Classic Mac OS WiFi Supplicant For 68k?

[Paralel]

Does anyone know if a classic Mac OS wifi supplicant exists for 68k? I'm fairly doubtful, I don't think there would be enough power in a full 68040 to handle a wifi supplicant, but thought it would be worth asking if it was ever done.

I've done some searching around, but have had no luck, hence why I am asking the collective mind if they are aware of any such thing.

 

[Aeroform]

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/wifi-extension-development-thread.30674/

 

[Paralel]

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/wifi-extension-development-thread.30674/

Interesting, but it seems to be quite limited. When I'm talking about a WiFi supplicant, I'm thinking about a piece of Wifi software that talks directly to a Wifi piece of hardware, without any ethernet being involved.

 

[Aeroform]

Interesting, but it seems to be quite limited. When I'm talking about a WiFi supplicant, I'm thinking about a piece of Wifi software that talks directly to a Wifi piece of hardware, without any ethernet being involved.

Ah ok. I'm not aware of any Wifi hardware for 68k macs? How would you connect to your AP without the hardware also being on the mac to start with? Could you detail a bit more what you are after?

 

[Phipli]

Ah ok. I'm not aware of any Wifi hardware for 68k macs? How would you connect to your AP without the hardware also being on the mac to start with? Could you detail a bit more what you are after?

It's an ethernet to WiFi bridge. The software is for interfacing with the bridge's Web interface.

 

[Aeroform]

It's an ethernet to WiFi bridge. The software is for interfacing with the bridge's Web interface.

Yes, I'm aware as I use it myself running on a Owrt bridge. However from what I know that's the closest you'll ever get to wifi support under 68k macs. Still unclear what you'd do with software support running on 68k as there doesn't exist any wifi hardware for those machines (at least that I know of).

 

[Phipli]

Yes, I'm aware as I use it myself running on a Owrt bridge. However from what I know that's the closest you'll ever get to wifi support under 68k macs. Still unclear what you'd do with software support running on 68k as there doesn't exist any wifi hardware for those machines (at least that I know of).

Ah sorry, I misunderstood what you meant. The PowerBook 190 is a 68k mac that has PCMCIA I think? So potentially that is a machine you could put a WiFi card in?

 

[Aeroform]

Ah sorry, I misunderstood what you meant. The PowerBook 190 is a 68k mac that has PCMCIA I think? So potentially that is a machine you could put a WiFi card in?

That's an interesting thought! Perhaps backporting the airport utility from OS 9 to 68k could be an option, albeit not an easy one

 

[Phipli]

That's an interesting thought! Perhaps backporting the airport utility from OS 9 to 68k could be an option, albeit not an easy one

The cards that work in System 7.6.1 in my 5300 are... the WaveLAN ones. That driver might already be 68k compatible. I don't have a PB190 to test.

They don't do WPA2 or anything so, it isn't really that great.

Is interesting to think it is sort of a 68k mac with PCI-ish though.

Edit : Nah, quick check, they're unrelated to PCI.

 

[cheesestraws]

When I'm talking about a WiFi supplicant, I'm thinking about a piece of Wifi software that talks directly to a Wifi piece of hardware, without any ethernet being involved.

This isn't the normal meaning of supplicant. A supplicant manages the client end of an authentication process for a protocol like WPA. It is not a driver and does not manage hardware. If what you mean is that you want working WiFi with WPA, you're out of luck. None of the hardware available to 68k machines supports WPA in hardware even.

 

[Melkhior]

There's a project to create a WiFi NuBus device, using an ESP32-based module. That will require some software support for WiFi, but I'm unsure what would run where between the 68k host and the ESP32 module. It has been slow-moving due to cost concerns and some planned redesign (original design had a *lot* of 74xx ...).