General TC > General TC Talk
Wiki List of supported wifi devices
CentralWare:
Hello everyone!
I'm running 14.x x64 on an HP laptop (17-by0036nr) and I randomly grabbed a few short USB dongles (under 1" long outside the USB port) from the office for wireless since the onboard wireless didn't seem to have TCL support. Wouldn't you know... they're all RTL8811 chips, even though three different brand names. (TP-Link and two generic/unbranded AC devices - what are the odds :) )
2357:011e TP-Link AC600 wirless Realtek RTL8811AU [Archer T2U Nano]
After a little research...
I have the kernel compiling for 6.1.2 and will be rolling up a RTL88xxAU driver here in a little while as the internal wifi chip (RTL8327) was deleted last year from the Realtek firmware for 14.x for some reason, so I have to rebuild the module anyway if I want to use this laptop for the project in question...
So, what's our take on non-kernel drivers such as this? Do we build extensions "as is" or simply not support them?
REF: HP:17-BY0036NR WIFI:TCL:RTL8723DE WIFI:TCL:RTL8811AU
Juanito:
I’d say build extensions as needed.
curaga:
Yeah, external modules are fine as extensions (including binary drivers like Nvidia as long as their license allows).
Paul_123:
I caution you on being a maintainer supporting Realtek product. I used to manage them for a different system, and it became unmanageable due to the constant state of flux with 3rd party repos (updating for newer kernels, or they stopped working). There is some kernel work trying to build a intree realtek kernel driver, but its support is very limited right now.
I think the simpler approach is to wiki how to build your own driver.
I found this to be the most complete information on what works for USB wifi.
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFi/tree/main
PS. I build the 8812au driver for my own personal use.
CentralWare:
@Paul_123: Maintaining anything third party tends to come with inherent hazards (ie: No good deed goes unpunished)
I was thinking more in the direction of an extension based on necessity here... and with 15.x being on the anvil as we speak, likely compiled for that era as well... build instructions and the likes included with a note in the .info "...if it doesn't work for you, here's how to build your own... G'luck!" by which time, for all we know, that vintage of RTLs could make it into the main-stream.
github:morrownr is actually where I was reading up on the RTL8821/11 and 8822/12 before reaching out
@curaga / @Juanito: Thanks!
Any time we create something on this end that originates in part or in whole elsewhere, I tend to copy the (C) and distribution terms verbatim; or at least provide a link of where to find the red-tape. Granted, sometimes "free to distribute" (CDDL) does not always mean "freely distribute" (GPL) so... either scrub the mission, or "...better to ask forgiveness..." when the grey area is too gray!
EDIT: Disregard everything... if I'm understanding correctly, 8821CE (PCIe) and AU (USB) are kernel supported in >= 6.3.x and our 14.x is running 6.1.2
Will know for certain here in a while -- will be downloading 6.6 and digging in.
PCIe... yes. USB... no. :-\
Well, at least my own build seems to be working nicely.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version