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mirror of https://github.com/morrownr/8821cu-20210916.git synced 2024-12-22 06:15:50 +00:00

updating documentation

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FAQ.md Normal file
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@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
### FAQ
Question: Is WPA3 supported?
Answer: WPA3-SAE is supported. It works well on most modern Linux distros but
not all. Generally the reason for WPA3 not working on Linux distros is that the
distro has an old version of wpa_supplicant or Network Manager. Your options
are to upgrade to a more modern distro (distros released after mid 2022) or
compile and install new versions of wpa_supplicant and/or Network Manager.
-----
Question: I bought two usb wifi adapters based on this chipset and am planning
to use both in the same computer. How do I set that up?
Answer: Realtek drivers do not support more than one adapter with the
same chipset in the same computer. You can have multiple Realtek based
adapters in the same computer as long as the adapters are based on
different chipsets.
-----
Question: Why do you recommend Mediatek based adapters when you maintain
this repo for a Realtek driver?
Answer: Many new and existing Linux users already have adapters based on
Realtek chipsets. This repo is for Linux users to support their existing
adapters but my STRONG recommendation is for Linux users to seek out USB
WiFi solutions based on Mediatek chipsets:
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi
-----
Question: Will you put volunteers to work?
Answer: Yes. Post a message in `Issues` or `Discussions` if interested.
-----
Question: I am having problems with my adapter and I use Virtualbox?
Answer: This [article](https://null-byte.wonderhowto.com/forum/wifi-hacking-attach-usb-wireless-adapter-with-virtual-box-0324433/) may help.
-----
Question: The driver installation script completed successfully and the
driver is installed but does not seem to be working. What is wrong?
Answer: Turn secure boot off to see if that allows the driver to work.
This driver is primarily tested on Debian based distros such as Ubuntu,
Raspberry Pi OS and Kali. In an attempt to make this driver work well on
many Linux distros, other distros, including the Arch based Manjaro is
used for testing. Currently I do not have installations of Fedora or
OpenSUSE available for testing and reply on user reports of success or
failure. I have two test systems with secure boot on so as to test secure
boot. I have not seen any secure boot problems with Debian based systems
and I don't remember problems with Manjaro.
dkms is used in the installation script. It helps with a lot of issues that
will come up if a simple manual installation is used. dkms has the
capability to handle the needs of secure boot. dkms was written by and is
maintained by Dell. Dell has been offering some Ubuntu pre-loaded systems
for years so their devs likely test on Ubuntu. I suspect Fedora and
OpenSUSE may be handing their secure boot support differently than Debian
based systems and this is leading to problems. This and the other repos
I have are VERY heavily used and I am sure there are plenty of non-Debian
users that use this driver. Are they all turning off secure boot and not
reporting the problem? I don't know. What I do know is that reports like
this are rare.
For the driver to compile and install correctly but not be available
tells me there is likely a key issue. Here is an interesting link
regarding Debian systems and secure boot:
https://wiki.debian.org/SecureBoot
That document contains a lot of information that can help an investigation
into what the real problem is and I invite you and other Fedora, OpemSUSE
and users of other distros that show this problem to investigate and
present what you know to the devs of your distro via their problem
reporting system. Turning off secure boot is NOT a fix. A real fix needs
to happen.
-----
Question: Can you provide additional information about monitor mode?
Answer: I have a repo that is setup to help with monitor mode:
https://github.com/morrownr/Monitor_Mode
Work to improve monitor mode is ongoing with this driver. Your
reports of success or failure are needed. If you have yet to buy an
adapter to use with monitor mode, there are adapters available that are
known to work very well with monitor mode. My recommendation for those
looking to buy an adapter for monitor mode is to buy adapters based on
the following chipsets: mt7921au, mt7612u, mt7610u, rtl8812au, rtl8821cu and
rtl8811au. My specific recommendations for adapters in order of
preference are:
ALFA AWUS036ACHM - long range - in-kernel driver
ALFA AWUS036ACM - in-kernel driver
ALFA AWUS036ACH - long range - [driver](https://github.com/morrownr/8812au-20210629)
ALFA AWUS036ACS - [driver](https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708)
To ask questions, go to [USB-WiFi](https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi)
and post in `Discussions` or `Issues`.
-----
Question: I have an adapter with the 8821cu chipset and it supports
bluetooth. The bluetooth works but the wifi does not. What is wrong?
Answer: There appears to be an issue where adapters can be set up differently
by makers. The fix is to set the driver option ( `rtw_RFE_type` ) in 8821cu.conf.
The easiest way to edit 8821cu.conf is to run the following from the driver
directory:
```
sudo ./edit-options.sh
```
Once in the document, you can scroll down to the documentation about
`rtw_RFE_type`. You will likely have to experiment to find out what setting
works best for your adapter but a good place to start is probably...
```
rtw_RFE_type=7
```
Simply add that option to the end of the `options` line, save and reboot.
-----
Question: How do I disable the onboard WiFi in a Raspberry Pi?
Note: This answer is for the Raspberry Pi OS.
Answer:
Add the following line to `/boot/config.txt`
```
dtoverlay=disable-wifi
```
-----
Question: How do I forget a saved WiFi network on a Raspberry Pi?
Note: This answer is for the Raspberry Pi OS without Network Manager active.
Step 1: Edit `wpa_supplicant.conf`
```
sudo ${EDITOR} /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
```
Note: Replace ${EDITOR} with the name of the text editor you wish to use.
#### Step 2: Delete the relevant WiFi network block (including the '`network=`' and opening/closing braces).
#### Step 3: Save the file.
#### Step 4: Reboot
-----

174
README.md
View File

@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ confirm that this is the correct driver for your adapter.
- AP mode DFS channel support
- Supported interface modes
* Managed
* Monitor (see FAQ)
* Monitor (see FAQ) (see [Monitor_Mode](https://github.com/morrownr/Monitor_Mode)
* AP
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
@ -46,9 +46,11 @@ confirm that this is the correct driver for your adapter.
- hcxdumptool
### A FAQ is available at the end of this document.
### A FAQ is available in this repo with the name FAQ.md
### Additional documentation is in the file `8821cu.conf`.
- Please read the FAQ and below documentation before posting issues.
### Additional documentation is in the file `8821cu.conf`
### Compatible CPU Architectures
@ -547,172 +549,6 @@ After making and saving changes, reboot the router.
-----
### How to disable onboard WiFi on Raspberry Pi 3B, 3B+, 3A+, 4B and Zero W
Add the following line to `/boot/config.txt`
```
dtoverlay=disable-wifi
```
-----
### How to forget a saved WiFi network on a Raspberry Pi
#### Step 1: Edit `wpa_supplicant.conf`
```
sudo ${EDITOR} /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
```
Note: Replace ${EDITOR} with the name of the text editor you wish to use.
#### Step 2: Delete the relevant WiFi network block (including the '`network=`' and opening/closing braces).
#### Step 3: Press ctrl-x followed by '`y`' and enter to save the file.
#### Step 4: Reboot
-----
### FAQ
Question: Is WPA3 supported?
Answer: WPA3-SAE is supported. It works well on most modern Linux distros but
not all. Generally the reason for WPA3 not working on Linux distros is that the
distro has an old version of wpa_supplicant or Network Manager. Your options
are to upgrade to a more modern distro (distros released after mid 2022) or
compile and install new versions of wpa_supplicant and/or Network Manager.
-----
Question: I bought two usb wifi adapters based on this chipset and am planning
to use both in the same computer. How do I set that up?
Answer: Realtek drivers do not support more than one adapter with the
same chipset in the same computer. You can have multiple Realtek based
adapters in the same computer as long as the adapters are based on
different chipsets.
-----
Question: Why do you recommend Mediatek based adapters when you maintain
this repo for a Realtek driver?
Answer: Many new and existing Linux users already have adapters based on
Realtek chipsets. This repo is for Linux users to support their existing
adapters but my STRONG recommendation is for Linux users to seek out USB
WiFi solutions based on Mediatek chipsets:
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi
-----
Question: Will you put volunteers to work?
Answer: Yes. Post a message in `Issues` or `Discussions` if interested.
-----
Question: I am having problems with my adapter and I use Virtualbox?
Answer: This [article](https://null-byte.wonderhowto.com/forum/wifi-hacking-attach-usb-wireless-adapter-with-virtual-box-0324433/) may help.
-----
Question: The driver installation script completed successfully and the
driver is installed but does not seem to be working. What is wrong?
Answer: Turn secure boot off to see if that allows the driver to work.
This driver is primarily tested on Debian based distros such as Ubuntu,
Raspberry Pi OS and Kali. In an attempt to make this driver work well on
many Linux distros, other distros, including the Arch based Manjaro is
used for testing. Currently I do not have installations of Fedora or
OpenSUSE available for testing and reply on user reports of success or
failure. I have two test systems with secure boot on so as to test secure
boot. I have not seen any secure boot problems with Debian based systems
and I don't remember problems with Manjaro.
dkms is used in the installation script. It helps with a lot of issues that
will come up if a simple manual installation is used. dkms has the
capability to handle the needs of secure boot. dkms was written by and is
maintained by Dell. Dell has been offering some Ubuntu pre-loaded systems
for years so their devs likely test on Ubuntu. I suspect Fedora and
OpenSUSE may be handing their secure boot support differently than Debian
based systems and this is leading to problems. This and the other repos
I have are VERY heavily used and I am sure there are plenty of non-Debian
users that use this driver. Are they all turning off secure boot and not
reporting the problem? I don't know. What I do know is that reports like
this are rare.
For the driver to compile and install correctly but not be available
tells me there is likely a key issue. Here is an interesting link
regarding Debian systems and secure boot:
https://wiki.debian.org/SecureBoot
That document contains a lot of information that can help an investigation
into what the real problem is and I invite you and other Fedora, OpemSUSE
and users of other distros that show this problem to investigate and
present what you know to the devs of your distro via their problem
reporting system. Turning off secure boot is NOT a fix. A real fix needs
to happen.
-----
Question: Can you provide additional information about monitor mode?
Answer: I have a repo that is setup to help with monitor mode:
https://github.com/morrownr/Monitor_Mode
Work to improve monitor mode is ongoing with this driver. Your
reports of success or failure are needed. If you have yet to buy an
adapter to use with monitor mode, there are adapters available that are
known to work very well with monitor mode. My recommendation for those
looking to buy an adapter for monitor mode is to buy adapters based on
the following chipsets: mt7921au, mt7612u, mt7610u, rtl8812au, rtl8821cu and
rtl8811au. My specific recommendations for adapters in order of
preference are:
ALFA AWUS036ACHM - long range - in-kernel driver
ALFA AWUS036ACM - in-kernel driver
ALFA AWUS036ACH - long range - [driver](https://github.com/morrownr/8812au-20210629)
ALFA AWUS036ACS - [driver](https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708)
To ask questions, go to [USB-WiFi](https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi)
and post in `Discussions` or `Issues`.
-----
Question: I have an adapter with the 8821cu chipset and it supports
bluetooth. The bluetooth works but the wifi does not. What is wrong?
Answer: There appears to be an issue where adapters can be set up differently
by makers. The fix is to set the driver option ( `rtw_RFE_type` ) in 8821cu.conf.
The easiest way to edit 8821cu.conf is to run the following from the driver
directory:
```
sudo ./edit-options.sh
```
Once in the document, you can scroll down to the documentation about
`rtw_RFE_type`. You will likely have to experiment to find out what setting
works best for your adapter but a good place to start is probably...
```
rtw_RFE_type=7
```
Simply add that option to the end of the `options` line, save and reboot.
-----
Contributors:
```