Using The iw Tool#
iw is a new nl80211 based CLI configuration utility for wireless devices. It is used to set/get various parameters of a wireless network interface. This section covers the usage of 'iw' when used with the driver. For more information, see the relevant Linux man pages. The list of supported commands via "iw" tool are listed below.
Scan | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to scan for the Access points nearby our device. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name on which scan has to be performed |
Output Parameter | List of APs scanned |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | $ iw dev < interface_name > scan |
Example | $ iw dev wifi0 scan |
Connect | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to connect devices to the Access points in open mode. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | SSID, BSSID, key_index, key of AP. |
Output Parameter | None |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | Open mode: $ iw dev <interface_name> connect $SSID_NAME $BSSID. |
Example | iw dev wifi0 connect TEST_AP ec:f6:4c:a0:3f:10 The above command connects to TEST_AP access point in open mode |
Disconnect | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to disconnect our device from the connected network. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name |
Output Parameter | - |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> disconnect |
Example | $ iw dev wifi0 disconnect The above command disconnects our device from the connected Access point. |
Link Status | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to get the connection status of our device. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name. |
Output Parameter | Connection status. |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> link |
Example | iw dev wifi0 link |
Interface Info | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to get information about the device . |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name. |
Output Parameter | Interface mac address, type, operating mode etc. |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> info |
Example | iw dev wifi0 info |
Station Dump | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to station statistic information such as the amount of tx/rx bytes, the last TX bitrate (including MCS rate) |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name. |
Output Parameter | Connected Stations/AP mac address,tx bytes, rx bytes, signal level etc,. will be displayed. |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> station dump |
Example | iw dev wifi0 station dump |
Set Power save mode | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to set power save mode on/off in station mode. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name. |
Output Parameter | No |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> set power_save <on | off> |
Example | iw dev wifi0 set power_save <on | off> |
Get Power save mode | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to get power save mode on/off in station mode. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name. |
Output Parameter | Shows whether power save mode is on | off in station mode |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> get power_save |
Example | iw dev wifi0 get power_save |
Set Rate | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to fix data rate. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | Interface name, rate |
Output Parameter | - |
Reset Required | No |
Usage | iw dev <interface_name> set bitrates legacy-<2.4|5> <legacy rate in Mbps> For mcs rates, in iw versions below 3.14 use: iw dev <interface_name> set bitrates mcs-<2.4|5> <mcs rate in Mbps> In iw versions above 3.14 use: iw dev <interface_name> set bitrates ht-mcs-<2.4|5> <mcs rate in Mbps> Above command(s) with no rate specified is used to set things to normal (auto rate). Ex: iw dev <interface_name> set bitrates mcs-<2.4|5> OR iw dev <interface_name> set bitrates ht-mcs-<2.4|5> Note: 1. Driver supports only single rate to be set using above commands. Multiple rate setting is not supported. 2. For kernel version greater than 4.13.16 setting bitrate legacy will take only basic rates. 3. iw version can be obtained using below command # iw --version |
Example | iw dev wlan0 set bitrates legacy-2.4 12 iw dev wlan0 set bitrates mcs-2.4 1 iw dev wlan0 set bitrates ht-mcs-5 4 |
Set country code | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to set the country code. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | country_code |
Output Parameter | - |
Reset Required | - |
Usage | iw reg set <country_code> |
Example | iw reg set IN (For India) , iw reg set JP (For Japan), iw reg set GE (For Germany) |
Get country code | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to get the country code. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | - |
Output Parameter | country domain |
Reset Required | - |
Usage | iw reg get |
Example | output : country IN: DFS-JP (2402 - 2482 @ 40), (N/A, 20) (5170 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 20) (5250 - 5330 @ 80), (N/A, 20) DFS (5735 - 5835 @ 80), (N/A, 20) |
Set Tx Power | |
|---|---|
Description | This command is used to set the Tx Power. |
Default Value | - |
Input Parameters | tx power value |
Output Parameter | - |
Reset Required | - |
Usage | iwconfig <interface_name> txpower <NmW|NdBm|off|auto> |
Example | iwconfig wlan0 txpower 11 |
For the list of channels allowed in the current regulatory domain, see Wikipedia - List of WLAN channels.