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= Requirements =

== Hardware ==
=== Wireless Card ===
 * A PCI/miniPCI or Cardbus card with an [http://www.atheros.com Atheros] chipset.
 * Please refer to [wiki:Compatibility] on which wireless cards are supported by the MadWifi driver.

=== Architecture ===
 * Please refer to [wiki:Architecture] for the list of supported systems for MadWifi.

== Software ==
 * '''root''' privileges for the machine on which you intend to install MadWifi.
 * For Debian, Ubuntu and related systems run as root: {{{apt-get install build-essential perl}}}
 * For Red Hat, Fedora and related systems run as root: {{{yum install gcc make perl}}}
 * Generally, make sure you have gcc, libc headers, make and perl

=== Kernel ===
 * Linux Kernel '''2.4.23+''' and '''2.6.x''' series
   * Others may work, but are unsupported; also, beware if using the very latest release candidate (RC#) kernel as it may not yet be supported
 * Kernel Source and Headers of running kernel (distribution provided kernel development package should be OK)
 * Wireless Extensions support in kernel
   * v14+ required, v17+ recommended; option '''CONFIG_NET_RADIO=y''' (kernel 2.6.22 and later: CONFIG_WLAN_80211=y)
 * Sysctl support in kernel
   * option '''CONFIG_SYSCTL=y'''
 * Crypto API support in kernel
   * option '''CONFIG_CRYPTO=y'''
 * AES support (for WPA networks)
   * option '''CONFIG_CRYPTO_AES=m'''

Use cat /boot/config-2.6.26-1-686 grep CONFIG_CRYPTO_AES

Use the [wiki:UserDocs/KernelConfig kernel config guide] to help set these kernel options.

=== Building the driver ===
 * '''gcc''' -- The same GCC version used to compile the kernel
   * otherwise, "Invalid module format" errors may occur
 * '''subversion''' -- If you choose to get the most recent MadWifi code, you'll need to check it out of our [http://subversion.tigris.org Subversion] repository.
 * '''make''' -- Used to automatically build programs.
 * '''perl''' -- Used by Madwifi Makefile to generate code
 * '''C libraries''' -- Standard C libraries needed for successful compilation (Type: sudo apt-get install build-essential)
 * '''madwifi''' -- [wiki:UserDocs/GettingMadwifi Download] the latest MadWifi driver.

=== Configuring the wireless card ===
 * '''iwconfig''' -- Used to connect to a wireless network; often called [http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Tools.html wireless-tools] by distributions.
 * '''wpa_supplicant''' -- Used to join a network with WPA encryption; often called [http://hostap.epitest.fi/wpa_supplicant/ wpasupplicant] by distributions.

Please check your [wiki:UserDocs/Distro Linux distribution] for more specific information.