Realtek RTL-8180 and RTL-8187 wifi
This page describes how to enable support for WiFi devices based on Realtek chipsets on Debian systems.
?TableOfContents(2)
Drivers
rtl-wifi is a project to develop drivers for Realtek wireless LAN chipsets, a fork of the rtl8180-sa2400 project. These drivers were introduced into the mainline Linux kernel at various stages.
The driver modules are:
- rtl8180 (PCI devices)
- Support for RTL8180 chipsets was introduced in kernel 2.6.25.
- Support for RTL8185 chipsets was introduced in kernel 2.6.25.
- rtl8187 (USB devices)
- Support for RTL8187 chipsets was introduced in kernel 2.6.23.
- Support for some RTL8187B chipsets was introduced in kernel 2.6.27.
The RTL8187SE chipset is not supported by the project at this time. An experimental [#rtl8187se vendor driver] is available.
Installation
[:DebianEtch:Etch] users:
For RTL8187 chipset support, install an [:EtchAndAHalf:] kernel: apt-cache search linux-image-2.6.24-etchnhalf and install a package appropriate for your system. Restart your system with this kernel before continuing.
For RTL8180 and RTL8185 chipset support, install a 2.6.26 kernel from [:Backports:Debian Backports]. Once your sources are configured: apt-cache search linux-image-2.6.26 and install a package appropriate for your system. Restart your system with this kernel before continuing.
[:DebianTesting:Testing] and [:DebianUnstable:unstable] users:
For RTL8187B chipset support, install a 2.6.27 (or later) [wiki:DebianKernel Debian Kernel snapshot]. Restart your system with this kernel before continuing.
Install the wireless-tools package:
$ su # aptitude update # aptitude install wireless-tools
- If your device uses USB, physically connect it to your system.
The necessary kernel module should be [:Modules:automatically loaded]. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via either:
# modprobe rtl8180
or
# modprobe rtl8187
Verify your device has an available interface:
# iwconfig
Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
# ifconfig wlan0 up
[:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.
?Anchor(rtl8187se)
RTL8187SE
The Realtek RTL8187SE is an IEEE 802.11b/g single-chip wireless LAN integrated circuit, with a PCI Express interface. This can be found in the [:DebianEeePC/Model/701SD:Asus EeePC 701SD].
A driver from Realtek is available for initial device support on Linux systems.
The vendor driver is experimental. Expect stability, performance and/or latency issues.
Installation
Debian Packages
Packages of vendor driver revision 1016.0716.2008 have been prepared by Martin Filtenborg?FootNote([http://www.martinfiltenborg.dk/debian/debian.html#hw]).
Pre-Built Module
Only available for [:DebianTesting:testing] users on the i386 architecture.
Install the wireless-tools package:
$ su # aptitude update # aptitude install wireless-tools # exit
Acquire and install the rtl8187se-modules package:
$ wget http://www.martinfiltenborg.dk/debian/rtl8187se-modules-2.6.26-1-686_1016.0716.2008+2.6.26-10_i386.deb # su # dpkg -i ./rtl8187se-modules-2.6.26-1-686_1016.0716.2008+2.6.26-10_i386.deb # depmod -a
- Continue to [#rtl8187se_configure configuration].
Module Assistant
Install the bzip2, debhelper, module-assistant and wireless-tools packages:
$ su # aptitude update # aptitude install bzip2 debhelper module-assistant wireless-tools # exit
Acquire and install the rtl8187se-source package:
$ wget http://www.martinfiltenborg.dk/debian/rtl8187se-source_1016.0716.2008_all.deb $ su # dpkg -i ./rtl8187se-source_1016.0716.2008_all.deb
Build and install a rtl8187se-* modules package within your system:
# m-a prepare # m-a a-i rtl8187se # depmod -a
- Continue to [#rtl8187se_configure configuration].
From Source
The latest revision of this driver (1023.1118.2008) requires to be compiled from source.
Install the build-essential, relevant linux-headers and and wireless-tools packages:
$ su # aptitude update # aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) wireless-tools # exit
Acquire the vendor driver:
$ wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/20052864/rtl8187se_linux_26.1023.1118.2008.tar.gz
Extract the tarball's contents:
$ tar xvf rtl8187se_linux_26.1023.1118.2008.tar.gz
Compile and install the driver:
$ cd rtl8187se_linux_26.1023.1118.2008 $ make $ su # make install
- Continue to [#rtl8187se_configure configuration].
?Anchor(rtl8187se_configure)
Configuration
Load the r8180 module:
# modprobe r8180
Verify your device has an available interface:
# iwconfig
Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
# ifconfig wlan0 up
[:WiFi/HowToUse:Configure] your wireless interface as appropriate.
External Links
http://rtl-wifi.sf.net/ - project homepage
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rtl8187 - driver page on Linux Wireless
http://rtl8180-sa2400.sf.net/ - old project homepage
http://launchpadlibrarian.net/20052864/rtl8187se_linux_26.1023.1118.2008.tar.gz - RTL8187SE vendor driver
See Also
- ["DebianEeePC/Model/701SD"] - additional RTL8187SE information
[:WiFi/HowToUse:?HowToUse] WiFi adapter
ToDo : rename thi page according the the driver or acccording to the module name. maybe Rtl818x ?