Wifi

The situation with wifi is a bit confusing because whether a wifi device works or not depends on the chipset, which is not very well connected with the name brand. The other confusing thing is that sometimes wifi cards which have almost the same name are completely different on the inside.

1. 1. Wifi cards that don't at all work with Linux

• Agere mini pci 0508
• Atheros Wireless USB Dongle
• Belkin F4D500
• DLink DWL-G122-> Now Compatibility :)
• Linksys WMP11 (rev. 4) (InProcomm IPN2120)
• MSI MS6865 Ralink RT2500 USB
• Netgear WG311 v2 (same for v3)
• Netgear WG511 (One made in China)
• Netgear WN121T This card is classified as RED BAND, and requires an ndiswrapper to operate
• Netgear WPN111NA
• Netgear WG111TNA
• Netgear WG111T USB
• Netgear WPN111 USB
• Sitecom WL-120
• Trendnet TEW-423PI rev B1 with Marvell 'Libertas' wifi chip
• SMC 2802W V.2
• [[Linksys [AirConn]] INPROCOMM IPN 2220 Wireless LAN Adapter (rev 01)]
• US Robotics 5416
• US Robotics 5410
• Zyxel ZyAir B-122
• Microsoft MN-510 USB Wireless Adapter
• Waveplus WP1200
• Buffalo WLI-U2-KG125S USB ( < 2.6.25 )
• Planet Technology Corp. WL-U356M 802.11g Wireless LAN USB 2.0 Adapter

1. 1. Wifi cards that work with some difficulty

• Agere Systems 0110-PC
• Broadcom 43XX (except 4318)
• DLink DWL-510
• DLink DWL-650 Rev.P
• Linksys WPC54G - redband, no opensource driver, requires ndiswrappers
• Texas Instruments ACX-100 chip based
• Texas Instruments ACX-111 chip based
• Realtek RTL8180L

The good news is that firewalls and switches will almost always work with Linux.

1. 1. Brown Band PCI Wireless Networking Cards

All chips made by Broadcom Corporation require swirmware images to be loaded before they can operate. All devices containing these chips are classified as brown band and are not recommended for purchase.

• Broadcom BCM4301 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4303 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4306/2 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4306/3 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4309 - Requires swirmware in order to operat
• Broadcom BCM4311 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4312 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4313 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4318 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4321 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM4322 - Requires swirmware in order to operate
• Broadcom BCM43224 - Requires swirmware in order to operate