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https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu

rtl88x2bu driver updated for current kernels.
https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu

Last synced: 3 days ago
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rtl88x2bu driver updated for current kernels.

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README 

        
# Pending Deprecation



A few versions ago (around 6.4 IIRC), rtw88x2bu support has been added to the mainline Linux kernel.  This repo will be maintained until we either receive a few comments on https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/issues/270 that the mainline driver is working well or [MaxG87](https://github.com/MaxG87) and [cilynx](https://github.com/cilynx) agree that no feedback means no one is still using this driver and we make the executive decision to archive it.



# Administrative Note



As of upstream version 5.6.1, I'm moving away from individual repositories for each upstream version in favor of a single repository with version-based branches.  Hopefully, this will help with clutter and URL consistency moving forward.  The archived repositories are available here:

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.6.1.6_35492.20191025_COEX20180928-6a6a](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/tree/5.6.1.6_35492.20191025_COEX20180928-6a6a)

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.6.1_30362.20181109_COEX20180928-6a6a](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/tree/5.6.1_30362.20181109_COEX20180928-6a6a)

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.3.1_27678.20180430_COEX20180427-5959](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.3.1_27678.20180430_COEX20180427-5959)

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.4_26334.20180126_COEX20171012-5044](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.4_26334.20180126_COEX20171012-5044)

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.4_25643.20171212_COEX20171012-5044](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.4_25643.20171212_COEX20171012-5044)

* [rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.1_22719_COEX20170518-4444.20170613](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2BU_WiFi_linux_v5.2.4.1_22719_COEX20170518-4444.20170613)



# Driver for rtl88x2bu wifi adaptors



Updated driver for rtl88x2bu wifi adaptors based on Realtek's source distributed with myriad adapters.



Realtek's 5.6.1.6 source was found bundled with the [Cudy WU1200 AC1200 High Gain USB Wi-Fi Adapter](https://amzn.to/351ADVq) and can be downloaded from [Cudy's website](http://www.cudytech.com/wu1200_software_download).



Build confirmed on:



* Linux version `5.4.0-91-generic` on Linux Mint 20.2 (30 November 2021)

* Linux version `5.15.89` on Manjaro (3 February 2023)

* Linux version `5.19` on Ubuntu 22.4

* Linux version `6.1.0-9-amd64` on Debian Bookworm

* Linux version `6.1.*` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm and Ubuntu 22.04

* Linux version `6.2.*` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm and Ubuntu 22.04

* Linux version `6.3.*` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm and Ubuntu 22.04

* Linux version `6.4.3` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm

* Linux version `6.5.5` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm

* Linux version `6.6.1` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm

* Linux version `6.7.2` (self compiled) on Debian Bookworm and Ubuntu 22.04

* Linux version `6.8.8` (self compiled) on Debian Trixie

* Linux version `6.9.0` (self compiled) on Debian Trixie

* Linux version `6.10.3` on Debian Trixie



## Using and Installing the Driver



### Simple Usage



In order to make direct use of the driver it should suffice to build the driver

with `make` and to load it with `insmod 88x2bu.ko`. This will allow you

to use the driver directly without changing your system persistently.



It might happen that your system freezes instantaneously. Ensure to not loose

important work by saving and such beforehand.



### DKMS installation



If you want to have the driver available at startup, it will be convenient to

register it in DKMS. An executable explanation of how to do so can be found in

the script `deploy.sh`. Since registering a kernel module in DKMS is a major

intervention, only execute it if you understand what the script does.



### Unknown Symbol Errors



Some users reported problems due to `Unknown symbol in module`. A likely cause

of this is that the cfg80211 module is not present in the Kernel. You can fix

this by running it:



    sudo modprobe cfg80211



Another reported cause was that old deployments of the driver were still

present in the system directories. One reported solution was to forcibly remove

all old driver modules. **This is a drastic measure. It may prevent you from

using other external WiFi adapters.** See [this

issue](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/issues/249) for more information.



If you want to proceed anyways, you can run the following commands:



    sudo dkms remove rtl88x2bu/5.8.7.4 --all

    find /lib/modules -name cfg80211.ko -ls

    sudo rm -f /lib/modules/*/updates/net/wireless/cfg80211.ko



### Linux 5.18+ and RTW88 Driver



Starting from Linux 5.18, some distributions have added experimental RTW88 USB

support (include RTW88x2BU support). It is not yet stable but if it works well

on your system, then you no longer need this driver. But if it doesn't work or

is unstable, you need to manually blacklist it because it has a higher loading

priority than this external drivers.



Check the currently loaded module using `lsmod`. If you see `rtw88_core`,

`rtw88_usb`, or any name beginning with `rtw88_` then you are using the RTW88

driver. If you see `88x2bu` then you are using this RTW88x2BU driver.



To blacklist RTW88 8822bu USB driver, run the following command. It will

_replace_ the existing `*.conf` file with the `echo`ed content.



```

echo "blacklist rtw88_8822bu" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtw8822bu.conf

```



Then reboot your system.



### Secure Boot



Secure Boot will prevent the module from loading as it isn't signed. In order

to check whether you have secure boot enabled, you couly run  `mokutil

--sb-state`. If you see something like `SecureBoot disabled`, you do not take

to setup module signing.



If Secure Boot is enabled on your machine, you either could disable it in BIOS

or UEFI or you could set up signing the module. How to do so is described

[here](https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu/issues/210#issuecomment-1166402943).



## Raspberry Pi Access Point



```bash

# Update all packages per normal

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade



# Install prereqs

sudo apt install git dnsmasq hostapd bc build-essential dkms raspberrypi-kernel-headers



# Reboot just in case there were any kernel updates

sudo reboot



# Pull down the driver source

git clone https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu

cd rtl88x2bu/



# Configure for RasPi

sed -i 's/I386_PC = y/I386_PC = n/' Makefile

sed -i 's/ARM_RPI = n/ARM_RPI = y/' Makefile



# DKMS as above

VER=$(sed -n 's/\PACKAGE_VERSION="\(.*\)"/\1/p' dkms.conf)

sudo rsync -rvhP ./ /usr/src/rtl88x2bu-${VER}

sudo dkms add -m rtl88x2bu -v ${VER}

sudo dkms build -m rtl88x2bu -v ${VER} # Takes ~3-minutes on a 3B+

sudo dkms install -m rtl88x2bu -v ${VER}



# Plug in your adapter then confirm your new interface name

ip addr



# Set a static IP for the new interface (adjust if you have a different interface name or preferred IP)

sudo tee -a /etc/dhcpcd.conf <"

          Mode:Master  Frequency:5.18 GHz  Access Point: 74:EE:2A:E2:40:62

          Bit Rate:144.4 Mb/s   Sensitivity:0/0

          Retry:off   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off

          Power Management:off

          Link Quality=0/100  Signal level=-100 dBm  Noise level=0 dBm

          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0

          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0



```

If you want to setup

[masquerading](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-routed.md)

or

[bridging](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/access-point-bridged.md),

check out the official Raspberry Pi docs.