How can I check if my SDIO Wi-Fi module is recognized by the system using command-line tools?

To check if your SDIO Wi-Fi module is recognized and available in a Linux system, you can use several command-line tools to probe the system and examine its output. Here are some commands that are commonly used for this purpose:

1) lsusb and lspci:

  • If your SDIO Wi-Fi module is externally connected via USB or internally via PCI, use these commands to list the USB and PCI devices, respectively.
    lsusb
    lspci
    
  • Look for your Wi-Fi module in the output. External SDIO over USB adapters will appear in lsusb, while internal ones connected to the PCI bus will show up in lspci.

2) dmesg:

  • This command displays kernel messages, which can be helpful to see if the module was detected during boot or when plugged in.
    dmesg | grep -i sdio
    
  • Replace sdio with a more specific keyword of your Wi-Fi module if needed.

3) ip link or ifconfig:

  • These commands show network interfaces recognized by the system.
    ip link
    
  • or for older systems:
    ifconfig -a
    
  • Check if there's a new network interface that corresponds to the Wi-Fi module.

4) iwconfig or iw:

  • These tools are specifically for wireless network interfaces.
    iwconfig
    
  • or using iw:
    iw dev
    
  • These commands list wireless interfaces and can be used to identify if your SDIO Wi-Fi module is active as a network interface.

5) lshw:

  • This command provides detailed hardware information.
    sudo lshw -C network
    
  • It shows all network devices and their statuses, including any Wi-Fi modules.

6) lsmod:

  • Use this command to check if the driver modules required by the Wi-Fi card are loaded.
    lsmod | grep -i wifi
    
  • Replace wifi with the specific driver name if known.

7) Check System Logs:

  • System logs can also provide information about hardware detection and driver loading.
    cat /var/log/syslog | grep -i wifi
    
  • Replace wifi with a more specific keyword of your WiFi module such as lrd for some Laird specific drivers and firmware.

8) rfkill list:

  • This tool lists all wireless devices and shows if they are blocked or unblocked (enabled or disabled).
    rfkill list
    

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