---
name: "ipw"
section: "4"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "6.0-5"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ipw"
---

# ipw(4)

Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 IEEE 802.11 driver

## NAME

**ipw** – Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 IEEE 802.11 driver

## SYNOPSIS

To compile support for the [ipw(4)](/ipw/4.md) driver into your kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device ipw** **device pci** **device wlan**

Alternatively, to load the [ipw(4)](/ipw/4.md) driver at boot time, place the following lines in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
if_ipw_load="YES"
wlan_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **ipw** driver provides support for the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 MiniPCI network adapter.

By default, the **ipw** driver configures the adapter for BSS operation (aka infrastructure mode). This mode requires the use of an access point.

For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md).

This driver requires firmware to be loaded before it will work. You need to obtain ipwcontrol(8) from the IPW web page listed below to accomplish loading the firmware before [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) will work.

## EXAMPLES

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

```
ifconfig ipw0 inet 192.168.0.20 netmask 0xffffff00
```

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

```
ifconfig ipw0 inet 192.168.0.20 netmask 0xffffff00 ssid my_net
```

Join a specific BSS network with 40-bit WEP encryption:

```
ifconfig ipw0 inet 192.168.0.20 netmask 0xffffff00 ssid my_net \
    wepmode on wepkey 0x1234567890
```

Join a specific BSS network with 104-bit WEP encryption:

```
ifconfig ipw0 inet 192.168.0.20 netmask 0xffffff00 ssid my_net \
    wepmode on wepkey 0x01020304050607080910111213
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

- ipw%d: device timeout

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

- ipw%d: Please load firmware

  The required firmware has not been loaded into the card, and therefore the card cannot operate. Load the firmware with ipwcontrol(8) before proceeding.

## SEE ALSO

[an(4)](/an/4.md), [ath(4)](/ath/4.md), [iwi(4)](/iwi/4.md), [pci(4)](/pci/4.md), [wi(4)](/wi/4.md), [wlan(4)](/wlan/4.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), ipwcontrol(8), wicontrol(8) *The IPW Web Page*, http://damien.bergamini.free.fr/ipw/.

## AUTHORS

The **ipw** driver was written by Damien Bergamini ⟨damien@FreeBSD.org⟩.