[ltp] Intel 2100b WiFi Card

[Dan Borello]

*sigh*

That doesn't look so good.  Perhaps I will have to contact them also. 
There is a press statement somewhere that they will provide full linux
support at some point.  We'll see how it goes.

Thanks,
dan

On Mon, 2003-08-04 at 03:41, Frank Schaeckermann wrote:
> Dan Borello dan-at-borellos.com |Linux on ThinkPads| wrote:
> > Has there been any change in the status of this card under linux?  I
> > know that Intel reported that they would have full centrino support for
> > linux.
> > 
> > I have a T40 and would LOVE to get linux running on it.  I have read a
> > few pages about getting Debian installed, they all mention the lack of
> > support for the IBM Wifi card, but fail to mention the Intel 802.11b
> > card.  
> > 
> > Just for fun I loaded up Slackware 9.0 onto the T40 (and created
> > partitions without clobbering the restore partition).  It installed
> > great!  Alot of things appeared to work right away (sound, video, NIC). 
> > lspci found the intel WLAN card, but no driver was loaded for it.  I
> > wanted to test to see if my recovery partition was still alive and
> > clobbered the slack install, nothing lost.  
> > 
> > Any insight is appreciated.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > db
> 
> I had the following e-mail conversation with Intel Support Staff... I 
> don't think anybody should hold their breath for Linux support of the
> Wifi card... but read for yourself:
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> My first contact via their support form:
> 
> ->Name: Frank Schäckermann
> ->Email: xxx
> ->Customer_type: End-user
> ->Product: Intel(R) Centrino(TM) Mobile Technology
> ->Product_id: 955
> ->OS: Linux*
> ->Survey_opt_in: No
> ->Manufacturer: IBM ThinkPad T40p
> ->OEM: Yes
> ->component: Wireless Adapter
> ->Processor_speed: 1600MHz
> ->RAM: 1.5GB
> ->Device_driver_version:
> ->ProSet:
> ->Wireless_network:
> ->application:
> ->Phone:
> ->Issue: The Intel Wireless PRO 2100 chipset does not have a Linux 
> driver and apparently there is no technical specification available for 
> the community to try to write one. This is a very unpleasent situation 
> especially since our company is starting to use wireless network in our 
> offices!!!
> ->Form_id: 59
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Their answer:
> 
> Hello Frank,
> 
> Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.
> 
> Please note that Linux will run on any IA based PC.  Intel(R) 
> Centrino(TM) Mobile Technology-based systems include integrated 802.11b 
> wireless LAN capability, requiring particular drivers, which currently 
> do not run on Linux.  Intel has no plans at this time to write Linux 
> drivers for the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN MiniPCI Adapters.
> 
> For a list of drivers currently available for components of Intel 
> Centrino mobile technology (i.e. Intel(R) Extreme Graphics Drivers) 
> refer to the following link:
> 	http://downloadfinder2.intel.com/scripts-df/filter_results.asp?strOSs=39&strTypes=DRV&ProductID=955&OSFullName=Linux*&submit=Go%21
> 
> Please check the following site for Operating system support requirements:
> 
> 	http://support.intel.com/support/notebook/centrino/os.htm
> 
> Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Carlos B.
> Intel(R) Technical Support
> 
> Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries
> In the United States and other countries.
> 
> *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> My response  to their answer:
> 
> Hi Carlos!
> 
> Thanks for your prompt answer to my question!
> 
> If Intel - as you stated - doesn't have any plans to create Linux
> drivers for the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN MiniPCI Adapters, do you
> at least release the required technical information for the Linux
> community to create the necessary drivers itself?
> 
> Or do I have to read your answer the way that you just don't care if
> anybody can run Linux on Notebooks using this particular Adapter? I know
> your statement is that Linux runs on Inte(R) Centrino(TM) Mobile
> Technology-based systems but frankly, THAT statement only holds true if
> all the hardware of such a system is supported since I can't run Linux
> on it if I have to have wireless support!
> 
> I will make sure that the answer to my question you gave me so far will
> be widely known in the Linux community so people can avoid making the
> same mistake I did and stay away from buying notebooks with the Intel(R)
> PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN MiniPCI Adapters (which probably rules out a great
> number of Centrino based notebooks).
> 
> Kind regards, Frank Schaeckermann
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> And their - so far - final response to that:
> 
> Hello Frank,
> 
> Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.
> 
> We apologize if the information you have received did not meet your 
> expectations.
> 
> Unfortunately the required technical information you are requesting is 
> confidential. The Intel(R) Technical Support Staff cannot comment or 
> disclose any information classified as confidential. Likewise, Intel(R) 
> Technical Support cannot comment on any Company Internal Policies, 
> Operation Procedures or Business Management decisions.
> 
> We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Carlos B.
> Intel(R) Technical Support
> 
> Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries
> In the United States and other countries.
> 
> *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Maybe IBM can do something here... really a pitty and shows how far the 
> Intel commitment to Linux REALLY goes...
> 
> Regards, Frank
-- 
Dan Borello <dan@borellos.com>