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How to enable Promiscuous Mode/Monitor Mode on 3945abg?

Bde_B3
Beginner
4,426 Views

Dear all,

In order to troubleshoot my wireless network, I would like to make use of the Promiscuous Mode/Monitor Mode of my 3945abg. In order to do so, I found I should install the driver from Intel (http://blog.loftninjas.org/2008/02/04/promiscuous-mode-for-intel-3945abg-wireless/ promiscuous mode for intel 3945ABG wireless | btm.geek). Moreover, I figured I might needed the Administrator tool (http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/intel-3945abg-and-promiscuous-mode-how.247604/ Intel 3945ABG and promiscuous mode...how? | NotebookReview). As such, I downloaded and installed Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for IT Administrators, version Wireless_17.14.0_Win64 (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24651 Intel® Download Center).

The version of my driver is now 12.4.1.4, but Wireshark still only picks up data directly adressed at my IP.

What am I missing here?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

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5 Replies
jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
2,348 Views

Hello Yaun,

Promiscuous mode is possible with this and other Intel wireless adapters; however, the feature is not part of the Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and drivers for any of the Operating Systems from Microsoft.

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Bde_B3
Beginner
2,348 Views

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you very much for your reply.

When reading the white paper by Intel on http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/whitepapers/admin_tool_wp.pdf Managing Wireless Clients with the Administrator Tool I came across this:

Promiscuous Mode

Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software v10.5 supports new feature called promiscuous mode. In a network, promiscuous mode allows a network device to intercept and read each network packet that arrives in its entirety. Sniffers operate with the network card/driver in this mode to be able to capture all packets. Packets can be captured and saved for analysis in order to monitor network usage or activity.

Am I understanding correctly that Intel used to support this feature, but not anymore? If so, would you perhaps have a suggestion on how I can get this mode to work?

Cheers

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
2,348 Views

Hello Yaun,

Currently, we are not aware of any methods to make Promiscuous mode work in Windows*. As it was noted in the document you referenced, it was supported with Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software v10.5 and specific Airmagnet* software.

The Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG is a legacy adapter and has reached End of Interactive Support, also, Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software v10.5 is no longer supported, so it is not available for download anymore.

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Bde_B3
Beginner
2,348 Views

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you very much for your reply. Seeing that you mentioned Windows specifically, am I understanding correctly that you do know how to get this to work in Linux? I have a working Debian distro on this computer as well.

Cheers

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
2,348 Views

Hello Yaun,

The reference to Windows is made since Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software is developed by Intel, and is specific for Windows*.

The Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG hardware is capable of working in monitor mode, however, the tools and drivers to enable this are not supported by Intel. Please consider that the adapter has reached End of Interactive Support, and the tools required to use promiscuous mode are not provided by Intel.

You may find resources / documents regarding monitor mode functionality from 3rd parties and other users in external websites.

The Linux drivers for Intel® Wi-Fi Adapters are part of the upstream Linux kernel, and are available through the regular channels, distributions or The Linux Kernel Archives.

Driver development for Linux is done in the open source Linux community. Support for these drivers is only available through the open source community mailing lists. More information can be found on the https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi community page.

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-034398.htm Linux* Support for Intel® Wi-Fi Adapters

We hope this information helps you engage the proper resources to achieve the task you require.

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