[Atmel-WLAN-USB] Restarting Wireless Link

[Dossy]

On 2003.11.10, Mike Smith <easygreenus at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> I am using a Linksys WUSB11 V2.6 on a system I keep running 24x7.  Its
> running Redhat 8.0.  The link will stay up sometimes for 1, 2, or even
> 3 weeks.  But,  for some reason,  it will loose its connection.  The
> only way I've found to bring the wireless link back up is a reboot.
> Its configured as eth0.  ifdown eth0 and ifup eth0 have no effect.
> /etc/init.d/network stop/start/reload has not effect.
> 
> How can I bring this link back up without rebooting?  
> 
> I'm running the April 16, 2003 version of the atmelwlandriver.  

I also have a WUSB11 V2.6 and was previously using the atmelwlandriver.
I'd encountered the same problem: after some time, it would go dead.
Bringing the link back here involved doing a ifdown/ifup combo -- my
if{up,down} scripts unplumb the wireless interface and rmmod/insmod the
usbvnetr module.

Back on October 22, I was able to get the at76c503 driver working after
patching the source to use the older 0.90.2-140 firmware (the 1.101.0-84
firmware didn't seem to turn the radio on for my particular WUSB11 V2.6
-- my guess is there's a bug in that newer firmware).

The wireless link has been up consistently since October 22 and it's
currently November 13 -- just over 3 weeks now.  If you're using the
WUSB11 V2.6 and require reliability, I strongly suggest switching to the
at76c503-rfmd driver.  If you find that your WUSB11 V2.6 also doesn't
seem to turn the radio on with the stock compile, try changing the
#include to use the older firmware, changing:

#include "fw-rfmd-1.101.0-84.h"

to:

#include "fw-rfmd-0.90.2-140.h"

Works like a charm after that.

Good luck,

-- Dossy

-- 
Dossy Shiobara                       mail: dossy at panoptic.com 
Panoptic Computer Network             web: http://www.panoptic.com/ 
  "He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
    folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)