Hi.
I have bought a few units of the USB Wireless Adapter EDIMAX AC600.
During Debian version 8.5 installation it is not even recognized.
I have found in the manufacturer webpage linux drivers for the adapter, but I don't know how
to install them during the installation.
The installation pack has a install.sh file.

What I tried was:
1) Debian USB installation with the folder containing the drivers in it.
2) Ctrl + Alt + 2 to get access to a terminal during the installation
3) Tried to install the drivers using ./install.sh, but it didn't work.

During the installation most of the commands don't work, not even "VI".
Can you help me to find a way to make the wireless adapter work during the installation in order to download updates, set repositories,
choose a desktop environment, etc.???

Thank you.

Hi...

I'm not sure I can help with this issue but for those who might, please ensure the adapter is connected and then open a terminal and post the results of this command...

If that doesn't work, you can use these commands...

Thanks!

Hi.
All those commands doesn't work while installing the system.
Anyway, I can give you the outputs of interest plugin in the adapter in another machine.

#lsusb
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 7392:a812 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd

The other commands either not work or are computer dependent, and since I'm typing them
in a different computer, the output has no meaning for the installation purpose that will be
carried on in a different machine.

Anyway, my adapter has linux drivers and it was correctly identified.

My real goal here is to learn how to make the drivers work while I have only the pre installation
system available. If I were to install the system completely and leave the adapter to be installed
after that, my post would lose meaning. I really want to learn how to install drivers during
the system installation, with limited commands available.
Thank you

Your post would not lose meaning, and make much more sense....you can perform a system installation easily WITHOUT a network/Internet connection of any kind, and after the system is running, establish the connection.

Regardless, a quick Google search for "how to add drivers and firmware at installation time for debian 8" gives us things from the Debian forum, where they detail how to do this:
https://www.debian.org/releases/jess...h06s04.html.en

...then look further for the RealTek chipset mentioned and read that:
https://wiki.debian.org/rtl819x#Debian_8_.22Jessie.22

Combine the two. If you're planning on building a bunch of systems with the same specs/adapters, this makes sense. You could also get the kernel module/firmware, and build your own custom initrd image, which will enable it from the start. If you're building one or two...it would take you more time to follow the above steps and/or build the initrd image, than it would to do the installations totally, and install the driver afterwards.

You help even less when you remove someones post from the zero-reply list, making it less visible and less likely to be answered, when you clearly didn't even bother READING what the OP posted, then gave the OP zero advice on how to proceed.

You do this frequently, and do posters more harm than good. If you can't contribute to actually SOLVING THE PROBLEMS POSTED, then pay attention to the LQ Rules:
You ignored what the OP posted, and certainly didn't help...again.

Hi...

Whoops, I missed that when I read your initial post. My apologies.

Regards...

And thanks to you not paying attention (again), and not helping (again), the OP got less help than she would have if you had not said anything...again....

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi...

Merry Christmas to you and your family, anyway.

Regards...

Keep your comments on topic...after your behavior in private messages, I want NOTHING from you in any way, period.

I hope this helps. Back when I was using Debian. I remember that when I was experimenting with a net install for Debian.

Within the install process, the installer asked for the drivers, then I had to figure out how to do this, so I went back and figured out a way to make them available during the install. I had to go back and start over. I do not remember which way worked, it has been a long time since I did this.
even though you seemed to have had the same situation I ran into but because it was actually asking for a folder to get them I went into let me figure this out mode.
one of these ways worked. I just do not remember which one. Long time sense I did this.

When dd 'ing a iso to a USB Stick. The stick will still have plenty of unused space to work with.


I created a partition on that USB Stick that had the ISO dd'ed to it, then a folder then put the drivers in that folder. Then directed the installer to that folder when it asked for the drivers,

or I ended up having to use a separate USB Stick doing the same, putting the drivers in a folder, then directing the installer to where they were.

if you are having the same issues using a net install, I also added all of the other necessary network drivers, and a bash script I wrote at the same time so I could bring up my wifi card by running my script.

I got the drivers off of Debian web-page.

I think the later way will be more logical, due to maybe the Installer USB Stick being mounted, so it will not be able to get to status. I do know one of them ways worked for me though.

providing they did not change the installer steps.

let me try this again, and I'll get back to you...
net install

1 members found this post helpful.

Hope this post is useful, don't want a tongue lashing.

You could look over the Debian installation manual, section B.5.1. You can chroot into the new installation, possibly install the necessary kernel headers if they are included on the installation media you are using. You cannot build the drivers without headers, so a net install likely would not work, DVD #1 should have the headers.

It is possible, with DVD #1, you can just do a base install, boot it up and add utilities and headers to build the drivers and set them up, then do the rest of the installation using aptitude or apt-get. With aptitude, apt-get and dpkg commands you can query available packages and tasks before deciding what you want to install.

1 members found this post helpful.

Oh well, my attempt to do a net install using the method I described only rereminded me of one reason I left Debian. It did not find the folder, I redid the file it said it needed, added that. got it installed, but it failed error 2 for loading the dirvers for my wifi. had to go back and get rfkill install that and nothing was blocked. thier installer sucks in my option, it states if you have the drivers needed on cd, disk etc just plug it in . so i did and it does not mount, or whatever it is doing in the background. again this is one reason I left Debian ...

@ BW-userx

The method you describe is typically for drivers already supported by the kernel, normally what you would load off removable media during the installation would be the proprietary part which is the firmware. Debian traditionally sticks to "free" only, no proprietary stuff. However, things have changed and they do have non-free net install images with firmware if you're interested in the testing distribution.

As for the original poster who's driver pack has a "install.sh" suggests the driver is not supported by the kernel and will need to be compiled, which requires build-essential and kernel-headers, and possibly the need to also install a firmware package to get it to work.
Having experience with earlier versions of Debian Live, this can be done via a pre-seed or other type script and the necessary Debian packages needed, pre-downloaded and accessible by DI (Debian installer), which can be a mirror you create on the local drive that you guide the installer to.
Debian is flexible and there is extensive documentation to enable you to customize your installation environment no matter how odd it may be. Debian wiki is a great place to visit.

As for the "load firmware" part of the installer, it did not pick up the firmware for my wireless network device also, no matter if I had the individual files scattered in the base directory of the USB, in a folder named "firmware" or the .deb firmware package. I had to install the .deb package after installation, did have a cable connection for the install so it was not a biggy.