Re: Re-distributable 88w8335 Firmware?

[Julian Calaby]

On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 16:10, Dan Williams <dcbw@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Wed, 2010-11-24 at 15:48 +1100, Julian Calaby wrote:
>> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 15:13, Dan Williams <dcbw@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> > Malo supports the PCMCIA/CF variant of the 8385; not a PCI variant
>> > AFAICT.  I know of no PCI variant for the 8385, just CF, SDIO, and GSPI.
>> > But I find it curious that malo supports 8335+8385, given that the
>> > firmware interface of the 8385 and the 8335 are so different.  Unless
>> > they have special firmware, the 8385 is a fullmac device, while the 8335
>> > is a softmac device.  Enough differences exist that I'd expect them to
>> > be driven by separate drivers, otherwise the code would be quite ugly.
>> > Which is why we didn't try to shoehorn the 8335 or TopDog stuff into
>> > libertas.
>>
>> You clearly know a hell of a lot more about the ins and outs of Marvel
>> chipsets that I do. =)
>
> Eh, *some* of the chipsets :)  Others (Lennert) know a lot more about
> later versions than I do.  But I never know everything or even enough of
> anything :)

I know exactly how you feel. =)

>> I stand corrected.
>>
>> So, to amend my previous request: We're after firmware for the softmac
>> 88w8335 chipset *only*.
>>
>> Though it may be nicer if Marvell were to bless Malo's firmware
>> package (linked above) as this contains firmware for the PCI 88w8335,
>> USB 88w8338 and a file which claims to be for the PCMCIA/CF 88w8385.
>
> Yeah, though honestly I'd rather have the duplex firmware from MSSII for
> the 8335, since it can do AP mode too.  That does leave the 8338 (USB?)

Me too - and it'd mean that we don't have to do AP-mode firmware
loading tricks like in mw8k. But if we can't get that then some
firmware is better than none.

> of course but we can probably get clarification on that too.  As with
> the 8335, I only have access to a 8335 Windows driver, but if we had a
> firmware extractor tool, I believe the Marvell Extranet firmware license
> covers embedded firmware from Windows .sys files too.

I think I may have a simple firmware extractor at home that I pulled
from *somewhere* when I was working on this last time. We can see if
it does anything with those files. I believe I have at least two
different Windows drivers at home - IIRC, one of them is *just* the
files needed for this extractor.

> And I think I might actually have a usb8338 too somewhere...

Nice!

Out of curiosity, what brand and model number is it? I might see if I
can obtain one for testing / development or whatever. (Not that I
really have time to write a driver, but I can test at the very least)

Thanks,

-- 
Julian Calaby

Email: julian.calaby@xxxxxxxxx
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