Building open80211s on Ubuntu

= Building open80211s on Ubuntu =

This is a quick tutorial for building the {{{wireless-testing}}} kernel with open80211s enabled on [ Ubuntu].  More official Ubuntu-specific details are available on the [ Ubuntu Wiki].

== Prerequisites ==

You need the following packages to build the kernel and make kernel packages:

{{{
$ sudo apt-get install -y fakeroot build-essential git-core kernel-package
}}}

To use menuconfig, you need ncurses:

{{{
$ sudo apt-get install libncurses5 ncurses-dev
}}}

If you have not done it yet, clone the {{{wireless-testing}}} kernel tree:

{{{
$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/linville/wireless-testing.git
}}}

== Configuring the kernel ==

Go to the wireless-testing directory and copy your current kernel's configuration:

{{{
$ cd wireless-testing
$ cp /boot/config-`uname -r` .config
}}}

and then update the configuration for the new kernel:

{{{
$ make oldconfig
}}}

If you need to apply any patches to the kernel, do so now.

Now run menuconfig (or your preferred configuration utility) and select at least the following options:
 * Networking -> Wireless -> Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211)
  * Enable mac80211 mesh networking (pre-802.11s) support
Enable any device driver(s) that you need, for instance:
 * Device Drivers -> Network Device Support -> Wireless LAN -> ZyDAS ZD1211/ZD1211B USB-wireless support

== Building the kernel ==

To build the kernel and make packages:

{{{
$ fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd kernel_image kernel_headers
}}}

When this finishes, you should see two .deb packages (the kernel itself and its headers) one directory up from the wireless-testing directory.  To install them:

{{{
$ cd ..
$ sudo dpkg -i linux-*.deb
}}}

This copies files into /boot, creates an entry in /boot/grub/menu.lst and installs the modules in /lib/modules. 

Additionally, you may want to create a symlink in /lib/firmware to link up your current kernel's firmware directory to the new kernel. [ graco baby stroller] The name of the new kernel is part of the file name for the .deb packages.  For example,

{{{
$ sudo ln -s /lib/firmware/`uname -r` /lib/firmware/2.6.26-wl
}}}

 * If you are testing with the Arlink USB module or another Zydas-based interface, use up-to-date [ Zydas firmware].
 * If you are testing with Broadcom-based hardware, make sure that you have the correct [ b43 firmware] available.

== Testing ==

You may now reboot into the new kernel (select it from the grub bootloader menu).  See the rest of the [wiki:HOWTO-0.2.1 HOWTO] for instructions on trying out the mesh. [ Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner]