RTL8192SU USB WiFi Adapter Not Working Badfw

[johjeff]

Summary:

I upgraded to BT5 R2 with the 3.2.6 Kernel. After upgrading, my USB WiFi adapter no longer works. I was working fine on the R1 Release of BT5. Initially, the adapter appears to be working, but when wicd starts I start getting error messages and the interface disappears from ifconfig output. Here is the error:

r8172u: Badfw->size of -283017888

Solution:

This appears to be a bug in the 3.2.x series of kernels. I found a thread about the issue here:

https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/27996?project=1

Apparently if you replace the rtl8712 portion of the kernel source tree with the one from the 3.1.x series kernels, the device will start working again. I have not tested this since I don't know what modifications BT5 developers might make to the kernel config before building.

The firmware in question is the same size as the one that worked previously in the 2.6.x series of kernels, and since the size hasn't changed, it is not likely due to being a bad size.

I really could use this working. It is my main internet connection, as I use the built in Atheros to do wifi monitoring.

Thank you.

Jeff

[krister67]

Same problem with ASUS USB-N10 adapter. Was working perfect with Backtrack 5 R1, upgrade to R2-R3 messed it up.
It uses the r8712u module (RTL8712U).

I tried recompiling it with the 3.1.9 kernel source (as mentioned above) with no luck. (Kernel source downloaded from www.kernel.org)
It compiles fine and everything seems normal until I try to load the module, then I get a bunch of "Call trace:"-errors in syslog.
I guess Backtrack got some modifications thats not compatible.

Anyone found any solution or new working drivers?

[krister67]

I solved the problem!

This is how:
1. Prepared the kernel headers as described here http://www.backtrack-linux.org/wiki/...Kernel_Headers.
2. Download the 3.2.27 kernel source from www.kernel.org and copied the linux-source-3.2.27/drivers/staging/rtl8712 into the /usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6/drivers/staging/rtl8712.
3. Compile the module like this:
root@bt:~# rmmod r8712u
root@bt:~# cd /usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6
root@bt:~# make M=drivers/staging/rtl8712
4. Copy the new module "/usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6/drivers/staging/rtl8712/r8712u.ko" to "/lib/modules/3.2.6/kernel/drivers/staging/rtl8712/" and replaced the old one (make a backup first in case).
5. Activate the new module:
root@bt:~# depmod -a
root@bt:~# modprobe r8712u
6. Insert USB-adapter and connect with Wicd.

This worked with Backtrack 5 R3 (32-bit Gnome) and ASUS USB-N10.
I have no idea if it will work with any other RTL8712u-adapter, you'll have to try it yourself.

[pabloa2]

OMG!!! Thank you very much. I haven't been able to use my Hawking HWDN2 until just now. I can confirm that this works with the 3.2.28 kernel source and Backtrack R3 Gnome 64 bit. This should probably work with all devices using the rtl8192su chipset. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I solved the problem!

This is how:
1. Prepared the kernel headers as described here http://www.backtrack-linux.org/wiki/...Kernel_Headers.
2. Download the 3.2.27 kernel source from www.kernel.org and copied the linux-source-3.2.27/drivers/staging/rtl8712 into the /usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6/drivers/staging/rtl8712.
3. Compile the module like this:
root@bt:~# rmmod r8712u
root@bt:~# cd /usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6
root@bt:~# make M=drivers/staging/rtl8712
4. Copy the new module "/usr/src/linux-source-3.2.6/drivers/staging/rtl8712/r8712u.ko" to "/lib/modules/3.2.6/kernel/drivers/staging/rtl8712/" and replaced the old one (make a backup first in case).
5. Activate the new module:
root@bt:~# depmod -a
root@bt:~# modprobe r8712u
6. Insert USB-adapter and connect with Wicd.

This worked with Backtrack 5 R3 (32-bit Gnome) and ASUS USB-N10.
I have no idea if it will work with any other RTL8712u-adapter, you'll have to try it yourself.