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ath10k firmware
The ath10k firmware images are available from linux-firmware.git which all common Linux distributions should install by default. Latest firmware images can be downloaded from ath10k-firmware.git from which they get eventually pushed to linux-firmware.git.
Firmware branches
| Hardware | Firmware major version/branch | Latest firmware revision | Intended use | Kernel version required* | Git commit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QCA988X | main | link | STA | 3.11 | 5e3dd157d7e7 |
| QCA988X | 10.1 | link | AP | 3.13 | 8acd3c97ff9e |
| QCA988X | 10.2 | link | AP | 3.18 | 24c88f7807fb |
| QCA988X | 10.2.4 | link | AP | 4.0 | 4a16fbec1cd0 |
| QCA6164/QCA6174 | wmi-tlv | link | AP/STA | 4.0 | d63955b33b3b, ca996ec56608 |
| QCA9980 | 10.4 | link | AP | 4.2 | 8a055a8adc87 |
* Note: It is possible to use newer ath10k driver on an older kernel with backports project.
Update firmware
First download the firmware image from the links above. In this example we use firmware-2.bin_10.1.467.2-1 from QCA988X 10.1 directory. Then just copy that file as firmware-2.bin to the ath10k firmware directory:
cp firmware-2.bin_10.1.467.2-1 /lib/firmware/ath10k/QCA988X/hw2.0/firmware-2.bin
Then reload ath10k (or restart the system) and you can check if the new firmware is in use.
Note: In some distributions the firmware location can be different than /lib/firmware.
Firmware API versions
Because firmware changes between versions we have introduced firmware API concept to ath10k. This makes it possible to support different versions of ath10k.
Firmware API 1
The first version. Firmware images are in separate files: firmware.bin and otp.bin. There's no FW IE support. Deprecated since March 2014 and removed on March 2016.
Firmware API 2
Embedding both firmware and otp images into same file firmware-2.bin. Firmware meta data provided through FW IE. Added in commit 1a222435a dated Sep 27 2013, for Linux 3.13. Deprecated, no new firmware releases use this anymore.
Firmware API 3
Adding support for 10.2 firmware for QCA988X and ATH10K_FW_FEATURE_WMI_10_2 feature for 10.2 WMI mappings. Added in commit 24c88f7807fb7 dated Jul 27 2014. Deprecated, no new firmware releases use this anymore.
Firmware API 4
Adding support for ATH10K_FW_IE_WMI_OP_VERSION. Added in commit 4a16fbec1cd0a dated December 17th 2014.
Firmware API 5
Adding support for ATH10K_FW_IE_HTT_OP_VERSION, needed to support 10.2.4.48-2 on QCA988X. Added in commit 53513c302f35e March 25 2015.
Firmware API 6
Workaround for board id being zero on QCA6174 hw3.0 starting from firmware release WLAN.RM.4.4-00022-QCARMSWPZ-2. Added in commit aad1fd7f7677 April 19 2017, first release v4.12-rc1.
Also for QCA9377 hw1.0 fix IRAM bank compatibility starting from firmware release WLAN.TF.2.1-00014-QCARMSWP-1. Added in commit fc8b92635f79 February 2018, first release v4.17-rc1.
