Difference between revisions of "USB to WiFi adapter"

Latest revision as of 18:05, 26 February 2018

How-to use USB to Wi-Fi adapters on your APF boards.

Prerequesities

Note: You have to be sure that Wireless Tools are installed on your rootfs before going further.

• To use USB dongles with APF9328, you'll need an APF9328DevFull development board, with USB Host configured. See this page to know how to do that.

Tested hardware

Ralink RT2571WF

The RT2571WF Wi-Fi chipset can be found in the following devices:

• D-Link DWL-G122 (not rev E1 !)
• D-Link WPA-110

Drivers are included in Linux kernel > 2.6.29, but firmware must be downloaded from serialmonkey website at this address.

Kernel configuration

• If not already done, Wireless network must be configured by selecting these options in make linux-menuconfig:

 [*] Networking support  --->
    Wireless  --->
        <*> Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211)

• then, select the chipset :

 Device Drivers  --->
    [*] Network device support  --->
        Wireless LAN  --->
            [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11)
            <M> Ralink driver support
            <M> Ralink rt2501/rt73 (USB) support

Wi-Fi configuration

First mount the module:

# modprobe rt73usb

Then copy the firmware named rt73.bin (found in Module directory of rt73-cvs archive) in apf /lib/firmware directory. If /lib/firmware doesn't exist create it.

 mkdir -p /lib/firmware
 tftp -g -r rt73.bin <yourIP>
 mv rt73.bin /lib/firmware

Your Wi-Fi module driver is ready, you can now connect the dongle and after go further with the Wi-Fi configuration.

Ralink RT2870

• Activate the driver in Linux configuration (if not already done):

$ make linux-menuconfig

• Load driver

# modprobe rt2800_usb

• Be sure to have rt2870.bin in /lib/firmware

ZyDas zd1212 chipset

• Tested with SMC WUSB-G (which is in the compatibility list).
  • Go here to buy this device in France (LDLC)
  • Other ways to get it ?

Configure Linux

 $ make linux-menuconfig

 [*] Networking support  --->
    Wireless  --->
        <*> Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211)

 Device Drivers  --->
     [*] Network device support  --->
         Wireless LAN  --->
             [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11)
             ...
             <M> ZyDAS ZD1211/ZD1211B USB-wireless support
             [*]   ZyDAS ZD1211 debugging

 $ make linux && make

Reinstall your system.

Get firmware

• http://zd1211.ath.cx/get-firmware
• copy the archive to your TFTP export directory

Install firmware on your APF

 # mkdir -p /lib/firmware/
 # cd /lib/firmware/
 # tftp -g -r zd1211-firmware-1.4.tar.bz2 192.168.0.17
 # bunzip2 zd1211-firmware-1.4.tar.bz2
 # tar xf zd1211-firmware-1.4.tar
 # mv zd1211-firmware zd1211

Connect your USB adapter

usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using mxc-ehci and address 2
usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=083a, idProduct=4505
usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=16, Product=32, SerialNumber=0
usb 1-1: Product: USB2.0 WLAN
usb 1-1: Manufacturer: SMC

Launch driver

 # modprobe zd1211rw
 usb 1-1: reset high speed USB device using mxc-ehci and address 2
 zd1211rw 1-1:1.0: phy0
 usbcore: registered new interface driver zd1211rw
 
 # ifconfig wlan0 up
 firmware: requesting zd1211/zd1211b_ub
 firmware: requesting zd1211/zd1211b_uphr

Realtek rtl8187

Compatibility list
Tested devices:

• Netgear WG111v3

Configure Linux

 $ make linux-menuconfig

 Device Drivers  --->
     [*] Network device support  --->
         Wireless LAN  --->
             [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11)
             ...
             <M>   Realtek 8187 and 8187B USB support

 $ make linux && make

Launch driver

# modprobe rtl8187
cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
ieee80211 phy0: hwaddr 00:22:3f:df:2c:04, RTL8187BvE V0 + rtl8225z2, rfkill mask 2
rtl8187: wireless switch is on
usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187

# ifconfig wlan0 up
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

Chipset RTL8188CUS

Thanks to Sly for this contribution.

Here are the details for the RTL8188CUS driver for the APF28.

Build procedure

Build the driver for chip RTL8188CUS from source rtl8188C_8192C_usb_linux_v3.4.3_4369.20120622 . You can get the driver here (chose RTL8188CUS) : [1]

Add those option in the makefile :

- change line 39 :
CONFIG_PLATFORM_I386_PC = n
- add line 40 :
CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_ARMADEUS = y

- Near line 261 add:
ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_ARM_ARMADEUS), y)
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN -DCONFIG_WEXT_PRIV
ARCH := arm
CROSS_COMPILE := /path-to-your/armadeus/buildroot/output/host/usr/bin/arm-linux-
KVER  := 2.6.35.3
KSRC ?= /path-to-your/armadeus/buildroot/output/build/linux-2.6.35.3
endif

finally copy the driver to the target directory :

cp 8192cu.ko /path-to-your/armadeus/buildroot/output/target/lib/modules/2.6.35.3\+/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/

Rebuild your armadeus roots and reprogram your board:

cd /path-to-your-armadeus-directory
make
cp build root/output/images/* /tftpboot

Launch driver

# insmod /lib/modules/2.6.35.3\+/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/8192cu.ko
rtw driver version=v3.4.3_4369.20120622 
Build at: Oct 15 2012 14:47:14
register rtw_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
CHIP TYPE: RTL8188C_8192C
...

# ifconfig wlan0 up
+871x_drv - drv_open, bup=0
 ===> FirmwareDownload91C() fw:Rtl819XFwImageArray_TSMC
FirmwareDownload92C accquire FW from embedded image
...
MAC Address = 78:44:76:95:96:76
-871x_drv - drv_open, bup=1
ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

RTL8712U

• Compatibility List
• Tested devices:
  • D-LINK DWA-131

Configure Linux

• If not already done:

$ make linux-menuconfig

    Device Drivers  --->
        [*] Staging drivers  --->
            <M>   RealTek RTL8712U (RTL8192SU) Wireless LAN NIC driver

• rebuild and reflash Linux image

Configure Buildroot

• Only on recent Buildroot, otherwise get the firmware manually from linux-firmware git repository.

$ make menuconfig

Package Selection for the target  --->
    Hardware handling  --->
        Misc devices firmwares  ---> 
            [*] linux-firmware
                WiFi firmwares  --->
                    ...
                    [*] Realtek 8712

• rebuild and reflash rootfs image

# modprobe r8712u
[   22.563440] r8712u: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[   22.583039] r8712u: Staging version
[   22.586760] r8712u: register rtl8712_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
[   22.603628] r8712u: USB_SPEED_HIGH with 4 endpoints
[   22.611685] r8712u: Boot from EFUSE: Autoload OK
[   23.714020] r8712u: CustomerID = 0x0000
[   23.717967] r8712u: MAC Address from efuse = cc:b2:55:c6:67:1d
[   23.725866] r8712u: Loading firmware from "rtlwifi/rtl8712u.bin"
[   23.739712] usbcore: registered new interface driver r8712u

# ifconfig wlan0 up
[   62.320936] r8712u: 1 RCR=0x153f00e
[   62.325542] r8712u: 2 RCR=0x553f00e
[   62.440908] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

# iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0     Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:17:33:1C:91:E6
                    ESSID:"SFR WiFi Public"
                    Protocol:IEEE 802.11bg
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                    Encryption key:off
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                              24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Signal level=82/100  
.....

RTL8192CU

• Compatibility List
• Tested devices:
  • TP-Link TL-WN823N

Configure Linux

• If not already done:

$ make linux-menuconfig

    Device Drivers  --->
        [*] Network device support  --->
            [*]   Wireless LAN  --->
            <M>   Realtek RTL8192CU/RTL8188CU USB Wireless Network Adapter

• rebuild and reflash Linux image

Configure Buildroot

• Only on recent Buildroot, otherwise get the firmware manually from linux-firmware git repository.

$ make menuconfig

Package Selection for the target  --->
    Hardware handling  --->
        Misc devices firmwares  ---> 
            [*] linux-firmware
                WiFi firmwares  --->
                    ...
                    [*] Realtek 8192

• rebuild and reflash rootfs image

• then plug the USB dongle and load the corresponding driver:

# modprobe rtl8192cu
[  180.151881] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[  180.462064] rtl8192cu: Chip version 0x11
[  180.642278] rtl8192cu: MAC address: 64:70:02:17:84:9a
[  180.647469] rtl8192cu: Board Type 0
[  180.653125] rtlwifi: rx_max_size 15360, rx_urb_num 8, in_ep 1
[  180.659369] rtl8192cu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[  180.673783] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
[  180.833248] rtlwifi: wireless switch is on

# ifconfig wlan0 up
[  257.824955] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[  257.896107] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[  258.348956] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): wlan0: link is not ready

# iw dev wlan0 scan
BSS f4:ca:e5:c4:bc:35(on wlan0)
        TSF: 2389267669750 usec (27d, 15:41:07)
        freq: 2417
        beacon interval: 96 TUs
        capability: ESS ShortSlotTime (0x0401)
        signal: -35.00 dBm
        last seen: 650 ms ago
        Information elements from Probe Response frame:
        SSID: FreeWifi
        Supported rates: 1.0* 2.0* 5.5* 11.0* 6.0 9.0 12.0 18.0 
        DS Parameter set: channel 2
        ERP: Barker_Preamble_Mode
        Extended supported rates: 24.0 36.0 48.0 54.0 
.....

To go further

• Configure your Wi-Fi network interface
• Browse the net (in text mode) from your terminal

Links

• https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/
• zd1211 driver on linuxwireless.org