Wireless Adapter Installation: Realtek RTL8188CE on a Thinkpad

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#1

Hello all. I just installed openSUSE 11.4, kernel 2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop. I don’t know how to properly register my wireless card.

lspci returns: Realtek RTL8188CE

lspci -n returns: 10EC:8176

lspci -v returns:
04:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (rev 01)
Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device 8195
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 10
I/O ports at 2000 [size=256]
Memory at f0100000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 01-91-81-fe-ff-4c-e0-00

dmesg returns:
…
0.175611] pci 0000:04:00.0: [10ec:8176] type 0 class 0x000280
0.175638] pci 0000:04:00.0: reg 10: [io 0x2000-0x20ff]
0.175682] pci 0000:04:00.0: reg 18: [mem 0xf0100000-0xf0103fff 64bit]
0.175781] pci 0000:04:00.0: supports D1 D2
0.175784] pci 0000:04:00.0: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot D3cold
0.175793] pci 0000:04:00.0: PME# disabled
…

dmesg | grep [F,f]irmware returns:
0.139394] [Firmware Bug]: ACPI: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored
0.148735] [Firmware Bug]: ACPI: No _BQC method, cannot determine initial brightness
0.161375] [Firmware Bug]: ACPI: No _BQC method, cannot determine initial brightness
7.926592] IBM TrackPoint firmware: 0x0e, buttons: 3/3
9.145931] [Firmware Bug]: ACPI: No _BQC method, cannot determine initial brightness

iwconfig returns:
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.

According to the HCL here: HCL:Network (Wireless) - openSUSE , my adapter should work “out of the box” with “rtl9182ce from compat-wireless.”

I located this package in Software Manager and installed rtl8192ce and rtl8192ce-firmware. There are some “rtl8192ce-kmp-*” packages here, but I haven’t installed any of them. When I begin to, I’m told that I need to downgrade the kernel to install it.

I then attempted to configure the card manually in Network Settings. This resulted in a controller listed in the Overview tab with no MAC address or anything connected to it. It didn’t seem to be connected to the actual PCI device.

Here are my results of diagnostics recommended in the “Getting Your Wireless to Work” thread:

Yast -> Hardware Information: Under “Network Card” is the listing for Realtek Network controller. There is no “Kernel Driver” line. It is listed as a PCI device, though.

The boot log only mentions firmware with references to the touchpad and display adapter.

iwlist scan says the lo and eth0 interfaces don’t support scanning. I stopped trying to do the network diagnostics after this.

Have any ideas for me to try? Thanks![/size][/size]

#2

On 04/16/2011 10:06 PM, statueofmike wrote:
> According to the HCL here: ‘HCL:Network (Wireless) - openSUSE’
> (http://en.opensuse.org/HCL:Network_(Wireless)#Realtek) , my adapter
> should work “out of the box” with “rtl9182ce from compat-wireless.”
>
> I located this package in Software Manager and installed rtl8192ce and
> rtl8192ce-firmware. There are some “rtl8192ce-kmp-*” packages here, but
> I haven’t installed any of them. When I begin to, I’m told that I need
> to downgrade the kernel to install it.

Until you install the rtl8192ce-kmp-* package for your kernel, YOU HAVE NO
DRIVER. Everything you post is consistent with that. AFAIK, there is such a
package for 2.6.37.1-1.2-desktop. At least on my system, the
compat-wireless-kmp-desktop package is for 2.6.37.1_1.2.

#3

The specific message I get is “rtl8192ce-kmp-desktop-0005.1116.2010_2.6.31.14_0.8-1.4.i586 requires ksym(desktop:__stack_chk_fail) = f0fdf6cb, but this requirement cannot be provided”

Then the option that involves installing it says “downgrade of kernel-desktop-2.6.37.1-1.2.2.i586 to kernel-desktop-2.6.31.14-0.8.l.i586”

Is there a newer version of rtl8192ce than the one I’m seeing here? Would I check or repository, or should I try to install the 2.6.37_ one from stable - Linux Wireless ?

#4

On 04/17/2011 11:06 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> The specific message I get is
> “rtl8192ce-kmp-desktop-0005.1116.2010_2.6.31.14_0.8-1.4.i586 requires
> ksym(desktop:__stack_chk_fail) = f0fdf6cb, but this requirement cannot
> be provided”

That is an 11.3 requirement. I think you have the wrong repo installed. Please
post the output from ‘zypper lr’. When posting, put that output inside “code”
tags to preserve the formatting."

>
> Then the option that involves installing it says “downgrade of
> kernel-desktop-2.6.37.1-1.2.2.i586 to
> kernel-desktop-2.6.31.14-0.8.l.i586”
>
> Is there a newer version of rtl8192ce than the one I’m seeing here?
> Would I check or repository, or should I try to install the 2.6.37_ one
> from ‘stable - Linux Wireless’ (http://tinyurl.com/yed8obj) ?

Compat-wireless has the same version of rtl8192ce that I do. There is nothing newer.

#5 

:~> zypper -lr
#  | Alias                            | Name                             | Enabled | Refresh
---+----------------------------------+----------------------------------+---------+--------
 1 | Updates-for-openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0 | Updates for openSUSE 11.4 11.4-0 | Yes     | Yes    
 2 | download.opensuse.org-standard   | Main Repository (Contrib)        | Yes     | Yes    
 3 | driver:wireless                  | driver:wireless                  | Yes     | Yes    
 4 | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0             | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0             | Yes     | No     
 5 | openSUSE:11.2:Update             | openSUSE:11.2:Update             | Yes     | Yes    
 6 | opensuse-guide.org-repo          | libdvdcss repository             | Yes     | Yes    
 7 | packman.inode.at-suse            | Packman Repository               | Yes     | Yes    
 8 | repo-debug                       | openSUSE-11.4-Debug              | No      | Yes    
 9 | repo-debug-update                | openSUSE-11.4-Update-Debug       | Yes     | Yes    
10 | repo-non-oss                     | openSUSE-11.4-Non-Oss            | Yes     | Yes    
11 | repo-oss                         | openSUSE-11.4-Oss                | Yes     | Yes    
12 | repo-source                      | openSUSE-11.4-Source             | Yes     | Yes

Edit: I don’t understand about the compat-wireless version. Do you have version 2010.1.31-6.1 ? That’s all I see in YaST -> Software Management.
Thank you for your time and attention.

#6

On 04/18/2011 12:36 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> :~> zypper -lr
> # | Alias | Name | Enabled | Refresh
> —±---------------------------------±---------------------------------±--------±-------
> 1 | Updates-for-openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0 | Updates for openSUSE 11.4 11.4-0 | Yes | Yes
> 2 | download.opensuse.org-standard | Main Repository (Contrib) | Yes | Yes
> 3 | driver:wireless | driver:wireless | Yes | Yes
> 4 | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0 | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0 | Yes | No
> 5 | openSUSE:11.2:Update | openSUSE:11.2:Update | Yes | Yes
> 6 | opensuse-guide.org-repo | libdvdcss repository | Yes | Yes
> 7 | packman.inode.at-suse | Packman Repository | Yes | Yes
> 8 | repo-debug | openSUSE-11.4-Debug | No | Yes
> 9 | repo-debug-update | openSUSE-11.4-Update-Debug | Yes | Yes
> 10 | repo-non-oss | openSUSE-11.4-Non-Oss | Yes | Yes
> 11 | repo-oss | openSUSE-11.4-Oss | Yes | Yes
> 12 | repo-source | openSUSE-11.4-Source | Yes | Yes
>
> --------------------
>
>
> Edit: I don’t understand about the compat-wireless version. Do you have
> version 2010.1.31-6.1 ? That’s all I see in YaST → Software Management.
> Thank you for your time and attention.

First of all, get rid of that 11.2 update repo.

It doesn’t say so here, but that driver.wireless repo has to be for 11.3. Using
YaST => Software Repositories, please fix that.

A new compat-wireless is generated daily. I don’t know how frequently it is
updated on openSUSE, but the one I have was built on March 28, 2011.

#7

I fixed my repository list like you said. The rtl8192ce-kmp-desktop package requires a kernel(desktop:net_sched). The rtl8192ce-kmp-default package didn’t require this, however. So I installed it and then switched to kernel-default instead of kernel-desktop.

This has partially worked. Now I can see and configure my wireless card in the wireless manager:

~> iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11bgn  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=0 dBm   
          Retry  long limit:7   RTS thr=2347 B   Fragment thr:off
          Encryption key:off
          Power Management:off

Maybe I configured it incorrectly, but I didn’t try setting my home network right away because I need to be able to scan when I go to school. However, scanning goes like this:

~> iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     Interface doesn't support scanning : Network is down

Software Manager also has updated drivers for rtl8192-kmp-default, but it says that they depend on a newer version of kernel(default:net_sched). I thought this might resupporolve the interface error, but haven’t been able to install it.

A search RPM Search OpenSuSE kernel-default-base-2.6.34-12.3.i586.rpm looks like kernel(default:net_sched) is in kernel-default-base. I have kernel-default-devel 2.6.37 and kernel-default-base 2.6.34, but upgrading to kernel-default-base 2.6.37 requires that same package: kernel(default:net_sched).

#8

On 04/18/2011 08:06 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> I fixed my repository list like you said. The rtl8192ce-kmp-desktop
> package requires a kernel(desktop:net_sched). The rtl8192ce-kmp-default
> package didn’t require this, however. So I installed it and then
> switched to kernel-default instead of kernel-desktop.
>
> This has partially worked. Now I can see and configure my wireless card
> in the wireless manager:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> ~> iwconfig
> lo no wireless extensions.
>
> eth0 no wireless extensions.
>
> wlan0 IEEE 802.11bgn ESSID:off/any
> Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=0 dBm
> Retry long limit:7 RTS thr=2347 B Fragment thr:off
> Encryption key:off
> Power Management:off
> --------------------
>
>
> Maybe I configured it incorrectly, but I didn’t try setting my home
> network right away because I need to be able to scan when I go to
> school. However, scanning goes like this:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> ~> iwlist wlan0 scan
> wlan0 Interface doesn’t support scanning : Network is down
> --------------------

This usually means the rfkill switch is off.

#9

My laptop uses a function hotkey for the rfkill switch. I set BIOS to default it ‘on’ during boot. The other function hotkeys, like volume control, are working and I can see them adjust this GNOME volume popup, so they’re working.
Is there some way to verify that the kill switch works? Toggling it right now doesn’t have any noticeable effect, but it should be on.

#10 
/usr/sbin/rfkill list

will in my amateurish thoughts give you more information - like on my old lappy:

0: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

If rfkill is not installed jet - install that software package first.

Regards
Martin
(pistazienfresser)

#11

This is what I have so far:

~>rfkill list
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
          
~> iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     Interface doesn't support scanning : Network is down
#12

On 04/19/2011 12:36 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> This is what I have so far:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> ~>rfkill list
> 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
> Soft blocked: no
> Hard blocked: no
>
> ~> iwlist wlan0 scan
> wlan0 Interface doesn’t support scanning : Network is down
> --------------------

OK, it is not the rfkill switch.

I just reviewed the thread, and you never mentioned what method you are using to
control the wireless connection. With NetworkManager, you need to check if both
NM and some applet are running. For ifup, you will need to configure the
wireless connection using YaST.

We also need to know which desktop you are using.

#13

I’m using GNOME, and ifup.

YaST Network Settings shows a MAC address and the PCIBusID of the wireless card. It is configured to start automatically at boot, using dynamic dhcp.

The BusID shown in network settings matches the BusID from lspci.

#14

On 04/19/2011 03:06 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> I’m using GNOME, and ifup.
>
> YaST Network Settings shows a MAC address and the PCIBusID of the
> wireless card. It is configured to start automatically at boot, using
> dynamic dhcp.
>
> The BusID shown in network settings matches the BusID from lspci.

It sounds as it you need to issue the ifup command. Without that, the network is
down, just as you see. That should be automatic, but seems not to be.

The BusIDs come from the bus scan. They have nothing to do with network
connection other than they dontrol the driver loading.

#15

Do I have to try to connect to an existing wireless network? Is that what “the network is down” is referring to? I’m not sure that I’m contacting the network at all. Can you scan for networks this way?

#16

On 04/19/2011 09:36 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>
> lwfinger;2326727 Wrote:
>> On 04/19/2011 03:06 PM, statueofmike wrote:
>> It sounds as it you need to issue the ifup command. Without that, the
>> network is
>> down, just as you see. That should be automatic, but seems not to be.
>>
>
> Do I have to try to connect to an existing wireless network? Is that
> what “the network is down” is referring to? I’m not sure that I’m
> contacting the network at all. Can you scan for networks this way?

Is the network able to scan after you issue the “ifup” command?

It seems to me that you should be using NetworkManager. It takes care of a lot
of details that seem to be giving you some trouble.

#17

No scanning after ifup.

Here’s ifup normally:

~>ifup wlan0
    wlan0     device: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (rev 01)
    wlan0     warning: using NO encryption
DHCP6 client is already running on wlan0
Starting DHCP4 client on wlan0. .  
    wlan0     DHCP4 client NOT running
    wlan0     DHCP6 continues in background
interface wlan0 is not up

And here’s ifup after I input my home SSID & encryption password optimistically hoping it will work:

~>ifup wlan0
    wlan0     device: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter (rev 01)
    wlan0     warning: WPA configured, but is untested
    wlan0     warning: with this device
    wlan0     starting wpa_supplicant
Could not set interface wlan0 flags: Success
Could not set interface 'wlan0' UP
Could not set interface wlan0 flags: Success
Failed to initialize driver interface
Starting DHCP4+DHCP6 client on wlan0. . . . . . . . . . . .  
    wlan0     DHCP4 client NOT running
    wlan0     DHCP6 continues in background
interface wlan0 is not up

When I enable it Network Manager, Network Manager doesn’t do any scanning either. The little Network Manager menu has a grayed-out “Wireless Networks / disconnected,” and available options “Connect to Hidden Wireless Network” and “Create New Wireless Network” neither of which succeed.

Ethernet connection works.

#18

I am having the same issues with the same chipset (but on a different notebook, mine’s a Toshiba Satellite). After getting the device to appear after installing compat-wireless, and ensuring that the RF kill switch is off, the device still fails to scan. Was using Network Manager, but switched over to ifup for further troubleshooting. After configuring my connection information manually with iwconfig, ifup fails to obtain a DHCP lease. Looking at dmesg afterward, it reports “Failed to request firmware!” So I am guessing that it is still a firmware issue…

 1326.766961] rtl8192ce:rtl92c_download_fw():<0-0> Failed to request firmware!
#19

On 05/08/2011 07:06 PM, bahbahthelamb wrote:
>
> I am having the same issues with the same chipset (but on a different
> notebook, mine’s a Toshiba Satellite). After getting the device to
> appear after installing compat-wireless, and ensuring that the RF kill
> switch is off, the device still fails to scan. Was using Network
> Manager, but switched over to ifup for further troubleshooting. After
> configuring my connection information manually with iwconfig, ifup fails
> to obtain a DHCP lease. Looking at dmesg afterward, it reports “Failed
> to request firmware!” So I am guessing that it is still a firmware
> issue…

You need to install it. With a network connection with a wire, start YaST =>
Software Management and search for 8192. The required firmware will be in the
list. If not, install the kernel-firmware package.

#20

Yea, I had tried that already, but the 8188 firmware in YaST is for the 8188se and not the 8188ce. Not sure what she did, but my girlfriend was using this computer wired to the router today and now I don’t have wlan0 at all; system just doesn’t find it (like how it was before installing compat-wireless). Odd, since she doesn’t have the root password, don’t see how anything could’ve happened. Thinking of uninstalling and reinstalling all the wireless packages to see if I can get it back. Don’t have the kernel-firmware package in YaST to try, which repository is it on?