---
name: "if_malo"
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_malo"
---

# if\_malo(4)

Marvell Libertas IEEE 802.11b/g wireless network driver

## NAME

**malo** – Marvell Libertas IEEE 802.11b/g wireless network driver

## SYNOPSIS

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

**device malo** **device pci** **device wlan** **device firmware**

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

```
if_malo_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **malo** driver provides support for Marvell Libertas 88W8335 based PCI and Cardbus network adapters. **malo** 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 firmware to be loaded before it will work. The *ports/net/malo-firmware-kmod* port needs to be installed before [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) will work.

## HARDWARE

The following cards are among those supported by the **malo** driver:

| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Netgear WG311v3 | 88W8335 | PCI | b/g |
| Tenda TWL542P | 88W8335 | PCI | b/g |
| U-Khan UW-2054i | 88W8335 | PCI | b/g |

*Card* 	 *Chip* 	 *Bus* 	 *Standard*

## EXAMPLES

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

```
ifconfig wlan create wlandev malo0 inet 192.168.0.20 \
    netmask 0xffffff00
```

Join a specific BSS network with network name “my\_net”:

```
ifconfig wlan create wlandev malo0 ssid my_net up
```

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

```
ifconfig wlan create wlandev malo0 ssid my_net \
	wepmode on wepkey 0x1234567890 weptxkey 1 up
```

## SEE ALSO

[cardbus(4)](/cardbus/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), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [wpa\_supplicant(8)](/wpa_supplicant/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **malo** device driver first appeared in FreeBSD 7.1.