[SOLVED] wlan0 is in ifconfig but rfkill fails

MisterBark · 01-08-2015, 01:11 PM

Hi,

On a very custom Linux I am plugging a Realtek USB wifi adapter:

Code:

Bus 003 Device 014: ID 0bda:8187 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8187 Wireless Adapter

I loaded its kernel module and it becomes visible in ifconfig:

Code:

# modprobe rtl8187
# ifconfig -a
wlan0: flags=4099<UP,BROADCAST,MULTICAST>  mtu 1500
        ether 00:c0:ca:72:xx:xx  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
        RX packets 0  bytes 0 (0.0 B)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 0  bytes 0 (0.0 B)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

The problem is, rfkill can't show it as a wireless device:

Code:

# rfkill list
Can't open RFKILL control device: No such file or directory

It is therefore not usable by other WIFI programs.
This same device works on other Linux machines.

Any idea?
THANK YOU

business_kid · 01-09-2015, 08:37 AM

Might I suggest (as root)

Code:

modprobe rfkill # Yes, there's a module too!)
rfkill unblock wifi

If that doesn't sort it, it either
1. Some hardware switch disabling the wifi - many laptops have them.
2. "Fast ethernet switching" or similar enabled in the BIOS. This disables wifi if eth0 is brought up.
3. Your driver could be the wrong driver - many drivers exist, that's all I know.
4 You may have none/wrong/too old of firmware.

MisterBark · 01-09-2015, 09:51 AM

Thank you for your answer

I never heard of an rfkill kernel module!
I recompiled the kernel, loaded the module and it works!
THANK YOU. SOLVED.

business_kid · 01-09-2015, 01:04 PM

:-). You're welcome. Wish they were all that easy.