How to have my USB wifi dongle recognized?

[Uqbar]

I have this wonderful Belkin F9L1004 working under Windows

I know it's built around an RTL8192CU chipset which should be currently supported by my Kubuntu machine as I can see the driver sitting in the /lib/modules/3.2.0-23-lowlatency/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu directory.

The kernel page is 2 yars old now:
wirelessDOTkernelDOTorg /en/users/Drivers/rtl819x

lsusb is reporting it correctly as:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 050d:1004 Belkin Components F9L1004 802.11n Surf N300 XR Wireless Adapter [Realtek RTL8192CU]

But then nothing happens.
If I manually load the driver, I can see something happening in the syslogs:

2012-10-06T09:44:42.497072+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4296.609608] usb 2-6: new high-speed USB device number 2 using ehci_hcd
2012-10-06T09:52:34.649019+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.358574] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705160+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412415] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705179+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412417] cfg80211: (start_freq - end_freq AT bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705184+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412419] cfg80211: (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz AT 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705187+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412421] cfg80211: (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz AT 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705190+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412422] cfg80211: (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz AT 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705193+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412424] cfg80211: (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz AT 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.705196+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.412425] cfg80211: (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz AT 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-06T09:52:34.761135+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 4768.469773] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu

But neither ifconfig nor iwconfig reports any new interface to be configured.

How can I make it working (provided it's actually possible)?
Why it's not being recognized?

TIA.

[atreyu]

Hi,

It is possible that you need to load the firmware for the wireless chipset. There is a reference to it here at this Debian thread:

rtl819x - Debian Wiki

If your distro is not Debian, the perhaps your distro has this firmware packaged, as well. or you can just extract them from the Debian tarball and put them in the place on your system.

Edit: ReaTek drivers for Linux:
Realtek

[Uqbar]

Hi,

It is possible that you need to load the firmware for the wireless chipset. There is a reference to it here at this Debian thread:

rtl819x - Debian Wiki

If your distro is not Debian, the perhaps your distro has this firmware packaged, as well. or you can just extract them from the Debian tarball and put them in the place on your system.

It looks like in Ubuntu it's called "linux-firmware" and "linux-firmware-nonfree". I'll look into that.

Edit: RealTek drivers for Linux: (link deleted)

I would avoid, if possible, to slip non-Ubuntu stuff into my machine. More details later ...

[Uqbar]

A few steps forward.
1. The needed stuff is in ""linux-firmware" and in the
packagesDOTubuntuDOTcom /search?searchon=contents&keywords=8192cu&mode=file name&suite=precise&arch=any

2. They seem to be put in place:
~ sudo find / -iname \*8192cu\*
/lib/modules/3.2.0-23-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu
/lib/modules/3.2.0-23-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/rtl8192cu.ko
/lib/modules/3.2.0-23-lowlatency/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu
/lib/modules/3.2.0-23-lowlatency/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/rtl8192cu.ko
/lib/firmware/rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-26/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu
/usr/src/linux-headers-3.2.0-26-generic/include/config/rtl8192cu.h

Once I plug the USB device I get:
usb 2-6: USB disconnect, device number 2
usb 2-6: new high-speed USB device number 3 using ehci_hcd
mtp-probe: checking bus 2, device 3: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb2/2-6"
mtp-probe: bus: 2, device: 3 was not an MTP device

Nothing more. There is no wifi interface showing up in the system:

~ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

As soon as I MANUALLY load the kernel module something happens:

cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
cfg80211: (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
cfg80211: (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
cfg80211: (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
cfg80211: (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
cfg80211: (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
cfg80211: (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)

(I'm puzzled because of the 5GHz stuff, anyway).
But no wireless interface yet.
So, my points here are:

1. Why have I to manually load the module?
2. How to fix this?
3. How can I check whether the firmware file has been loaded?
4. What'd be next?

[rokytnji]

Once I plug the USB device I get:

I leave my wireless usb plugged in before I boot up the kernel from cold boot. Have you tried that instead of plugging it in after booting up.

[Uqbar]

I leave my wireless usb plugged in before I boot up the kernel from cold boot. Have you tried that instead of plugging it in after booting up.

Nope. I don't get anything new. The kernel driver is not loaded (I checked with lsmod | grep 8192).
If I manually load the kernel module (with ) I get:

2012-10-08T11:02:30.839022+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.778309] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943130+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882335] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943141+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882338] cfg80211: (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943144+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882341] cfg80211: (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943146+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882344] cfg80211: (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943148+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882347] cfg80211: (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943149+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882350] cfg80211: (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.943151+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.882352] cfg80211: (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
2012-10-08T11:02:30.983066+02:00 Feynman kernel: [ 434.923251] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu

But still no wlan0 interface. And I still get those two 5 GHz related messages.

[atreyu]

I think the driver may be the issue. Even though the module itself has the right name (8192cu), don't take that to mean it will work. Also, perhaps the firmware is not in the right place, and is not getting loaded? You should see that happening in dmesg.

There is more at this thread about someone with a similar problem on Ubuntu, that got it resolved using the Realtek drivers. I know you said you did not want to do that, but it may be worth at least a look.

also, can you update the Kubuntu kernel, like you can a normal Ubuntu kernel? Maybe a working driver has found its way into their updates.

[Uqbar]

also, can you update the Kubuntu kernel, like you can a normal Ubuntu kernel? Maybe a working driver has found its way into their updates.

I keep the system constantly up to date.
The firmware is there linux-firmware package says: /lib/firmware/...

I think, like you, the driver is buggy or maybe it's lacking a runtime argument to say where the firmware is.

[Charles4809]

Run modinfo rtl8192cu to look into its properties. Might give you a clue.

Charles.

[Uqbar]

This is what modinfo said:

#========#
~] modinfo rtl8192cu 
filename:       /lib/modules/3.2.0-23-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/rtl8192cu.ko
firmware:       rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
description:    Realtek 8192C/8188C 802.11n USB wireless
license:        GPL
author:         Larry Finger    <Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net>
author:         Ziv Huang       <ziv_huang@realtek.com>
author:         Georgia         <georgia@realtek.com>
srcversion:     10D1B1055E55921BDAAD523
alias:          usb:v7392p7822d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v20F4p624Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019pAB2Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2001p330Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2001p3309d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2001p3307d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0E66p0019d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0DF6p0061d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0B05p17ABd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0846p9021d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v07B8p8178d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v07AAp0056d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0586p341Fd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v050Dp2103d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v050Dp2102d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019p1201d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFFCd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFFBd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFF8d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFFAd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFF9d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v04F2pAFF7d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp317Fd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v9846p9041d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v4855p0091d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v4855p0090d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v13D3p3359d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v13D3p3358d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v7392p7811d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v20F4p648Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019pED17d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019pAB2Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019pAB2Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2019p4902d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v2001p3308d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v13D3p3357d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v103Cp1629d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0EB0p9071d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0DF6p005Cd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0DF6p0052d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0846p9041d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v07B8p8189d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v07B8p8188d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v06F8pE033d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v050Dp1102d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Cd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8178d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8754d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp818Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Fd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp817Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8177d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8176d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8170d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp018Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias:          usb:v0BDAp8191d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
depends:        rtlwifi,mac80211,rtl8192c-common
intree:         Y
vermagic:       3.2.0-23-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 
parm:           swenc:Set to 1 for software crypto (default 0)
 (bool)
parm:           debug:Set debug level (0-5) (default 0) (int)
#========#

Maybe I could enable debugging, but don't know how to do it.

EDIT
sudo modprobe rtl8192cu debug=5

won't provide any new detail in the log.
The only logs come from usb, cfg80211 and usbcore.
Is there any extra hint?