Iwd

2024-02-26T14:15:47Z

Emilia: added a character to fix a faulty path

{{DISPLAYTITLE:iwd}}

iwd ('''i'''Net '''W'''ireless '''D'''aemon) is a wireless daemon for Linux. It is written by Intel and aims to replace <code>wpa_supplicant</code>. The core goal of the project is to optimize resource utilization: storage, runtime memory and link-time costs. This is accomplished by not depending on any external libraries and utilizes features provided by the Linux Kernel to the maximum extent possible. The result is a self-contained environment that only depends on the Linux Kernel and the runtime C library.

Potential benefits of iwd include:

* simplification of network management
* faster network discovery
* fast and reliable roaming
* using less system resources
* using features offered by the Linux kernel
* support for enterprise security methods like EAP
* support for kernel asymmetric key rings and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module Trusted Platform Modules (TPM)]
* support for multiple clients

{{Pkg|iwd|arch=}} is supported since [https://alpinelinux.org/posts/Alpine-3.10.0-released.html Alpine Linux 3.10].

== Installation and setup ==

To install <code>iwd</code>:

{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|iwd}}}}

To start <code>iwd</code>:
{{cmd|# rc-service iwd start}}

To have iwd start automatically on every boot (recommended):
{{cmd|# rc-update add iwd default}}

{{Note|iwd requires {{pkg|dbus|arch=}} to be running.}}

Next you will want to decide if you want to use iwd by itself, with NetworkManager, or with ifupdown-ng:

=== Use iwd by itself ===
To have iwd do all networking configuration on its own upon connecting to a wi-fi network, edit the configuration file {{path|/etc/iwd/main.conf}} and set the {{ic|EnableNetworkConfiguration}} directive in the {{ic|[General]}} section to {{ic|True}}. For example:

{{cat|/etc/iwd/main.conf|[General]
EnableNetworkConfiguration{{=}}True}}

=== Use iwd as a networkmanager Backend ===
{{main|NetworkManager#iwd backend}}
iwd can be used as a replacement for the wpa_supplicant backend in NetworkManager. See [[NetworkManager#iwd_backend|the relevant NetworkManager section]] for more information.

=== Use iwd with ifupdown-ng ===
iwd can delegate the responsibility dealing with IP address assignment (either static or DHCP) to ifupdown-ng. To do this edit the {{path|/etc/network/interfaces}} file. For example, if you are using DHCP on the wlan0 interface:
{{cat|/etc/network/interfaces|auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp}}

== Usage of iwctl command ==

The iwd package provides the client program <code>iwctl</code>, the daemon <code>iwd</code> and the Wi-Fi monitoring tool <code>iwmon</code>.

Begin by starting the client:

{{Cmd|$ iwctl}}

To list all available commands:

[iwd]# help

=== Connect to a network ===

First, if you do not know your wireless device name, list all Wi-Fi devices:

[iwd]# device list

If the device or its corresponding adapter is turned off, turn it on:

[iwd]# device ''device'' set-property Powered on

[iwd]# adapter ''adapter'' set-property Powered on

Then, to initiate a scan for networks (note that this command will not output anything):

[iwd]# station ''device'' scan

You can then list all available networks:

[iwd]# station ''device'' get-networks

Finally, to connect to a network:

[iwd]# station ''device'' connect ''SSID''

If a passphrase is required, you will be prompted to enter it. Alternatively, you can supply it as a command line argument:

{{Cmd|$ iwctl –passphrase ''passphrase'' station ''device'' connect ''SSID''}}

{{Note|
* iwd automatically stores network passphrases in the {{Path|/var/lib/iwd}} directory and uses them to auto-connect in the future.
* If you run diskless Alpine, be sure to commit: {{Cmd|# lbu add /var/lib/iwd && lbu commit -d}}
* To connect to a network with spaces in the SSID, the network name should be double quoted when connecting.
* iwd only supports PSK pass-phrases from 8 to 63 ASCII-encoded characters. }}

=== Disconnect from a network ===

To disconnect from a network:

[iwd]# station ''device'' disconnect

=== Show device and connection information ===

To display the details of a WiFi device, like MAC address:

[iwd]# device ''device'' show

To display the connection state, including the connected network of a Wi-Fi device:

[iwd]# station ''device'' show

=== Manage known networks ===

To list networks you have connected to previously:

[iwd]# known-networks list

To forget a known network:

[iwd]# known-networks ''SSID'' forget

{{Note|It is not possible to assign a priority to a network, instead iwd will prioritize networks based on:

* signal strength level
* security features
* maximum rate
* channel utilization
* time since the last connect.}}

== Dedicated GUI (iwgtk) ==

[[File:Iwgtk screenshot.png|thumb|right|100px|alt=iwgtk showing list of networks|iwgtk]]

iwgtk is a wireless networking GUI for Linux with supported functionality similar to that of <code>iwctl</code>. Features include viewing and connecting to available networks, managing known networks, provisioning new networks via WPS or Wi-Fi Easy Connect, and an indicator (tray) icon displaying connection status and signal strength.

{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|iwgtk}}}}

== Troubleshooting ==
If {{ic|iwctl}} commands fail with the message {{ic|The name net.connman.iwd was not provided by any .service files Failed to retrieve IWD dbus objects, quitting...}}, this means that the {{ic|iwd}} daemon is not started.

== See also ==

* [[Wi-Fi]]
* [https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Iwd iwd on Gentoo Wiki]
* [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Iwd iwd on ArchWiki]
* [https://iwd.wiki.kernel.org/start iwd Wiki]
* [https://github.com/J-Lentz/iwgtk iwgtk: Lightweight wireless networking GUI (front-end for iwd)]

[[Category:Networking]]

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Iwd