RTL8723AE Realtek wirless driver hell :(

**lwfinger** · 02-Oct-2012, 11:45

On 10/02/2012 12:06 PM, yuzbasi volkan wrote:
>
> cont'd..
> With the drivers I downloaded from the ubuntu link, What I have tried
> is
>
> cd rtl_92ce_92se_92de_8723ae_linux_mac80211_0006.0514.2012
> make
>
> and I got following error message:
> make: *** /lib/modules/3.4.6-2.10-desktop/build: No such file or
> directory. Stop.

That message arises because you have not installed the kernel headers.

**yuzbasi_volkan** · 03-Oct-2012, 05:32

Originally Posted by lwfinger

On 10/02/2012 12:06 PM, yuzbasi volkan wrote:

That message arises because you have not installed the kernel headers.

Thank you for your reply. Is this how I install the headers:

Open Yast, go in patterns and install following:

[X] Base Development
[X] Linux Kernel Development
[X] C/C++ Development

I found that information in another thread, but the installation requires 1Gb which seems a lot? Can you confirm before I go ahead?
Thank you for your help.

**lwfinger** · 03-Oct-2012, 09:19

On 10/03/2012 06:36 AM, yuzbasi volkan wrote:
>
> lwfinger;2492659 Wrote:
>> On 10/02/2012 12:06 PM, yuzbasi volkan wrote:
>>
>>
>> That message arises because you have not installed the kernel headers.
>
> Thank you for your reply. Is this how I install the headers:
>
> Open Yast, go in patterns and install following:
>
> [X] Base Development
> [X] Linux Kernel Development
> [X] C/C++ Development
>
> I found that information in another thread, but the installation
> requires 1Gb which seems a lot? Can you confirm before I go ahead?
> Thank you for your help.

I build kernels nearly every day, but I have none of those packages installed. I
do have some of the ingredients, but not all. In your case, I would suggest the
Kernel Development pattern. It gets the full kernel source, which includes the
headers. If you want to save on disk space, you could install the
kernel-xxx-devel package, where xxx is either desktop or default, depending on
which kernel you have installed as shown by 'uname -r'.

**gajuith** · 03-Oct-2012, 17:38

Would love to get my RTL8723AE working on SUSE 12.2...was able to find a compatible driver for Ubuntu, but would much prefer to be using SUSE. Please post a solution when you achieve one.

**yuzbasi_volkan** · 05-Oct-2012, 01:25

Originally Posted by lwfinger

On 10/03/2012 06:36 AM, yuzbasi volkan wrote:
I build kernels nearly every day, but I have none of those packages installed. I
do have some of the ingredients, but not all. In your case, I would suggest the
Kernel Development pattern. It gets the full kernel source, which includes the
headers. If you want to save on disk space, you could install the
kernel-xxx-devel package, where xxx is either desktop or default, depending on
which kernel you have installed as shown by 'uname -r'.

I installed it but encountered more problems during the driver installation and gave up. In the meantime I realized I can connect the laptop to the wireless through my phone, which is an acceptable temporary solution while waiting for the suse drivers.. As the previous poster said, would be great if you can post it here when the new drivers are available..
Thanks!

**dwijnand** · 06-Oct-2012, 11:35

Originally Posted by lwfinger

On 09/29/2012 06:16 AM, jferna57 wrote:
>
> Hi lwfinger,
>
> First of all, thank you very much for your work.
>
> I'm user of Ubuntu 12.04. I saw that on
> 'compat-wireless-2012-09-27.tar.bz2'
> (http://linuxwireless.org/download/co...-09-27.tar.bz2)
> you released this version of compat-wireless. Is it included support for
> realtek RTL8723ae? Can I install this version in ubuntu 12.04?

The driver for the RTL8723AE is not yet in wireless-testing, which is the source
of compat-wireless. I tried to get it submitted in time for merging with kernel
3.7, but it drew a negative review. As a result, I have been polishing the
driver a bit more and I will resubmit as soon as the 3.7-rc1 is released. I
expect that wireless-testing will have it within a month from now.

What kernel is used in 12.04? Perhaps I can prepare a patch for that kernel.

The good news is that the driver is extremely stable. In nearly 3 weeks of
testing, I have not had a single unplanned disconnect.

Hey Larry,
I was wondering if it would be possible for you to guide me as to how to install the driver myself before it going through wireless-testing (or patch the kernel, or the kernel module or whatever it may be

).
I'm running Arch Linux (I hope this isn't a showstopper), which is running kernel 3.5.5.

Thanks in advance,
Dale

**lwfinger** · 06-Oct-2012, 13:42

On 10/06/2012 12:36 PM, dwijnand wrote:
Hey Larry,
> I was wondering if it would be possible for you to guide me as to how
> to install the driver myself before it going through wireless-testing
> (or patch the kernel, or the kernel module or whatever it may be

).
> I'm running Arch Linux (I hope this isn't a showstopper), which is
> running kernel 3.5.5.

Very little of what I do is limited to a certain distro. Arch Linux will be OK;
however, I will not know the exact details of certain steps. First install
kernel 3.6.0 from http://www.kernel.org. Click on the full sources link,
download to some location, change directory to your home, and issue the command

Code:

tar jxvf <path_to_downloaded_file>

Next you will need to create a configuration file. If supported, the easiest way
is to change directory to the new sources, and

Code:

zcat /proc/config.gz > .config

If Arch does not have /proc/config.gz, you will need to find out how to clone
your current configuration. Once you have a ,config, then make the new kernel.
You will likely be asked some questions for the parameters in 3.6.0, but not in
3.5.5. The default answer should be OK. Build and install the new kernel using
whatever procedures Arch needs. Install the new one using a method that does not
destroy the 3.5.5 kernel. If anything has gone wrong, you will need it.

My the time you have built a working 3.6.0 kernel, I will have posted a link for
the patch needed to add driver rtl8723ae.

**lwfinger** · 07-Oct-2012, 16:01

On 10/06/2012 02:42 PM, Larry Finger wrote:
> My the time you have built a working 3.6.0 kernel, I will have posted a link for
> the patch needed to add driver rtl8723ae.

I have the information you need. First download

http://linuxwireless.org/download/co...-10-03.tar.bz2

Save it in your home directory. Next download

http://www.lwfinger.com/realtek_driv...e_master_patch

and also save that in your home directory. Next, run the commands

Code:

tar jxvf compat-wireless-2012-10-03.tar.bz2
cd compat-wireless-2012-10-03/
patch -p1 < ../rtl8723ae_master_patch
make
sudo make install
sudo modprobe -v rtl8723ae

At this point, the device should work.

**gajuith** · 07-Oct-2012, 22:20

when I try the patch command, I get the error "patch: **** strip count l is not a number"

**malcolmlewis** · 07-Oct-2012, 23:11

Originally Posted by gajuith

when I try the patch command, I get the error "patch: **** strip count l
is not a number"

Hi
Sounds like the patch you downloaded was corrupted, from the command
line in your home directory;

Code:

rm rtl8723ae_master_patch
wget http://www.lwfinger.com/realtek_drivers/rtl8723ae_master_patch
cd compat-wireless-2012-10-03
patch -p1 < ../rtl8723ae_master_patch

--
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 12.2 (x86_64) Kernel 3.4.6-2.10-desktop
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