need help installing RT61 Linux driver (wifi pci card)

blackdalek · 09-17-2006, 03:07 AM

I am trying to install the linux driver for an RT61 wireless lan pci card. The Linux driver is downloaded from Ralink Technology here - www ralinktech com /supp-1 .htm (can't post links, so remove the spaces to see this page)
The card itself is a D-Link DWL-G510 rev. C. (Australian model). It is my understanding that the ndiswrapper/Windows driver method will only work for rev. A and B of this model card which uses a different chipset to my rev. C card and I need to use the Linux driver provided by Ralink instead.
My problem is I get stuck when I get to a certain point while following the install instructions provided by Ralink in their driver download.
Firstly, here is a copy of the relevant part of the instructions -

Quote:

Originally Posted by from readme

Build Instructions:
====================

1> $tar -xvzf RT61_Linux_STA_Drv_x.x.x.x.tar.gz
go to "./RT61_Linux_STA_Drv_x.x.x.x/Module" directory.

2> $cp Makefile.6 ./Makefile

3> [kernel 2.4]
$chmod 755 Configure
$make config # config build linux os version

4> $make all # compile driver source code

5> $cp rt2561.bin /etc/Wireless/RT61STA/ # copy firmware
$cp rt2561s.bin /etc/Wireless/RT61STA/
$cp rt2661.bin /etc/Wireless/RT61STA/

6> $dos2unix rt61sta.dat
$cp rt61sta.dat /etc/Wireless/RT61STA/rt61sta.dat
# !!!check if it is a binary file before loading !!!

7> $load
#[kernel 2.4]
# $/sbin/insmod rt61.o
# $/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet YOUR_IP up

#[kernel 2.6]
# $/sbin/insmod rt61.ko
# $/sbin/ifconfig ra0 inet YOUR_IP up

Ralink say that this driver will work with Linux kernels 2.4 and 2.6 and that it has been tested under Redhat 7.3 or later.
My kernel I'm using in Mandriva Free 2006 is "2.6.12-12mdksmp" so I am only following the parts indicated for kernel 2.6.
I can get as far as step 4 and then "make all" just responds with...

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# make all
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/build SUBDIRS=/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module modules
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [all] Error 2

What do I need to install to be able to build this in my kernel version?

I also don't know what "dos2unix" is supposed to do in step 6

Thank you for reading my post and helping if you can.

blackdalek · 09-17-2006, 03:33 AM

...some additional info -
This is taken from the ndiswrapper wiki at sourceforge. This Linksys card has the same PCI ID and chipset as the D-Link card I have. urls fudged cos I can't post 'em yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by from sourceforge wiki

Card: Linksys #[WMP54G v4.1], 54mbps -- [link here|List#WMP54G v4.1]

* Chipset: Ralink RT61
* pciid: 1814:0301 and 1814:0302
* Driver: Don't use driver that ships with card, it didnt work with ndiswrapper. Use the close source driver from Ralink www .ralinktech com. It compiles for 2.4 and 2.6 kernels.
* Other: The rt2x00 Open Source Project ( rt2x00 serialmonkey com) have now a driver - but realy beta.
* Other: The Ralink driver works great. It is not a plug and play, you need your kernel headers, the appropiate gcc (3.4) but when you can link it together and put it where it loads at startup, it works great. I am using WPA without any problem.

GlennsPref · 09-17-2006, 03:37 AM

dos2unix is a file delimiter, and is avail by searching

http://rpm.pbone.net/

My search found it on page three, look for your version.

The other thing is you might need the kernel sources installed for the build.

Kernel-source(your version), should be on the install disks somewhere.

I'm interested to see how you go, because I have a card the same, but have to do all my web surfing from M$windows.

Please let us all know how you go.

Thanks, Glenn

blackdalek · 09-17-2006, 05:12 AM

Ok, I've now installed a kernel-source package with the version number closest I could see to my kernel version (2.6.12-12mdk instead of 2.6.12-12mdksmp like mine). Now I can get some output from "make all". It throws up a lot of warnings... I don't know what they all mean. Can someone look at them and tell me if they spot any obvious stuff which is going to screw me up if I proceed further with the install instructions? Thanks.

Code:

[root@localhost Module]# make all
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/build SUBDIRS=/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'

  WARNING: Symbol version dump /usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk/Module.symvers
           is missing; modules will have no dependencies and modversions.

  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_main.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.o
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c: In function 'STAMlmePeriodicExec':
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:734: warning: unused variable 'RxSignal'
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c: In function 'AsicSwitchChannel':
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:3671: warning: comparison is always false due to limited range of data type
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:3588: warning: 'BbpReg' may be used uninitialized in this function
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c: In function 'AsicAdjustTxPower':
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:4268: warning: 'BbpR1' may be used uninitialized in this function
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c: In function 'AsicSetRxAnt':
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:5397: warning: 'R77' may be used uninitialized in this function
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:5421: warning: 'R77' may be used uninitialized in this function
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:5446: warning: 'R77' may be used uninitialized in this function
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c: In function 'RadarDetectionStop':
/home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/mlme.c:5781: warning: 'R66' may be used uninitialized in this function
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/connect.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/sync.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/assoc.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/auth.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/auth_rsp.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_data.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_init.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/sanity.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_wep.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_info.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/eeprom.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rtmp_tkip.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/wpa.o
  CC [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/md5.o
  LD [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rt61.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST
  CC      /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rt61.mod.o
  LD [M]  /home/blackdalek/Desktop/RT61_Linux_STA_Drv1.0.4.0/Module/rt61.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'

Au_Squirrel · 09-17-2006, 06:56 AM

Well it looks like it compiled.

I have not yet found any source code (apart from simple example code) that has compiled on my machine without some warnings.

As for your problem with the RT61, I had a similar problem with an RT73 chipset device. Search for RT73 on this site as I posted some stuff about how to compile the RALINK drivers.

regards

GlennsPref · 09-17-2006, 07:37 PM

You only need to worry about errors, warnings are ok.

You may have it done.

(edit)
smp kernels are for multiple processor machines.

blackdalek · 09-19-2006, 04:23 AM

I need to set up this wireless card to use WPAPSK.
I followed all the instuctions for building and installing the rt61 modules/firmware in the readme...
And it doesn't work. I just get no dhcp offers. I've spent (wasted?) two whole days in IRC channels trying different suggestions from people more knowledgable than me to get this thing working - no progress has been made at all.

I tried to follow the readme instructions in the WPA_Supplicant folder, but they make no sense.
For starters, step one tells you to copy something to the WPA_Supplicant folder. This folder does not exist. It's nuts.
If anyone can explain how to install the WPA_Supplicant in Mandriva Linux, please post here how to do it because not even I can follow instructions which tell me to do the impossible.

I think I will probably have to buy a new network card. But which one? It's difficult enough trying to work out which chipset an available model/brand of card uses without having to try and work out if it supports WPA under Linux as well. There are several Linux wifi compatibility lists on the internet, but most are incomplete, out of date or do not say which encryption methods the cards support under linux. It's like pot luck if you buy one which works. This could work out to be very expensive.

restless · 09-19-2006, 04:38 AM

well i have this card also.. i did get them to work tho..

make sure you have the exact same kernel sources as when you installed your distro! when you do then copy over the .config file from /boot to /usr/src/linux

after that (if it's a 2.6 kernel) do a "make all".. (it's important that you compile your kernel sources, no need to install them just compile them)
when you did that then you can make the sources as explained in the readme from the drivers. (make sure your .Makefile is correct. after you did that you need to copy over all the files also as explained in the readme.

no need to use the WPA_SUP whatever.. just have wireless_tools installed.

to use WPA you need to have:

AuthMode=WPAPSK
EncrypType=TKIP
WPAPSK=yourkey

after that you can use ./load

GlennsPref · 09-20-2006, 02:26 AM

Yes you may need to create the directories mentioned in the readme file.

The advice from restless looks good, consise.

Just keep in mind that you will need to make directories in /etc for the files. and you'll need to dos2unix the config file before you can use it, I found it doesn't need it. but, "to be sure, to be sure".

blackdalek · 09-23-2006, 07:46 AM

I think I may have discovered why I am never ever going to get this thing to work... I found some posts on the open source RT2x00 serialmonkey forums which mention that neither the open source drivers nor the RaLink drivers will work in an 'SMP' or 'preempt' kernel.
I am using an SMP kernel since I have a dual CPU board. This is probably why I have not had any success.
So that pretty much brings my quest to make this card work to an abrupt end... unless someone still thinks I would be able to do this with an SMP kernel.

Yogstr · 09-28-2006, 07:38 PM

Hi there,

I have just been through a similar experience with a Minitar card with the same chipset. I also have a smp kernel 2.6.17.x, but was able to get it working after allot of experimenting with different tarballs and versions of drivers. My smp kernel seems quite happy with the drivers, and i cannot say i have noticed any problems or conflicts. This is how i got it to work.

A) remove the old modules/driver

1. go to /lib/modules/{current Kernel}
2. in subdirectory /extra/
delete the module "rt61.ko"
3. do "depmod -a" to reset module dependencies to match new module list
4. in /etc/modprobe.conf remove all references to ra0, and rt61 by placing a "#" at the beginning of the lines referencing these items or deleting the lines.

now,

B) download the daily cvs tarball from serialmonkey. rt61-cvs-daily.tar.gz.
C) unpack, read the readme, make, make install as per the instructions.
D) re-boot
E) ifconfig eth0 down (to bring down your eth0 card if you have one. Required, because you can only dhcpcd one device)
F) ifconfig ra0 up (to bring up your wireless interface)
G) dhcpcd ra0 (to configure it)

you can set other parameters with iwconfig.

this works for me, but i am still experimenting.
Bare in mind that these are legacy drivers provided by serialmonkey. Since Ralink have made the source to their drivers open source, serialmonkey are currently in the process of re-developing the drivers. These are a complete rewrite of the legacy drivers, and (will, eventually) provide a more complete & less buggy driver. You can download and try them for beta testing/development (rt2x00-cvs). Post your results & problems to the appropriate serialmonkey forum, and you will be actively contributing to the development of the new drivers. I had allot of trouble with these drivers, so for now i have returned to the rt61-cvs-daily driver.

hope this helps, but i am very much new to wireless and linux, so i apologize if my explanation is limited.

Cheers Greg