The WiMAX software is separated into two components: the basic kernel module driver and user space management stack, WIMAX Network Service. The user space manageability layer provides the capability to activate a secure connection to the WiMAX network.
The Linux WiMAX stack follows an standard layered approach:
WiMAX drivers: Translate control/data requests coming to/from the WiMAX and network stacks to/from device-specific requests. Drivers are specific to each kind of hardware. |
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Kernel WiMAX stack: provides user space with a generic and uniform control/management interface to handle different WiMAX devices (drivers). |
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Kernel network stack: WiMAX drivers plug into the network stack to deliver received data packets and obtain the ones to be transmitted over the air. |
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WiMAX Network Service: Background daemon for the Intel Wireless WiMAX Link. Its role is to provide network activation, selection, authentication and software update mechanisms. |
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WiMAX Network API: Hardware agnostic interface for WiMAX connection management. |
Some user space required components are in binary form, due to current limitations. Intel is working on open sourcing the code in the near future.