iwd
iNet Wireless Daemon (iwd) project aims to provide a comprehensive Wi-Fi connectivity solution for Linux based devices. iwd provides a self-contained environment that only depends on the Linux Kernel and the runtime C library. iwd is supported since v3.10 of Alpine Linux.
Installation
Install iwd package using the command:
# apk add iwd
Next decide if you want to use iwd in Standalone mode, or with NetworkManager, or with ifupdown-ng. Choose one among the three options and then proceed to service configuration.
Standalone mode
To have iwd do most networking configuration on its own upon connecting to a wi-fi network, requires openresolv package, so install it first:
# apk add openresolv
Then edit the configuration file /etc/iwd/main.conf and set it as follows:
Contents of /etc/iwd/main.conf
Use iwd as a networkmanager backend
NetworkManager can be configured to use iwd as backend as a replacement for the wpa_supplicant. See the relevant section for more information.
Use iwd with ifupdown-ng
iwd can delegate the responsibility of dealing with IP address assignment (either static or DHCP) to ifupdown-ng. To do this edit the /etc/network/interfaces file. For example, if you are using DHCP on the wlan0 interface:
Contents of /etc/network/interfaces
Service configuration
Using both wireless daemons i.e wpa_supplicant and iwd simultaneously lead to conflicts. Once iwd has been configured, ensure that wpa_supplicant and related services are stopped before continuing.
Start iwd service:
# rc-service iwd start
To have iwd service start automatically on every boot (recommended):
# rc-update add iwd default
Usage of iwctl
The iwd package provides the client program iwctl
, the daemon iwd
and the Wi-Fi monitoring tool iwmon
.
Begin by starting the client:
$ iwctl
To list all available commands:
[iwd]# help
To connect to a network
To list all Wi-Fi devices:
[iwd]# device list
If your wireless adapter is not listed, refer to Wifi troubleshooting page.
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:
$ iwctl –passphrase passphrase station device connect SSID
- iwd automatically stores network passphrases in the /var/lib/iwd directory and uses them to auto-connect in the future.
- If you run diskless Alpine, be sure to commit:
# 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
- signal strength level
- security features
- maximum rate
- channel utilization
- time since the last connect.
iwgtk
![iwgtk showing list of networks](/images/thumb/4/47/Iwgtk_screenshot.png/100px-Iwgtk_screenshot.png)
iwgtk is a wireless networking GUI for iwd with supported functionality similar to that of iwctl
. 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.
To install the iwgtk package:
# apk add iwgtk
Troubleshooting
If iwctl
commands fail with the message The name net.connman.iwd was not provided by any .service files Failed to retrieve IWD dbus objects, quitting...
.
This error means that the iwd
daemon is not started. Start the iwd daemon