Iwconfig - Linux Wireless Network Configuration Tool - cmd Cheatsheets

The iwconfig command is a utility used in Linux to display and configure wireless network interfaces. It allows users to manage various aspects of Wi-Fi connections directly from the command line, making it an essential tool for network administrators and users who prefer terminal-based operations.

Display Wireless Interface Details

To view the current configuration and status of all wireless interfaces, simply run iwconfig without any arguments.

iwconfig

Configure Network ESSID

Set the Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID), which is the network name, for a specific wireless interface (e.g., wlan0).

iwconfig wlan0 essid "YourNetworkName"

Set Wireless Mode

Configure the operational mode of the wireless interface. Common modes include Managed (for connecting to an access point) and Ad-Hoc (for peer-to-peer connections).

iwconfig wlan0 mode Managed

Configure Frequency and Channel

Specify the operating frequency or channel for the wireless network. This is useful for selecting a less congested channel or adhering to specific regional regulations.

iwconfig wlan0 freq 2.422G
iwconfig wlan0 channel 3

Set Operational Rate

Define the data transfer rate for the wireless connection. This can impact performance and compatibility with older devices.

iwconfig wlan0 rate 54M

Configure Encryption Key (WEP)

Set the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption key for connecting to a secured wireless network. Note that WEP is considered insecure and should be avoided in favor of WPA2/WPA3.

iwconfig wlan0 key s:yourpassword

Disable Encryption

Turn off any active encryption on the wireless interface.

iwconfig wlan0 key off

Adjust Sensitivity Threshold

Modify the sensitivity threshold of the wireless interface, which can affect its ability to detect weaker signals.

iwconfig wlan0 sens -80

Set Retransmission Limits

Configure the retry limit or lifetime for network retransmissions, which can help manage packet loss.

iwconfig wlan0 retry 16

Configure RTS/CTS Threshold

Set the Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) threshold, a mechanism to prevent data collisions in busy wireless environments.

iwconfig wlan0 rts 250

Adjust Fragmentation Threshold

Modify the fragmentation threshold, which determines the maximum size of data packets before they are fragmented.

iwconfig wlan0 frag 512

Manually Set Access Point

Manually specify the MAC address of the access point or base station to connect to.

iwconfig wlan0 ap 00:14:22:68:9F:01

Manage Power Settings

Control the power management features of the wireless interface. Turning power management off can improve performance but increase power consumption.

iwconfig wlan0 power off

Set Transmit Power

Adjust the transmit power level of the wireless interface. Higher transmit power can increase range but may be subject to regulatory limits.

iwconfig wlan0 txpower 20

View Interface Statistics

Display detailed statistics for wireless interfaces, including packet transmission and reception counts.

iwconfig --statistics

Run on a Specific Interface

Execute iwconfig commands on a particular wireless interface, such as wlan0.

iwconfig wlan0

For more advanced wireless configuration, consider using the iw command, which offers a more comprehensive set of features and better support for newer wireless standards.

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