Build the Linux Kernel Module to Enable RTL8192EU USB Wireless Dongles

The built-in support for Realtek RTL8192EU^[1][2] in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS has some issues with D-Link DWA-131 E1^[3]. It provides a weak signal and slow WiFi. To improve, I have to download the RTL8192EU driver source code, compile to a kernel module, add it to the kernel, remove the existing drivers, and fix the detection issue.

The following USB wireless dongle uses the RTL8192EU chipset:

1. D-Link DWA-131 E1

Quick Summary

For Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and 20.04LTS, follow these steps:

$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get install dkms git
$git clone https://github.com/Mange/rtl8192eu-linux-driver
$cd ~/rtl8192eu-linux-driver
$sudo rmmod 8192eu
$sudo rmmod rtl8xxxu
$sudo dkms remove rtl8192eu/1.0 --all
$sudo dkms add .
$sudo dkms install rtl8192eu/1.0
$sudo depmod -a
$echo "blacklist rtl8xxxu" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8xxxu.conf
$echo -e "8192eu\n\nloop" | sudo tee /etc/modules
$echo "options 8192eu rtw_power_mgnt=0 rtw_enusbss=0" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/8192eu.conf
$sudo update-grub
$sudo update-initramfs -u;
$sudo shutdown -r now

Prepare to Build

Get codes and tools in different packages:

$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic build-essential git

Or the dkms (Dynamic Kernel Module Support Framework)^[4] package:

$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get install dkms git

1. Get only the essential Linux kernel headers^[5]. I am not going to compile the full kernel.^[6]
2. Get the build-essential package^[7] which includes
   • Debian package development tools
   • C/C++ Compilers
   • Development Libraries and Header Files
   • Make utility
3. Get the Git^[8] which contains the tool to clone the source code from a git server.
4. Get the dkms which contains code and tools in linux-headers-generic and build-essential.

Build and Install Kernel Module

I have tested two different contributors: Mange^[9] declares its support for D-Link DWA-131 rev E1 explicitly in the about section but required manual install. clnhub^[10] has some issues with detection but provides a shell script install_wifi.sh to simplify installation.

Because Mange may detect correctly, I preferred to use his fork.

Always read the “README.md” to check if it works with the current kernel.

Because there is build-in support for RTL8192EU in Ubuntu LTS 20.04, I need to remove them first. I also remove any previously installed RTL8192EU drivers.

$sudo rmmod 8192eu
$sudo rmmod rtl8xxxu
$sudo dkms remove rtl8192eu/1.0 --all

Then use dkms to install:

$sudo dkms add .
$sudo dkms install rtl8192eu/1.0

The last is to probe and update all installed modules:

$sudo depmod -a

Assign the Driver to Load at Boot

This is the tricky part.

Mange is complex but thoroughly. Edit files rtl8xxxu.conf, modules, 8192eu.conf manually if they already exist.

1. Add rtl8xxxu to the blacklist.
2. Add 8192eu to be loaded at boot time.
3. Solve the plugging/replugging issue.
4. Update changes to Grub & initramfs.

$echo "blacklist rtl8xxxu" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8xxxu.conf
$echo -e "8192eu\n\nloop" | sudo tee /etc/modules
$echo "options 8192eu rtw_power_mgnt=0 rtw_enusbss=0" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/8192eu.conf
$sudo update-grub
$sudo update-initramfs -u;

clnhub just add rtl8xxxu to the blacklist:

$echo "blacklist rtl8xxxu" >> ./blacklist-rtl8xxxu.conf
$echo mv ./blacklist-rtl8xxxu.conf /etc/modprobe.d/

It is suggested to reboot for a complete test.

Detect Installed RTL8192EU Devices

View Post

The installed kernel module is “8192eu”:

$sudo modprobe 8192eu

Issues

N/A

Special Topics

Device Name in WiFi Settings

To find the name used for DWA-131, first, find the vendor and product ID by lsusb:

$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 17ef:480f Lenovo Integrated Webcam [R5U877]
Bus 001 Device 025: ID 0a5c:217f Broadcom Corp. BCM2045B (BDC-2.1)
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 147e:2016 Upek Biometric Touchchip/Touchstrip Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2001:3319 D-Link Corp.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 046d:c50a Logitech, Inc. Cordless Mouse
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

The only D-Link device is “Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2001:3319 D-Link Corp”. It’s the 004 device connected to USB. The vendor ID is 2001 while the product ID is 3319.

Next, run usb_modeswitch to fetch device information:

$sudo /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -W -v 2001 -p 3319
Take all parameters from the command line</pre>

* usb_modeswitch: handle USB devices with multiple modes
* Version 2.5.2 (C) Josua Dietze 2017
* Based on libusb1/libusbx

! PLEASE REPORT NEW CONFIGURATIONS !

DefaultVendor= 0x2001
DefaultProduct= 0x3319

Look for default devices ...
found USB ID 8087:0020
found USB ID 1d6b:0002
found USB ID 1d6b:0003
found USB ID 1d6b:0002
found USB ID 17ef:480f
found USB ID 0a5c:217f
found USB ID 147e:2016
found USB ID 2001:3319
vendor ID matched
product ID matched
found USB ID 046d:c50a
found USB ID 8087:0020
found USB ID 1d6b:0002
Found devices in default mode (1)
Access device 004 on bus 001
Get the current device configuration ...
Current configuration number is 1
Use interface number 0
with class 255

USB description data (for identification)
-------------------------
Manufacturer: Realtek
Product: Wireless N Nano USB Adapter
Serial No.: 00e04c000001
-------------------------
Warning: no switching method given. See documentation
-> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye!

The “Wireless N Nano USB Adapter” in the “USB description data” is the name displayed in the WiFi Settings.

Reference

1. DeviWikiDev: Realtek: Wireless chipsets
2. Realtek: RTL8192EU
3. DeviWiki: D-Link DWA-131 rev E1
4. Ubuntu: Package: dkms (2.3-3ubuntu9)
5. Ubuntu: Package: linux-headers-generic (4.15.0.96.87 and others) [security]
6. nixCraft: Howto: Build Linux Kernel Module Against Installed Kernel w/o Full Kernel Source Tree
7. Ubuntu: Package: build-essential (12.4ubuntu1)
8. Ubuntu: Package: git (1:2.17.1-1ubuntu0.7 and others) [security]
9. GitHub: Mange/rtl8192eu-linux-driver
10. GitHub: clnhub/rtl8192eu-linux
11. Style Guide