---
name: "if_iwn"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/if_iwn"
---

# if\_iwn(4)

Intel IEEE 802.11n wireless network driver

## NAME

**iwn** – Intel IEEE 802.11n wireless network driver

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, include the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device iwn** **device pci** **device wlan** **device firmware**

You also need to select a firmware for your device. Choose one from:

**device iwn1000fw** **device iwn100fw** **device iwn105fw** **device iwn135fw** **device iwn2000fw** **device iwn2030fw** **device iwn4965fw** **device iwn5000fw** **device iwn5150fw** **device iwn6000fw** **device iwn6000g2afw** **device iwn6000g2bfw** **device iwn6050fw**

Or you can use

**device iwnfw**

to include them all.

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following lines in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
if_iwn_load="YES"
iwn1000fw_load="YES"
iwn100fw_load="YES"
iwn105fw_load="YES"
iwn135fw_load="YES"
iwn2000fw_load="YES"
iwn2030fw_load="YES"
iwn4965fw_load="YES"
iwn5000fw_load="YES"
iwn5150fw_load="YES"
iwn6000fw_load="YES"
iwn6000g2afw_load="YES"
iwn6000g2bfw_load="YES"
iwn6050fw_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **iwn** driver supports **station** and **monitor** mode operation. Only one virtual interface may be configured at any time. For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md).

This driver requires the firmware built with the **iwnfw** module to work.

## HARDWARE

The **iwn** driver provides support for:

- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200

- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205

- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230

- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235

- Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250

- Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 100

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 105

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 130

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 135

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 4965

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 5100

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6150

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6200

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6250

- Intel Centrino Wireless-N + WiMAX 6150

- Intel Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300

- Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965

- Intel WiFi Link 5100

- Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150

- Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350

## EXAMPLES

Join an existing BSS network (i.e., connect to an access point):

```
# ifconfig wlan create wlandev iwn0 inet 192.168.0.20 \
    netmask 0xffffff00
```

Join a specific BSS network with network name ‘my\_net’:

```
# ifconfig wlan create wlandev iwn0 ssid my_net up
```

Join a specific BSS network with 64-bit WEP encryption:

```
# ifconfig wlan create wlandev iwn0 ssid my_net \
	wepmode on wepkey 0x1234567890 weptxkey 1 up
```

Join a specific BSS network with 128-bit WEP encryption:

```
# ifconfig wlan create wlandev iwn0 wlanmode adhoc ssid my_net \
    wepmode on wepkey 0x01020304050607080910111213 weptxkey 1
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

- iwn%d: device timeout

  The driver will reset the hardware. This should not happen.

- iwn%d: firmware error

  The onboard microcontroller crashed for some reason. The driver will reset the hardware. This should not happen.

- iwn%d: timeout waiting for firmware initialization to complete

  The onboard microcontroller failed to initialize in time. This should not happen.

- iwn%d: could not load firmware image '%s'

  The driver failed to load the firmware image using the [firmware(9)](/firmware/9.md) subsystem. Verify the [iwnfw(4)](/iwnfw/4.md) firmware module is present.

- iwn%d: could not load boot firmware

  An attempt to upload the boot firmware image to the onboard microcontroller failed. This should not happen.

- iwn%d: could not load microcode

  An attempt to upload the microcode image to the onboard microcontroller failed. This should not happen.

- iwn%d: could not load main firmware

  An attempt to upload the main firmware image to the onboard microcontroller failed. This should not happen.

## SEE ALSO

[iwnfw(4)](/iwnfw/4.md), [pci(4)](/pci/4.md), [wlan(4)](/wlan/4.md), [wlan\_ccmp(4)](/wlan_ccmp/4.md), [wlan\_tkip(4)](/wlan_tkip/4.md), [wlan\_wep(4)](/wlan_wep/4.md), [networking(7)](/networking/7.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [wpa\_supplicant(8)](/wpa_supplicant/8.md)

## AUTHORS

The original **iwn** driver was written by Damien Bergamini ⟨*damien.bergamini@free.fr*⟩.