Socket Mobile has joined the trend of offering Linux support for WiFi cards by announcing Linux drivers for its Go Wi-Fi SDIO WLAN cards and modules. The drivers will be offered via a partnership with Embwise, which is porting its SDIOWorx stack to the devices.

(Click for slightly larger view of the Go Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g SDIO P320)

The new Socket Go Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g SDIO cards, such as the P320 and P320X models, offer data rates of up to 54Mbps using 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectra, says Socket. Both offer an extended temperature range of -4 to 185 deg. F (-20 to 85 deg. C). The P320 offers an internal antenna whereas the P320X provides dual connectors for external antennas, says the company.

Go Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g SDIO P320/P320X function block diagram
(Click to enlarge)
Introduced in 2005, the Embwise SDIOWorx stack is said to provide driver support for SDIO host controllers and client cards/devices conforming to SD specification 1.10, as well as SDIO, which extends the SD/MMC memory card interface with I/O capabilities. The company's “embedded SD/SDIO stack/bus driver architecture framework” can ease development of SD drivers under Linux 2.6.x, says Embwise.

In addition to providing Linux drivers for Socket's SDIO WiFi products, Chennai, India-based Embwise is also offering drivers for the Nucleus Real Time Operating System (RTOS) from Mentor Graphics, says Socket. Drivers for additional RTOSes may also be added in the partnership, says the company.

SDIOWorx architecture

Stated Chang Xu, Sr. product manager of Socket Mobile, “Working with Embwise, Socket is able to serve corporate and industrial customers running Linux and Nucleus operating systems. Socket and Embwise are also committed to supporting Cisco CCX and additional RTOS market demands.”

Stated Alagu Sankar, technical director of Embwise, “We are pleased to have a synergistic business association with Socket, by providing our SDIOWorx support for the Socket SDIO WLAN cards and modules.”

Availability

Pricing and availability of the Go Wi-Fi SDIO WLAN cards with Linux drivers from Embwise was not provided. More information on Socket Mobile's Go Wi-Fi SDIO cards may be found here. More on Embwise's SDIOWorx may be found here.

---

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.