Firmware for RTL8188CUS?

I have a very small wifi usb adapter (AWLL5088). It is very cute and should be perfect for Dockstart on the side. I try to make it work for Dockstar but not successful so far. The chipset is RTL8188CUS. Does anybody know which driver and firmware should I use? Thanks in advance.

try this one
http://www.wireless-driver.com/download/realtek/realtek-rtl8188su-windows-linux-drivers.htm

SU drivers WON'T work!
Use this driver: http://www.edimax.com/images/Image/Driver_Utility/Wireless/NIC/EW-7811Un/rtl8192CU_8188CU_linux_v2.0.939.20100726.zip

It's tricky, you won't get this driver from realtek.

Have fun and tell me if it works. I'm sure it will :)

Greets
Michael

Thanks.
I guess I need to compile it. Could you let me know which linux-headers package should I use?

I download the file and try to make the driver. However, it said:
"make ARCH=armv5tel CROSS_COMPILE= -C /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build M=/usr/src/rtl8192CU_linux_v2.0.939.20100726 modules
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build: No such file or directory. Stop"
But actually, the file /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build is there. Not sure what happened.

ls -l showed:
ls -l /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 23 Oct 9 21:01 /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build -> /usr/src/linux-2.6.35.7
Looks like I need to install /usr/src/linux-2.6.35.7?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2010 05:00PM by twinclouds.

the driver was made for the old kernel tree..... (armv5tel dosnt exsist anymore)
i compiled the driver for you

wget 193.16.217.9/files/rtl8192CU_linux_v2.0.939.20100726-bin.tar.gz

u only need is make install



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2010 05:10PM by gorgone.

gorgone:
Thanks. It looks like 8192cu.ko has been installed after make install. However, it still does not work. I guess I will need the firmware for 8192cu in /lib/firmware.

I think your device is not listed in the "supported" devices list.
Check VID/PID from your adapter (lsusb) and give us a feedback.

The CU-driver for now supports the following devices:

Quote

//2010-07-23 DID_USB_V19
static struct usb_device_id rtw_usb_id_tbl[] ={
//92CU
// Realtek demoboard*/
{USB_DEVICE(0x0bda, 0x8176)},//8188cu 1*1
{USB_DEVICE(0x0bda, 0x8177)},//8191cu 1*2
{USB_DEVICE(0x0bda, 0x8178)},//8192cu 2*2
{USB_DEVICE(0x0bda, 0x8191)},

/****** 8188CU ********/
{USB_DEVICE(0x07B8, 0x8189)},//Funai - Abocom
{USB_DEVICE(0x2019, 0xED17)},//PCI - Edimax
{USB_DEVICE(0x0DF6, 0x0052)}, //Sitecom - Edimax
{USB_DEVICE(0x7392, 0x7811)},//Edimax - Edimax
{USB_DEVICE(0x07B8, 0x8188)},//Abocom - Abocom
{USB_DEVICE(0x0EB0, 0x9071)},//NO Brand - Etop
{USB_DEVICE(0x06F8, 0xE033)},//Hercules - Edimax
{USB_DEVICE(0x103C, 0x1629)},//HP - Lite-On
//{USB_DEVICE(0x0DF6, 0x0052)},//Sitecom - Edimax V18
// {USB_DEVICE(0x0EB0, 0x9071)},//NO Brand - Etop V18
// {USB_DEVICE(0x06F8, 0xE033)},//Hercules - Edimax V18
{USB_DEVICE(0x2001, 0x3308)},//D-Link - Alpha

/****** 8192CU ********/
{USB_DEVICE(0x07b8, 0x8178)},//Funai -Abocom
{USB_DEVICE(0x2001, 0x3307)},//D-Link-Cameo
{USB_DEVICE(0x2001, 0x330A)},//D-Link-Alpha
{USB_DEVICE(0x2001, 0x3309)},//D-Link-Alpha
{USB_DEVICE(0x0586, 0x341F)},//Zyxel -Abocom
{}
};

Greets
Michael

twinclouds please tel me the exact lsusb info for the stik

gorgone:
It shows: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Thanks.
PS. I also got the driver zip file from Realtek. It may have a newer version (20100803) than the one I found on the web. I can send you if you are interested and tell me how to do so.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2010 11:05AM by twinclouds.

The driver should work correctly. There is no need for a FIRMWARE-bin file.
Modprobe 8192cu.ko, then plug in the stick and then do dmesg and please post the output here (but only the relevant things :))

Greets
Michael

PS: you can upload the newer driver e.g. rapidshare !

Hi, Michael:
I followed what you said and it works now. Previously, I first plugged in the adapter before doing modprobe. After than ifup wlan0 didn't detect the adapter. I don't know if I should always follow the steps as you described. In any case, it works perfectly now. Thanks for your help.
I have uploaded the file I received from Realtek to rapidshare: http://rapidshare.com/files/424527480/RTL8192CU_8188CUS_8188CE-VAU_linux_v2.0.974.20100803.zip
Hope it will be useful to others.

Thanks for uploading the newer driver. the older driver sometimes makes problems with my wifi access point, hopefully they fixed something in the never version.
Normally, there is no need to first modprobe and then plug in. You can edit your /etc/network/interfaces file to automatically start the interface at startup. This works fine for me.
For such a little wifi card, it has very good performance. Previosly, I used some RaLink 3070 card which was very very slow although it was much bigger.

Greets
Michael

Michael:
You are welcome. Also thank you for yours and gorgone's help to make it work. After the first time, I don't need do modprobe again. It just worked even without ethernet cable connected.
Please let me know what are the results with the new driver. If it does, please send me a copy if you can because I still have problem to compile it.
It is really amazing that such a small adapter can work so well.

Hi gorgone,


gorgone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> the driver was made for the old kernel tree.....
> (armv5tel dosnt exsist anymore)
> i compiled the driver for you
>
> wget
> 193.16.217.9/files/rtl8192CU_linux_v2.0.939.201007
> 26-bin.tar.gz
>
> u only need is make install

I have similar problem. I got stick with RTL8188su chip and found the driver dated 2010/11/11 here.
However, when trying to do make, I get similar message:

make ARCH=armv5tel CROSS_COMPILE= -C /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build M=/build/sandbox/rtl8712_8188_8191_8192SU_usb_linux_v2.6.6.0.20101111  modules
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.35.7-dockstar/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [modules] Error 2

Could you please explain how to compile this driver for new kernel?
I am running 2.6.35.7-dockstar #5 PREEMPT Mon Oct 18 12:22:45 CEST 2010 armv5tel GNU/Linux

Thanks for your help,
Roman

I did some more reading on RTL8188su and found out that the driver is already compiled in to kernel (since kernel 2.6.32-10)

So I installed Realtek firmware, wireless-tools, wpa_supplicant and ifplugd

~# apt-get install firmware-realtek
~# apt-get install wireless-tools
~# apt-get install wpasupplicant
~# apt-get install ifplugd

You may need to add path to /etc/apt/sources.list in order to install non-free Realtek firmware

...
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free

Then it was just matter of configuring wpa and wlan0 interface in /etc/network/interfaces and configuring ifplugd for hot plugging/unplugging.

My ifplugd config file in /etc/default/ifplugd looks like this:

INTERFACES="eth0 wlan0"
HOTPLUG_INTERFACES=""
ARGS="-q -f -u0 -d10 -w -I"
SUSPEND_ACTION="stop"

It works fine and boots with wlan0 up if network cable is unplugged.

I used this adapter from Dealextreme.com, with USB A-Female to Mini USB 5-Pin Female Adapter it fits nicely in to top Dockstar port.

Roman



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2011 09:55PM by RomanG.

Quote
roman

I did some more reading on RTL8188su and found out that the driver is already compiled in to kernel (since kernel 2.6.32-10)

So I installed Realtek firmware, wireless-tools, wpa_supplicant and ifplugd
~# apt-get install firmware-realtek
~# apt-get install wireless-tools
~# apt-get install wpasupplicant
~# apt-get install ifplugd

You may need to add path to /etc/apt/sources.list in order to install non-free Realtek firmware
...
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free

Then it was just matter of configuring wpa and wlan0 interface in /etc/network/interfaces and configuring ifplugd for hot plugging/unplugging.

My ifplugd config file in /etc/default/ifplugd looks like this:
INTERFACES="eth0 wlan0"
HOTPLUG_INTERFACES=""
ARGS="-q -f -u0 -d10 -w -I"
SUSPEND_ACTION="stop"

It works fine and boots with wlan0 up if network cable is unplugged.

Hi Roman, and everyone else:

I'd love some tips on how to get my Dockstar to recognize my "Airlink 101 Golden 150 Wireless Mini USB Adapter" with the Realtek RTL8188SU chipset. I've tested the device, and it works fine in Windows machines. I followed Roman's steps, above, and installed the Realtek firmware, wireless-tools, wpa_supplicant and ifplugd. Everything installed fine in my Debian Squeeze Dockstar.

When I run "lsusb" I see this:

Quote

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 125f:0000 A-DATA Technology Co., Ltd.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:8171 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188SU 802.11n WLAN Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB-2.0 4-Port HUB
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

When I run "dmesg" I see this:

Quote

root@debian:~# dmesg
[ 0.000000] Initializing cgroup subsys cpuset
[ 0.000000] Initializing cgroup subsys cpu
[ 0.000000] Linux version 2.6.32-5-kirkwood (Debian 2.6.32-30)
(ben@decadent.org.uk) (gcc version 4.3.5 (Debian 4.3.5-4) )
[ 0.000000] CPU: Feroceon 88FR131 [56251311] revision 1 (ARMv5TE), cr=00053977

*************

[ 3.635903] usb 1-1.2: new high speed USB device using orion-ehci and address 3
[ 3.748112] usb 1-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=8171
[ 3.755023] usb 1-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 3.762383] usb 1-1.2: Product: RTL8188S WLAN Adapter
[ 3.767580] usb 1-1.2: Manufacturer: Manufacturer Realtek
[ 3.773090] usb 1-1.2: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001
[ 3.779174] usb 1-1.2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

So it appears that the device is recognized.

As suggested by Roman, my ifplugd config file in /etc/default/ifplugd looks like this:

Quote

INTERFACES="eth0 wlan0"
HOTPLUG_INTERFACES=""
ARGS="-q -f -u0 -d10 -w -I"
SUSPEND_ACTION="stop"

and my ___ file looks like this:

Quote

auto lo eth0 wlan0
iface lo inet loopback
iface eth0 inet dhcp
iface wlan0 inet dhcp

But, when I run "iwconfig" I see this:

Quote

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

and I can't bring the wlan0 interface up:

Quote

ifup wlan0
err, wlan0: ioctl SIOCGIFHWADDR: No such device
Failed to bring up wlan0.

So, no joy. Thoughts on how to get this usb wifi stick to work?

Brian

[Some background: I'm a total Linux noob but comfortable with computers and networking. Having read all the tips on this site and others I have my Dockstar happily and efficiently running Squeeze, Asterisk and FreePBX, which is why I traveled down this road. I've tackled and fixed the problem of FreePBX not displaying CDRs, and not forwarding voicemails via email -- the later by using sSMTP, which works like a charm. The Dockstar will soon replace my PBXIAF box. Sure, it's stripped down, but I don't need all those IncrediblePBX bells-and-whistles to make and receive VoIP calls].

Hi Brian,
Can you run

lsmod

to see if module for RTL8188SU is loaded?

Module                  Size  Used by
cifs                  229847  3
ipv6                  256768  10
r8712u                277358  0

looks like your system recognizes the USB adapter but does not load the driver.
When I plug in the adapter, dmesg shows that driver was loaded

usb 1-1.1: new high speed USB device using orion-ehci and address 6
r8712u: DriverVersion: v7_0.20100831
r8712u: register rtl8712_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
r8712u: USB_SPEED_HIGH with 4 endpoints
r8712u: Boot from EFUSE: Autoload OK
r8712u: CustomerID = 0x0000
r8712u: MAC Address from efuse = 00:e0:4c:02:4d:cb
r8712u: 1 RCR=0x153f00e
r8712u: 2 RCR=0x553f00e
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): wlan0: link becomes ready
wlan0: no IPv6 routers present

Roman

Brian,
Could you please post output of

uname -a

Just to make sure what version of kernel you are running.

Roman

Hi Roman, here is the output:

***

root@debian:~# lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by
ipv6                  253814  23
hmac                    2475  0
sha1_generic            1717  0
mv_cesa                 9262  0
aes_generic            32820  1 mv_cesa
ext2                   55411  1
mbcache                 4860  1 ext2
sd_mod                 31312  3
crc_t10dif              1106  1 sd_mod
usb_storage            34923  2
scsi_mod              119260  2 sd_mod,usb_storage
ehci_hcd               35579  0
usbcore               122183  3 usb_storage,ehci_hcd
mvsdio                  5318  0
nls_base                5367  1 usbcore
mv643xx_eth            22562  0
mmc_core               50206  1 mvsdio
libphy                 14836  1 mv643xx_eth
inet_lro                5060  1 mv643xx_eth
root@debian:~#


root@debian:~# uname -a

Linux debian 2.6.32-5-kirkwood #1 Wed Jan 12 15:27:07 UTC 2011 armv5tel GNU/Linux

***

I read back further and I guess the kernal version is my problem. Mine, I gather, is Linux debian 2.6.32-5-kirkwood. I'd misread something and thought I had a sufficiently up-to-date kernal containing the Realtek drivers per your comment that "the [RTL8188su] driver is already compiled in to kernel (since kernel 2.6.32-10)," but I guess not.

If that's the case, I guess my options are to (1) update the kernal to 2.6.32-10 or later, or (2) find out some other way to incorporate the Realtek drivers.

As a Linux noob, I'll take pointers to/recommendations for whichever is the easier path. :) I can always image the USB drive that my Asterisk-FreePBX system is on and restore if I break something, but what are your thoughts? I've been reading the threads on updating the kernal and it seems a bit daunting.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

Brian,
You got it.
The driver is not loaded because you are running kernel 2.6.32-5 and realtek driver is compiled only in kernel 2.6.32-10 and above.
This was precisely the reason, why I upgraded my dockstar to gorgone's kernel, to get my wireless working.

You can either compile your own kernel with realtek drivers or use gorgone's kernel. I chose later, since I do not have enough experience to compile my own.

I would suggest you do the same.
If I can recommend, install version v1 of the new kernel as described in this post.

Roman

RomanG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Brian,
> You got it.
> The driver is not loaded because you are running
> kernel 2.6.32-5 and realtek driver is compiled
> only in kernel 2.6.32-10 and above.
> This was precisely the reason, why I upgraded my
> dockstar to gorgone's kernel, to get my wireless
> working.
>
> You can either compile your own kernel with
> realtek drivers or use gorgone's kernel. I chose
> later, since I do not have enough experience to
> compile my own.
>
> I would suggest you do the same.
> If I can recommend, install version v1 of the new
> kernel as described in this post.
>
> Roman

Thanks, Roman. I do have the Realtek drivers, but I too have absolutely no experience with compiling a Linux kernel so I'll take your recommendation. I'll read the kernel installation thread and hope that doing so will not break anything that I now have successfully running. Backup, backup backup! :)

Thanks again!

It is really simple, takes couple of minutes.
You may want to also install Jeff's rescue system, really handy if something goes wrong.

Roman

I've been reading and think I will take the plunge. Installing Jeff's rescue system is a good idea. If all else fails, I still have a spare Dockstar in an unopened box. :)

Brian

Hello Gorgone,

I tried kernel 2.6.37, but it seems that I have the same problem:

Quote

the driver was made for the old kernel tree..... (armv5tel dosnt exsist anymore)
i compiled the driver for you

wget 193.16.217.9/files/rtl8192CU_linux_v2.0.939.20100726-bin.tar.gz

u only need is make install

Would you tell us what is needed to make the driver compile also with newer kernels? Is it complicated, or are there just some code lines to change?

Thank you very much.
Peter

It would be awesome if someone could compile a binary driver for 2.6.38 or modified source drivers that will compile without errors

Quote
RomanG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I did some more reading on RTL8188su and found out
that the driver is already compiled in to kernel
(since kernel 2.6.32-10)

So I installed Realtek firmware, wireless-tools,
wpa_supplicant and ifplugd

~# apt-get install firmware-realtek
~# apt-get install wireless-tools
~# apt-get install wpasupplicant
~# apt-get install ifplugd

Then it was just matter of configuring wpa and wlan0 interface in /etc/network/interfaces and configuring ifplugd for hot plugging/unplugging.

My ifplugd config file in /etc/default/ifplugd looks like this:

INTERFACES="eth0 wlan0"
HOTPLUG_INTERFACES=""
ARGS="-q -f -u0 -d10 -w -I"
SUSPEND_ACTION="stop"

Nice one, this worked like a charm for my EDUP 11N 150M. i also added in this config file to get the interface going:
/etc/network/interfaces

auto lo eth0
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface
auto wlan0
#iface wlan0 inet dhcp
iface wlan0 inet static
        wpa-ssid "ssid data"
        wpa-psk "WPA2 password"
        address 192.168.0.50
        netmask 255.255.255.0
        network 192.168.0.0
        broadcast 192.168.0.255
        gateway 192.168.0.1

# The secondary network interface
#iface eth0 inet dhcp
iface eth0 inet static
        address 192.168.0.92
        netmask 255.255.255.0
        network 192.168.0.0
        broadcast 192.168.0.255
        gateway 192.168.0.1

I went with this unit as it has removable mini din antenna
EDUP WIRELESS N 802.11 N/G USB WIFI LAN ADAPTER WHITE

ok, i got some progress with realtek N card:

it seemed inexpensive enough to try out
http://www.meritline.com/airlink101-awll6077v2-golden-300n-usb-adapter---p-38768.aspx
http://www.meritline.com/airlink101-awll6075-golden-n-wireless-mini-usb-adapter---p-38742.aspx

the cards are detected as:
[ 3.885939] usb 1-1.4: new high speed USB device using orion-ehci and address 4
[ 3.998140] usb 1-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=8174
[ 4.005046] usb 1-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 4.012401] usb 1-1.4: Product: RTL8192S WLAN Adapter
[ 4.017599] usb 1-1.4: Manufacturer: Manufacturer Realtek
[ 4.023112] usb 1-1.4: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001
[ 4.029118] usb 1-1.4: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

but as noted above nothing would happen after that. So I got driver sources from realtek:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=21&PFid=48&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true

extract zip from within driver folder, install following packages:
43 apt-get install wireless-tools
68 apt-get install firmware-realtek
83 apt-get install wireless-tools wpasupplicant
88 apt-get install binutils g++ make
90 apt-get install screen linux-headers
91 apt-get install screen linux-headers-2.6.32-5-kirkwood

make; make install worked without any errors, modprobe 8712u gives a memory allocation error in dmesg, but
it goes away on reboot. So in the end we get:

# iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 unassociated Nickname:"rtl_wifi"
Mode:Ad-Hoc Cell: Not-Associated Sensitivity:0/0
Retry:off RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

dmesg:
[ 14.618372] ==DriverVersion: v2.6.6.0.20110401==
[ 14.623101] register rtl8712_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
[ 14.628239]
[ 14.628243] 8712_usb_endpoint_descriptor(0):
...
[ 15.385148] usbcore: registered new interface driver r871x_usb_drv


but there were good news ends, as trying to configure a network does not seem to work:
# iwconfig wlan0 essid dd-wrt
Error for wireless request "Set ESSID" (8B1A) :
SET failed on device wlan0 ; Operation not permitted.

other operations also seem to get "Operation not permitted."... anybody has any hints what's is the next magic step?

-okigan

HEy, i have a Digitus DN-7053-1 WLAN Stick (Chipset RTL8191SU).
@gorgone: Could you compile the Driver fpr me pls ? :-)

Lars,

What kernel are you running?
Driver for your chipset is supported since kernel 2.6.32-10. You may consider updating your kernel if you are running 2.6.32-7 or older.

Please see this post and subsequent posts for solution.

Good luck,
Roman