Return-path: Received: from mga11.intel.com ([192.55.52.93]:3176 "EHLO mga11.intel.com" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1752753AbZFABhh (ORCPT ); Sun, 31 May 2009 21:37:37 -0400 Subject: Re: [Announce] Intel Wireless Multicomm 3200 WiFi driver From: Zhu Yi To: Maxim Levitsky Cc: "Luis R. Rodriguez" , "Luis R. Rodriguez" , "linville@tuxdriver.com" , "linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org" In-Reply-To: <1243771847.5248.10.camel@maxim-laptop> References: <1242872340-27417-1-git-send-email-yi.zhu@intel.com> <20090526222433.GA23972@bombadil.infradead.org> <1243736227.3623.180.camel@debian> <43e72e890905302327x23d0479bkb825ea05832c5ffd@mail.gmail.com> <1243752126.3623.375.camel@debian> <1243771847.5248.10.camel@maxim-laptop> Content-Type: text/plain Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:29:28 +0800 Message-Id: <1243819768.3623.438.camel@debian> Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org List-ID: On Sun, 2009-05-31 at 20:10 +0800, Maxim Levitsky wrote: > This is a fullmac driver, thus if I understand correctly, it behaves > on the outside more like an Ethernet adapter. Depends on how you define "outside". From the user point of view: yes; from the firmware point of view: no. Take a look at the new functions ieee80211_data_{from|to}_8023 in cfg80211 and their usage in iwmc3200wifi. > This will mean that many things possible with normal softmac card > won't be possible, like sending raw packets, etc... See above. > (and besides I belive that hardware is more or less the same, The hardware is different as we mentioned it is a multicomm device. > but more functionality is pushed down to firmware, and more firmware > code equals to bigger probability of bugs that aren't possible to > triage and solve easily. That's the con. The pro is saving more host CPU power and portability. > Does this device indicate that intel moves away from softmac devices, > or this is a device that will mostly be used in some dedicated market > sector (embedded devices for example)? I think it should be capable for embedded devices as well as desktop/laptops. Thanks, -yi