iwconfig is a bit deprecated and needs newer encryption and decryption protocols that communicate properly with a wireless device supporting the latest wireless security protocols. The command line tool supports configuration of external parameters of a wireless card. Most probably authentication will be or is seperated from iwconfig but the tool does not show that.
iwlist is a tool to test a networking interface, mostly wireless but also virtualised interfaces. The tool tests for encryption keys set and specific functionalities the card may or may not support. The tool is a bit deprecated and cards are not supporting or communicating correctly with this tool anymore.
dmesg retrieves information on the hardware available under the running linux kernel. It is actually a hardware abstraction layer like kernel boot message command line feedback tool but it should become a tool for hardware abstraction. The command is a bit deprecated but checks to see whether the kernel at least recognises or identifies the wireless driver.
for more information you can try the following
- man dmesg
- man iwlist
- man iwconfig
or you can check the manual with a manual viewer
Eventually the manual viewers should be thrown out of the window and replaced by proper developer tools and -references but for now you can still start a command prompt and check the command line tools. The firmware cutter will also be thrown out of the window because they actually wrap or copy the microsoft driver which is of course not really allowed but it is definitely not allowed to claim hardware and everything on it and then eat the whole cake and get pissed off when someone makes his own or takes a piece of your cake.
The hardware behaviour is something like the guy in the burger store.
enters the store and knows everyone in the chain
cuts deals and gets pissed if he does not get burger
wants ice cream with the chocolate chips on it
queue barges and expects to be served first
does a lot of mystery shopping and is paranoid
throws ashes in your burger or has it done
threatens staff if they sell too much to others
who is the guy in the burger store?