which should work with the new athk9 driver, which I have downloaded using git.

I have however no idea about how I should compile it and make it work.

I found a tutorial on how to do it in fedora:

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=195248

But how should I do it in gnewsense? I will receive my the express adapter later today or tomorrow so any help would be truly appreciated.

Best regards from a new gnewsense user :-)

Alex

I know ath5k support is only included since the 2.6.25 kernel but I don't really know about ath9k.

Either way, you will need at least a 2.6.25 kernel to compile it.

At the moment, the gNewSense repositories only include the 2.6.24 kernel, so...

I guess you'll have to wait.

You could of course download the fresh kernel from a Linux kernel mirror and then compile that but then you'll end up with a kernel with proprietary blobs so I don't recommend it.

The best thing is to wait until a more recent kernel version appears in the gNewSense repos.

Thanks for your reply although it wasn't what I had hoped for:-) Do you (or anyone else) have any idea about when a newer kernel will find its way to the repos? Are we talking about months?

I can't tell you but it will certainly not take "months".

If you *really* can't wait, just grab the latest kernel, "deblob" it with the deblob script and compile the kernel with the necessary support for Atheros cards.

Of course, some things will need adjustments and you'll also need some time to do this.

I'm sure someone here can somewhat tell you when newer kernel versions will appear in the repos?

Or you also can chosse a libre kernel. Insted of the one with propiertary and non free blobs.
You may wanna try: http://www.fsfla.org/svnwiki/selibre/linux-libre/download/releases/

Choose freedom!

Thanks to both of you, gnoe and Ark74.

Ark74, would there be any disadvantages to using a kernel compiled from the libre kernel source apart from the fact that I am not sure that I have the abilities to compile it with support for the atheros card? Is there a tutorial which could tell me how to do it?

There is still a lot of work to be done, and sadly if you don't have the abilities to compile the kernel it will be difficult, adding patches will be necessary until there is a suggested/oficial kernel that supports the ath9k, by now i'm looking at the 2.6.26 at it seems that ath9k is included, but still missing things.
Don't worry this project is under heavy development, so i may suggest that at the end of the month we'll have more answers. :)
It will also apply to the Asus EeePC too, yupi! \o/

Choose freedom!

Ok, if a solution is likely to show up within a month, I will probably just wait for it, although my new DLINK DWA-643 Xtreme N ExpressCard Notebook Adapter is looking up at me from its box with anticipation;-)

BTW, I also own a first generation Asus EeePC, which I will install gnewsense on when the wireless issues ere resolved.

If you own a EeePC, you might (temporarily) be interested in this:

http://lists.autistici.org/message/20080808.061503.7e585b84.en.html

Wifi was a problem with the EeePC but the guys at BLAG have been doing great work so now *all* hardware is being recognized with free software.