RFkill

rfkill lists device states ( rfkill list)

RFkill is a subsystem of the Linux kernel that supports switches for wireless communication devices.

It consists on the one hand of a driver part and a generic programming interface (API) and, on the other hand, of a character-oriented device file (located under ) and the auxiliary program based on it, for switching and querying the blocking status from the user mode . /dev/rfkillrfkill

Functionality

As the most important function, it enables one or all connected transmission units ( airplane mode ) to be switched to passive mode using appropriate, dedicated keys (combinations) or switches, which are found in particular on portable computers. It also serves to notify you about the current deactivation status of the communication devices.

Devices can be prevented from any transmission by a “soft” (compare software ) or a “hard” block (compare hardware ). Soft blocking deactivates interfaces ( ifconfig wlan0 down) and prevents reactivation ( up). In contrast to hard blocking, it can be switched by software.

history

RFkill was first published in May 2007 and shipped with the Linux kernel from version 2.6.22 onwards. Major modifications were made for version 2.6.27 and in 2009 it was completely rewritten (Linux 2.6.31). Linux 2.6.32 contained the first published version 0.1 of the rfkill utility by Johannes Berg. The device file was introduced in May 2009 (Linux 2.6.33).

Web links

official documentation (in English)

Red Hat, Inc .: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Power Management Guide , Section 3.10 .: RFKill

Individual evidence

↑ http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_2_6_22
↑ Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), October 10, 2008: The neverending story about WLAN in: Kernel Log: Much Moved - The innovations of Linux 2.6.27
↑ Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), September 10th, 2009: Wirelessly happy in: Kernel-Log: The innovations of Linux 2.6.31
↑ Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), August 4, 2009: Kernel log: X-Server 1.7 later; Compiz runs on newer Radeon GPUs; DRBD soon in the kernel
↑ Johannes Berg, May 29, 2009: rfkill: create useful userspace interface

[2.6.22-1] ttp://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_2_6_22

[2.6.27-2] Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), October 10, 2008: The neverending story about WLAN in: Kernel Log: Much Moved - The innovations of Linux 2.6.27

[rewrite-3] Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), September 10th, 2009: Wirelessly happy in: Kernel-Log: The innovations of Linux 2.6.31

[2.6.32-4] Thorsten Leemhuis (heise open), August 4, 2009: Kernel log: X-Server 1.7 later; Compiz runs on newer Radeon GPUs; DRBD soon in the kernel

[-dev-rfkill-5] Johannes Berg, May 29, 2009: rfkill: create useful userspace interface