Airlink101 AWLL3026 wireless USB adapter

New kernels in Ubuntu versions after Dapper 6.06 now have the appropriate driver (zd1211rw) included for this device. However, there are some reports that this driver may not work correctly. As an alternative and for kernel versions prior to 2.6.18 (Dapper 6.06 and earlier Ubuntu releases) use the community driver zd1211 rev 85 or newer:

# wget http://zd1211.ath.cx/download/zd1211-driver-r85.tgz

Extract and compile the new modules (they will also get copied and registered):

# tar -xzvf zd1211-driver-r85.tgz
# cd zd1211-driver-r85
# sudo make both

This will create zd1211 and zd1211b drivers for the different chip revision numbers used in AWLL3026.

Plug in the AWLL3026 USB. The module should load automagically and the wlan0 interface should now be accessible:

# sudo ip link set dev wlan0 up

For WPA protected network, generate your hex key (PSK):

# wpa_passphrase yourssid

Create wpa_supplicant.conf:

# sudo vi /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

Add:

ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ctrl_interface_group=0
# the 2 lines above must be on top and are required for wpa_cli

eapol_version=1
# ap_scan=0-2, 2 should work
ap_scan=2
fast_reauth=1

network={
        ssid="yourAP"
        # scan_ssid needed if your access point uses a hidden ssid
        scan_ssid=1
        # proto=WPA (WPA), =RSN (WPA2)
        proto=RSN
        # key_mgmt=WPA-PSK, WPA-EAP
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
        # pairwise/group=CCMP (AES), TKIP
        pairwise=CCMP
        group=CCMP
        psk=yourhexkeyfromwpa_passphrase
}

Protect the file:

# sudo chmod 600 /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

Test the new setup:

# sudo wpa_supplicant -dd -w -D wext -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

It should authenticate. Check the status:

# sudo wpa_cli status

Selected interface 'wlan0'
bssid=00:00:00:00:00:00
ssid=yourAP
pairwise_cipher=CCMP
group_cipher=CCMP
key_mgmt=WPA2-PSK
wpa_state=COMPLETED

If you get an IP address via DHCP:

# sudo dhclient wlan0

Or, if you use static IP:

# sudo ip addr add 192.168.0.2/24 dev wlan0
# sudo ip route add default via 192.168.0.1

At this point the connection should be made.

To automate the process, edit interfaces:

# sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces

Add:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
        # WPA via wpa_supplicant
        pre-up wpa_supplicant -Bw -D wext -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
        post-down killall -q wpa_supplicant

At any time, to manually connect:

# sudo ifup wlan0

To disconnect:

# sudo ifdown wlan0

CategoryHardware