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morrownr / 8812au-20210820

Linux Driver for USB WiFi Adapters that are based on the RTL8812AU Chipset - v5.13.6-23
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linux-driver realtek rtl8812au usb wifi

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8812au ( 8812au.ko ) :rocket:

Linux Driver for USB WiFi Adapters that are based on the RTL8812AU Chipset

Note: Please read the file "supported-device-IDs" for information about how to confirm that this is the correct driver for your adapter.

Note: Posting this driver is not a recommendation for Linux users to buy USB WiFi adapters based on the Realtek chipsets supported by this driver. Realtek out-of-kernel wifi drivers, such as this one, are not Linux Wireless Standards compliant and appear to be designed to be used by skilled programmers producing products such as embedded systems. Users of desktop and server distros such as Ubuntu, Debian, Manjaro, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS and other mainline desktop and server distros will likely find adapters that use in-kernel drivers (Linux Wireless Standards compliant) to be more stable and much more trouble-free. The following links will provide more information:

USB WiFi adapters that are supported with Linux in-kernel drivers

USB WiFi adapter information for Linux

Supported Features

Note: Monitor mode is not supported. Linux users that want good support for monitor mode in a dual band or tri-band adapter should seek out USB WiFi adapters based on the mt7610u, mt7612u or mt7921au chipsets.

A FAQ is available in this repo with the name FAQ.md

Additional documentation is in the file 8812au.conf

Compatible CPU Architectures

Note: Additional CPU architectures may work but I currently only have the hardware to test the above.

Compatible Kernels

Note: Kernels earlier than 5.4 may work but are not tested or supported.

Tested Compilers

Tested Linux Distributions

Note: The information in this section depends largely on user reports which can be provided via PR or message in Issues.

Note: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and distros based on RHEL are supported by Red Hat devs due to the way kernel patches are handled in Red Hat. I support knowledgable RHEL developers if they want to merge the required support and keep it current. I reserve the right to delete this support without notice if it causes any problems.

Current RHEL maintainer: none

Note: Android is supported in the driver according to Realtek. I will support knowledgable Android developers if they want to merge and keep current the required support (most likely just instructions about how to compile and maybe a modification or two to the Makefile).

Current Android maintainer: none

Note: OpenWRT is not supported. OpenWRT provides drivers for USB WiFi adapters. OpenWRT provided drivers include support for the MT7921au (AXE3000), MT7612u (AC1200), MT7610u (AC600) chipsets. It is a challenge to use Realtek based adapters that use out-of-kernel drivers with OpenWRT so it is strongly advised to use the already supported chipsets.

Compatible Devices

Installation Information

Warning: It is recommended that you follow the installation instructions in the Installation Steps section. Avoid installation by downloading the zip file if at all possible. Support can only be provided, on a best effort basis, if the instructions in the Installation Steps section are followed.

Warning: Installing multiple out-of-kernel drivers for the same hardware usually does not end well. The install-driver.sh script has the capability to detect and remove most conflicting drivers but not all. If this driver does not work well after installation and you have previously installed a driver that you did not remove, it is suggested that you run the following command in an effort to determine if you need to take action to manually remove conflicting drivers:

sudo dkms status

Warning: If you decide to do a distro upgrade, which will likely install a new version of kernel such as 5.15 to 6.1, you need to update this driver with the newest available code and then reinstall it before performing the disto upgrade. Use the following commands in the driver directory:

git pull
sudo sh install-driver.sh

Internet access is required for initial installation. There are numerous ways to enable temporary internet access depending on your hardware and situation. One method is to use tethering from a phone.. Another method is to keep a WiFi adapter that uses an in-kernel driver in your toolkit.

You will need to use the terminal interface. The quick way to open a terminal: Ctrl+Alt+T (hold down on the Ctrl and Alt keys then press the T key).

An alternative terminal is to use SSH (Secure Shell) from the same or from another computer, in which case you will be in a suitable terminal after logging in, but this step requires that an SSH daemon/server has already been configured. (There are lots of SSH guides available, e.g., for the Raspberry Pi and for Ubuntu. Do not forget to secure the SSH server.)

You will need to have sufficient access rights to use sudo so that commands can be executed as the root user. (If the command sudo echo Yes returns "Yes", with or without having to enter your password, you do have sufficient access rights.)

DKMS is used for the installation, if available. DKMS is a system utility which will automatically recompile and reinstall this driver when a new kernel is installed. DKMS is provided by and maintained by Dell.

It is recommended that you do not delete the driver directory after installation as the directory contains information and scripts that you may need in the future.

Secure Boot: see FAQ.

Installation Steps

Note: The installation instructions are for the novice user. Experienced users are welcome to alter the installation to meet their needs. Support will be provided, on a best effort basis, based on the steps below. Another way to word this paragraph is that if you do not follow the below steps for installation, you are your own tech support.

Step 1: Open a terminal (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+T)

Step 2: Update and upgrade system packages (select the option for the distro you are using)

Note: If your Linux distro does not fall into one of options listed below, you will need to research how to update and upgrade your system packages.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo pacman -Syu
sudo dnf upgrade
sudo zypper update
sudo xbps-install -Syu

Note: It is recommended that you reboot your system at this point. The rest of the installation will appreciate having a fully up-to-date system to work with. The installation can then be continued with Step 3.

sudo reboot

Step 3: Install the required packages (select the option for the distro you are using)

Note: If your Linux distro does not fall into one of options listed below, you will need to research how to properly setup up the development environment for your system. General guidance follows.

Development Environment Requirements: (package names may vary by distro)

Note: The below options should take care of the mandatory and highly recommended requirements. If Secure Boot is active on your system, please also install the mandatory packages for Secure Boot as shown above.

sudo apt install -y build-essential
sudo apt install -y raspberrypi-kernel-headers build-essential bc dkms git
sudo apt install -y linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential bc dkms git libelf-dev rfkill iw

Note: The following is needed if using kali-pi for RasPi4B/5B.

sudo apt install -y kalipi-kernel-headers build-essential bc dkms git
sudo apt install -y build-essential dkms git iw

Note: Fedora users should also install openssl if secure boot is active.

sudo dnf -y install git dkms kernel-devel
sudo zypper install -t pattern devel_kernel dkms
sudo apk add linux-lts-dev make gcc
sudo xbps-install linux-headers dkms git make

If using pacman

sudo pacman -S --noconfirm linux-headers dkms git bc iw

Note: The following is needed if using Manjaro for RasPi4B/5B.

sudo pacman -S --noconfirm linux-rpi4-headers dkms git bc

Note: If you are asked to choose a provider, make sure to choose the one that corresponds to your version of the linux kernel (for example, "linux510-headers" for Linux kernel version 5.10). If you install the incorrect version, you'll have to uninstall it and install the correct version.

If using other methods, please follow the instructions provided by those methods.

Step 4: Create a directory to hold the downloaded driver

mkdir -p ~/src

Step 5: Move to the newly created directory

cd ~/src

Step 6: Download the driver

git clone https://github.com/morrownr/8812au-20210820.git

Step 7: Move to the newly created driver directory

cd ~/src/8812au-20210820

Step 8: Run the installation script (install-driver.sh)

Important: The compilation may fail if the major version of gcc that is in use is not the same as the major version of gcc that was used to compile the kernel that is in use:

Example of bad situation:

gcc 12.1 (used to compile the kernel)
gcc 10.3 (version of gcc in use)

Example of good situation:

gcc 12.2 (used to compile the kernel)
gcc 12.1 (version of gcc in use)

To determine the values:

cat /proc/version
gcc --version

If you find your system in a bad situation, it is recommended that you install a version of gcc that matches the major version of gcc that was used to compile your kernel. Here is an example for Ubuntu:

sudo apt install gcc-12

Note: If your system is a low memory system, it is recommended that you terminate running apps so as to provide the maximum amount of RAM to the compilation process.

Note: For automated builds (non-interactive), use NoPrompt as an option.

sudo ./install-driver.sh

or

sudo sh install-driver.sh

Note: If you elect to skip the reboot at the end of the installation script, the driver may not load immediately and the driver options will not be applied. Rebooting is strongly recommended.

Note: Fedora users that have secure boot turned on may need to run the following to enroll the key:

sudo mokutil --import /var/lib/dkms/mok.pub

Manual Installation Instructions

Note: The installation script, install-driver.sh , automates the installation process, however, if you want to or need to do a basic command line installation, use the following:

make clean
make -j$(nproc)

If secure boot is off:

sudo make install
sudo reboot

If secure boot is on:

Note: Please read to the end of this section before coming back here to enter commands.

sudo make sign-install

Note: You will be promted for a password, please remember the password as it will be used in some of the following steps.

sudo reboot

The MOK managerment screen will appear during boot:

Shim UEFI Key Management

Press any key...

Select "Enroll key"

Select "Continue"

Select "Yes"

When promted, enter the password you entered earlier.

Warning: If you enter the wrong password, your computer will not be bootable. In this case, use the BOOT menu from your BIOS to boot then as follows:

sudo mokutil --reset

Restart your computer. Use the BOOT menu from BIOS to boot. In the MOK managerment screen, select reset MOK list, then reboot and retry from the above step sudo make sign-install.

Note: If you use the Manual Installation Instructions, you will need to repeat the installation process each time a new kernel is installed in your distro.

Manual Removal Instructions

To remove the driver if installed by the Manual Installation Instructions:

sudo make uninstall
sudo reboot

Note: If you use the manual installation instructions, or if dkms is not installed, you will need to repeat the process each time a new kernel is installed in your distro.

Driver Options (edit-options.sh)

Note: In Linux, driver options are also called module parameters .

A file called 8812au.conf will be installed in /etc/modprobe.d by default if you use the installation script, install-driver.sh. If you are following the Manual Installation Instructions, you can use the edit-options.sh script to install and/or edit the file.

Note: The installation script, install-driver.sh. will prompt you to edit the options.

8812au.conf will be read and applied to the driver on each system boot.

To edit the driver options file, run the edit-options.sh script

sudo ./edit-options.sh

Note: Documentation for Driver Options is included in the file 8812au.conf.

Upgrading the Driver

Note: Linux development is continuous therefore work on this driver is continuous.

Note: Upgrading the driver is advised in the following situations:

Step 1: Open a terminal (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+T)

Step 2: Move to the driver directory

cd ~/src/8812au-20210629

Step 3: Pull updated code from this repo

git pull

Step 4: Reinstall the driver

Note: The install-driver.sh script will automatically remove the previously installed driver.

sudo ./install-driver.sh

Removal of the Driver (remove-driver.sh)

Note: Removing the driver is advised in the following situations:

Note: The following removes everything that has been installed, with the exception of the packages installed in Step 3 and the driver directory. The driver directory can be deleted after running this script.

Step 1: Open a terminal (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+T)

Step 2: Move to the driver directory

cd ~/src/8812au-20210629

Step 3: Run the removal script

Note: For automated builds (non-interactive), use NoPrompt as an option.

sudo ./remove-driver.sh

Recommended WiFi Router/ Access Point Settings

Note: These recommendations apply when using your adapter in managed (client) mode, not AP mode.

Note: These are general recommendations, some of which may not apply to your specific situation.

After making and saving changes, reboot the router.

Recommendations regarding USB

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