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This is a simple tutorial to help you find the driver for your wireless card if you’re using Ubuntu or any other Linux distro.

 

The simplest command to get this information is to use the lspci command:

lspci
lspci | less
lspci | grep -i intel
lspci | grep -i wireless


 

Sample output:

0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 5300 AGN [Shiloh] Network Connection


 

Note down 0c:00.0 and enter the following command:

lspci -vv -s 0c:00.0


 

Sample output:


0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 5300 AGN [Shiloh] Network Connection
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device 1121
Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx-
Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- SERR-
Kernel driver in use: iwlagn
Kernel modules: iwlagn


 

To get driver information you type:


modinfo iwlagn


 

Sample output:


filename: /lib/modules/2.6.32-23-generic-pae/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwlagn.ko
alias: iwl4965
license: GPL
author: Copyright(c) 2003-2009 Intel Corporation
version: 1.3.27k
description: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link AGN driver for Linux
firmware: iwlwifi-4965-2.ucode
firmware: iwlwifi-5150-2.ucode
firmware: iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode
firmware: iwlwifi-6050-4.ucode
firmware: iwlwifi-6000-4.ucode
srcversion: BB501FCC68D0C8213107D3B
alias: pci:v00008086d00000084sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000083sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000089sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000088sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000087sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000086sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004239sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004238sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000422Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000422Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000008Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000008Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000423Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000423Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000423Bsv*sd00001011bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000423Asv*sd00001021bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000423Asv*sd00001001bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004237sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004236sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004235sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004237sv*sd00001216bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd00001326bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd00001306bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd00001206bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd00001305bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004232sv*sd00001205bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004230sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00004229sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: iwlcore,mac80211,cfg80211
vermagic: 2.6.32-23-generic-pae SMP mod_unload modversions 586TSC
parm: swcrypto50:using software crypto engine (default 0 [hardware])
(bool)
parm: queues_num50:number of hw queues in 50xx series (int)
parm: 11n_disable50:disable 50XX 11n functionality (int)
parm: amsdu_size_8K50:enable 8K amsdu size in 50XX series (int)
parm: fw_restart50:restart firmware in case of error (int)
parm: antenna:select antenna (1=Main, 2=Aux, default 0 [both]) (int)
parm: swcrypto:using crypto in software (default 0 [hardware]) (int)
parm: disable_hw_scan:disable hardware scanning (default 0) (int)
parm: queues_num:number of hw queues. (int)
parm: 11n_disable:disable 11n functionality (int)
parm: amsdu_size_8K:enable 8K amsdu size (int)
parm: fw_restart4965:restart firmware in case of error (int)


 

Finally, you can run the following to get info about vendor & product code:
lspci -n -s 0c:00.0

 

Sample output:

0c:00.0 0280: 8086:4235

Where:

• 0280 – Network controller
• 8086:4235 – Intel Corporation Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300

 

Or the all in one following option:
lspci -nn -s 0c:00.0

 

Sample output:

0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300 [8086:4235]