Hi
I just installed Mint Linux 19. I cannot get my usb network card to work.
its a Netgear AC1900.

Linux does not seem to recognize the usb device. It works fine in windooze, so I know the card and the usb port both work.

Has anyone else had issues with this card or have a fix for this wireless card?

Thanks in advance for your help
Vanessa

OK. Standard Procedure:

1. Google 'netgear ac 1900 linux module'

That Got_Me_This_Page

It appears you're in for a compile. Grab that driver, make the change they suggest. You may also need your kernel source; if the first driver compile pukes, it's best usually to copy the config (stored as /boot/config-<kernel_version>) into your kernel top source dir as .config. Then hit 'make' and grab a beer while it completes. THEN compile your module. You'll need root privileges for many things here. Just use sudo.

Hi business kid

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you and thanks again for your quick response.

This is what I have done so far

I have made a copy of the config file and saved it on a thumb drive. Have downloaded the latest kernel, and the wifi driver.
I put them both in the /boot directory, dont know if thats where they go.
made the change to the file as indicated on the driver website.

This is where I get stuck, I have never built the kernel before so I am not sure about how to make or compile the kernel.

Could you provide some more instructions?

I have googled the process but was left confused by it. I read about cp config-$(uname -r) and then make menuconfig, which just gave me another error about no rule to make target.

At this point, I thought I was getting off target for what I was attempting to do and figured I should ask you for more help.

thanks again
Vanessa

The kernel goes in /usr/src. It will be there us /usr/src/linux-<version>. You don't want the actual latest kernel version, but the matching source version to the kernel you are running on. This can be tricky. For instance, my Mint kernel is 4.15.0-20, but the kernel source will be 4.15.0. The '-20' is a distro thing; Some of the distros compile for the perfect option set with suffixes like -1, -2, -3 etc. You need root all the way in /usr/src. Don't compile it in /boot, an the kernel expands seriously and you could well run out of space.

The wifi driver can go in /home, /root, or anywhere you compile stuff. You might need root there too. Typically, they're compiled with 'make -C <some_dir>' which allows them to change to the kernel source using the symlinks from your running kernel in /lib/modules, and use the files there.

Run 'uname -r' and get THAT kernel source. It's probably a package in your distro In the kernel source, as root, run for instance, make -j2.

There's a README usually in the drivers. Follow the instructions there. Check the 'build' and 'source' symlinks in /lib/modules/ They should both point at your kernel source in /usr/src/linux-<version>. Post up the errors and tell us what exactly you did.

Good Morning Business Kid

I have copied the kernel to /usr/src and the wifi driver to /home/van/wifi as you suggested.

When i run the uname -r command I get
4.15.0-20-generic, not the newer kernel, linux-4.18.12. I did reboot before runing the uname.

how do I get my machine to recognize the new kernel?
If I can use the current kernel, thats ok too.

Next I was reviewing you first post, where you listed a help page for my usb wifi device.

I went to the file that was mentioned to edit. made the edit and ran the make command. It gave the following listing.

van@van-linux-dt1:~/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108$ make
make ARCH=x86_64 CROSS_COMPILE= -C /lib/modules/4.15.0-20-generic/build M=/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108 modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-4.15.0-20-generic'
Makefile:976: "Cannot use CONFIG_STACK_VALIDATION=y, please install libelf-dev, libelf-devel or elfutils-libelf-devel"
CC [M] /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/core/rtw_cmd.o
In file included from /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service.h:41:0,
from /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/drv_types.h:32,
from /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/core/rtw_cmd.c:22:
/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service_linux.h: In function ‘_init_timer’:
/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service_linux.h:273:8: error: ‘_timer {aka struct timer_list}’ has no member named ‘data’
ptimer->data = (unsigned long)cntx;
^~
/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service_linux.h:274:2: error: implicit declaration of function ‘init_timer’; did you mean ‘_init_timer’? [-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
init_timer(ptimer);
^~~~~~~~~~
_init_timer
In file included from /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/drv_types.h:32:0,
from /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/core/rtw_cmd.c:22:
/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service.h: In function ‘thread_enter’:
/home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108/include/osdep_service.h:343:2: error: implicit declaration of function ‘allow_signal’; did you mean ‘do_signal’? [-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
allow_signal(SIGTERM);


it says it has two errors which I dont understand, since I really dont know what I am doing at this level.

Do you have any suggestions for this error?


Sorry you are having to hold my hand through this, but I REALLY appreciate it.

Vanessa

OK, I think we're seriously off the map here.

1. You have a 4.18.2 source, but you're running a 4.15.0-20 kernel. That setup expects you to be running the kernel you're building the module for. Usually the make procedure runs 'uname -r', and gets a number back. It then checks /lib/modules/<uname -r>/build which should be a symlink pointing to the kernel source I'm sure it doesn't point at /usr/src/linux-4.18.2
2. In the 'make' tailspin you included, it says it's CROSS COMPILING for x86_64. x86_64 is INTEL CPUs, (as in 8086, 80286, 80386, 80486, i586, i686 & compatibles. Cross compiling is usually a big deal.

What are you compiling on, and what are you compiling for? Presuming you have a PC, and want to compile for that pc, lets hope the source was full of crap. Run 'make clean' there, and post any errors Run 'du -sh /usr/src/*' and post the results. We can see what kernels you do have. If you do have a 4.15.0 kernel source, you will probably have to compile a kernel there. Let's see what's there. How come you're running 4.15.0-20 but installed 4.18.2?

Then, in /home/van/wifi/rtl8814AU_linux_v4.3.21.1_20171108 or the wifi driver top source, run './configure --help |less' and have a look. Hopefully you can configure your way along, something like (but not exactly)

'./configure --prefix=/usr --libdir=/usr/lib(64) --sysconfdir=/etc' and let it guess the rest, including the cpu.

Hi

The 4.15.0 kernel is the original kernel installed from disc image. I downloaded the 4.18.2 kernel. Guessing that I misunderstood your instructions about getting the kernel source and I downloaded the latest kernel.

Since this is a new install on a new hard drive should I just do a reinstall from disc image and wipe everything and start over?

Thanks
Vanessa

If you want to, you can put the config file from your 4.15.0 kernel into /usr/src/linux-4.18.2. rename it as '.config' and run make oldconfig as root. With 4.15.0-20 installed, do I smell linux Mint as your distro? You can install the 4.15.0 kernel source with apt-get. The -20 bit at the end is just the local version. I use it when compiling my kernels; I always got it happy below 20, mind you :-).

Yeah, you could wipe everything and start over. You will still neex an x86 wifi driver, and the kernel source.

Good evening BusinessKid

I have gotten really frustrated with not being able to get wifi working. Today I downloaded mint19, ubuntu studio, and opensuse.
After installing each one and trying to get the wifi to work, I could not. After a few hours of googling, I found that netgear has not released a linux driver in a long time, so it doesnt look like it will ever work correctly.

In looking at wifi adapters, I found this power line adapter from best buy, which I am going to purchase tomorrow and see what happens.

bestbuy.com/site/netgear-powerline-2000-extra-outlet/6203586.p?skuId=6203586

I have opensuse installed now, and will play with that for a while, if the wired adapters work out and let you know what I find out.
Might go back to mint linux since I am more familiar with it later.

Sending you virtual hugs and kisses for all your time and instruction. I do really appreciate you taking time to help me.

Vanessa

Everyone has the same problem with Realtek wifi adapters, and sometimes Broadcom, as new devices are poorly supported. Atheros seems best.

Whatever that thing on bestbuy is, it does not appear to be a wifi adapter, but a wired network adapter. I don't know what your router speed is, but I would read up on it before parting with $89.00. That would need a cat 5 cable to plug into your box via the RJ45 socket.

Linux Mint have good forums. I googled your card. The RTL8812 driver does RTL8812 - 8821https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=191361
You will probably get the same for SuSE if you add SuSE as a search term. If you do want top buy a wifi adapter, I'd suggest something along these lines https://www.ebay.ie/itm/USB-Wifi-Router-150Mbps-Wireless-Adapter-Dongle-LAN-Card-Antenna-For-PC-Laptop/192074158239?hash=item2cb883109f:g:QsUAAOSw2gxYtrZr:rk:1f:0. Try on Ebay.com. The rulers are:

• Extract the name of the chip they are using
• Try for a linux driver preferably with kernel support
• Find out about firmware

I think the price is better too!