usb wireless adapter installation in linux lite

bgaulke · 09-14-2015, 12:00 PM

Hi, I am running Linux Lite on an IBM ThinkPad A31p and trying to install a RealTek USB WiFi adapter and the adapter is not being recognized so no wifi networks show up. The adapter came with a CD with a Linux driver, but I don't know how to install it. Can anyone help me? Thanks

jefro · 09-14-2015, 08:55 PM

Hello and welcome to LQ.

Usually the cd is a generic driver for something to be used as last resort.

Linux lite seems to be based on Ubuntu (which is based on debian) so you can look for any "how to" generally for ways to get your usb working.

First thing I'd do is open a terminal. Then type lsusb (list usb) to see what it see's. We need to know the exact model of the chip it is using.

To be fair, it could be that your system fully loaded the usb driver and you have to configure it. Might also use the command ifconfig (the Ip config command) to see if it does see a wifi nic.

The realtek is very well supported usually. Some distro's need to add in a driver or actually tell the distro to pick the correct one.

Ztcoracat · 09-14-2015, 09:11 PM

Is this your machine?
http://www.cnet.com/products/ibm-thi...-xp-pro/specs/

ardvark71 · 09-14-2015, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgaulke

Hi, I am running Linux Lite on an IBM ThinkPad A31p and trying to install a RealTek USB WiFi adapter and the adapter is not being recognized so no wifi networks show up. The adapter came with a CD with a Linux driver, but I don't know how to install it. Can anyone help me? Thanks

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

As jefro has requested, please open a terminal and post the output of...

Code:

lsusb

This will help us determine which chip we are dealing with here.

Thanks!

bgaulke · 09-15-2015, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Is this your machine?
http://www.cnet.com/products/ibm-thi...-xp-pro/specs/

Yes, that's it. It's an old machine inherited from work. I moved to Linux because the XP Pro was no longer supported and wouldn't support the WPA/WPA2 security on our network.

bgaulke · 09-15-2015, 10:16 AM

[QUOTE=jefro;5420460]Hello and welcome to LQ.

First thing I'd do is open a terminal. Then type lsusb (list usb) to see what it see's. We need to know the exact model of the chip it is using.

/QUOTE]

Here is the lsusb result:

brian@brian-laptop:~$ lsusb
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
brian@brian-laptop:~$

Thanks jefro (and ardvark71).

rokytnji · 09-15-2015, 11:55 AM

Code:

:~$ lsusb | grep RT
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 07d1:3c0a D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter(rev.B2) [Ralink RT3072]
~$ lsmod | grep rt
rt2800usb              28672  0 
rt2x00usb              20480  1 rt2800usb
rt2800lib              81920  1 rt2800usb
rt2x00lib              49152  3 rt2x00usb,rt2800lib,rt2800usb
mac80211              638976  3 rt2x00lib,rt2x00usb,rt2800lib
cfg80211              466944  2 mac80211,rt2x00lib
crc_ccitt              16384  1 rt2800lib
parport_pc             32768  1 
parport                45056  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
~$ sudo ifconfig -a
[sudo] password : 
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:
          UP BROADCAST MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 B)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
          Interrupt:21 Memory:fe9e0000-fea00000 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:  Mask:
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:65536  Metric:1
          RX packets:2171 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:2171 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:169349 (169.3 KB)  TX bytes:169349 (169.3 KB)

wlan1     Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 70: 
          inet addr:192.  Bcast:192.  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: : Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:8467 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:8025 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:4493852 (4.4 MB)  TX bytes:1319608 (1.3 MB)

~$ inxi -S
System:    Host: misohorny1 Kernel: 4.2.0-linuxlite i686 (32 bit)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.11.8 Distro: Ubuntu 14.04 trusty

Code:

~$ cat /etc/llver
Linux Lite 2.6

Is your usb ports working? Or was it not plugged in when you did your lsusb report. You must boot up with the wifi adapter inserted first so the kernel sees it. I do not see your realtek wireless usb in your report like mine shows.

Code:

$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 07d1:3c0a D-Link System DWA-140 RangeBooster N Adapter(rev.B2) [Ralink RT3072]
<snip>

colorpurple21859 · 09-15-2015, 12:16 PM

you might need to install firmware-realtek

bgaulke · 09-15-2015, 01:39 PM

Here is my lsusb result:

brian@brian-laptop:~$ lsusb
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 148f:7601 Ralink Technology, Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
brian@brian-laptop:~$

Sorry about that (forgetting to insert the wifi adapter). Talk about silly.

colorpurple21859 · 09-15-2015, 01:55 PM

If

Quote:

trying to install a RealTek USB WiFi adapter

then install firmware-realtek

if

Quote:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 148f:7601 Ralink Technology, Corp.

then install firmware-ralink

or both to make sure everything is covered

bgaulke · 09-15-2015, 02:10 PM

I'm sorry, but as a REAL newbie, I don't know how to install those firmware packages. Can you give me a step-by-step? Thanks muchly.

Ztcoracat · 09-15-2015, 02:10 PM

https://packages.debian.org/search?k...rmware-realtek

https://packages.debian.org/search?k...irmware-ralink

Ztcoracat · 09-15-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgaulke

I'm sorry, but as a REAL newbie, I don't know how to install those firmware packages. Can you give me a step-by-step? Thanks muchly.

I had to look up Linux Lite on distrowatch to see what distributions Linux Lite was built on.
It's built on Debian and Ubuntu.

So go to those 2 debain links I posted for you and download the 'firmware realtek' and the 'firmware ralink'.
Go to the bottom of the page where it say "all" under architecture and it will take you to a mirror where you can download it.

You can either use the terminal to install those packages or try right clicking on the package and Linux Lite may have a way of installing it for you that way.

If you have to use the terminal cd to the directory where the package is.
Example:

Code:

cd Downloads
ls  (ls will show you everything in your downloads directory)
dpkg --install firware-realted-0.36+wheezy.1-bpo60+1_all.deb (just an example)

The dpkg command will install those for you but you have to run that as "root" (with elevated privileges)

How to install a .deb package:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/40779...e-command-line

jefro · 09-15-2015, 02:52 PM

To confuse you more. See this link. http://askubuntu.com/questions/42264...alink-148f7601

ardvark71 · 09-15-2015, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgaulke

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 148f:7601 Ralink Technology, Corp.

Hi Brian...

I have the exact same chip. Please use the instructions here.

EDIT: Installing the driver for this adapter is most likely going to involve a crash course in how to use the CLI (terminal) but to make this a bit easier, from what I said in the thread I linked to above, simply go here and follow the instructions that start with "Download Driver and Patch by using the links." Follow them exactly. These instructions are what got my adapter working.

Regards...