Wext/mac80211/nl80211/201780211

• Wireless-extensions-old wireless driver framework

• Mac80211 -- API for softmac driver

• 201780211 -- new configuration API

• Nl80211 -- New User Control <-> kernel space communication mode

Basic schematic diagram of component Interaction
[Wireless card]
|
[Linux kernel]
|
[Udev] [libnl]-[IW]
| /\
[CRDA] \
| \
[Wireless] |
[Regulatory] |
[Database] |
|
|
[Hostapd]
Understand what each part is.
Wireless card: shocould be self explanitory... handles sending/grouping ing wireless packets
Wireless Network Adapter: Operation Receiver/developed wireless package
Linux Kernel: the Linux kernel contains the driver for the wireless card, the mac80211 subsystem which handles packet generation and scheduling, and the nl80211 subsystem, which handles refreshing ing the wireless interfaces for userspace
Linux: the Linux kernel includes the wireless network license driver, and the generation and timing of the mac80211 subsystem Processing Package. Processing of nl80211 wireless interface configuration in user space 201780211
Libnl: libnl is the transport layer used to communicate with the kernel via Netlink
Libnl: the transmission layer that uses Netlink to communicate with the kernel.
Udev: udev is the facility the kernel uses to pass events/callto CRDA
Udev: udev is the kernel's facility from events/CILS to CRDA.
IW: IW is a userspace utility that we can use to test that libnl is working correctly, as well as create additional virtual wireless interfaces on the wireless card
IW: it is a user space tool used to test whether libnl works correctly and create additional virtual wireless interfaces on the wireless network card.
CRDA: CRDA is a userspace program that the kernel queries (through udev) to find what channels/frequencies are usable, and at what powers. this moves the information out of static tables maintained in kernel to userspace, which allows them to be updated without reloading Drivers/rebooting
CRDA: the kernel uses udev to find out what frequency band/frequency is effective, and what intensity of user space programs. This table is moved from the static table maintained by the kernel to the user space. It can be updated without the need to overload the driver or restart.
Wireless Regulatory Database: database of allowable frequencies and transmit power levels used by CRDA
Wireless Control Database: CRDA uses databases with allowable frequency and transmission strength levels
Hostapd: This is the daemon that handles generation of beacons and other wireless packets, as wel as WPA-PSK, wpa2, etc encryptions.
Hostapd: This is a daemon process used for signal generation and other wireless packets, as well as WPA-PSK and wpa2 encryption.
Softmac is a term used to describe the types of wireless networks.

Wext/mac80211/nl80211/201780211