trying to install Netgear usb wireless adapter

[chili555]

Thank you for your kind comments. Let's have a peek under the hood. Please post:

dmesg | grep 819
sudo iwlist wlan0 scan

Thanks.

[pruitthall]

Chili,

Sorry, I didn't see 'Page 2' as an option and missed your reply. In advance, thank you for the help.

As requested:

mint@mint ~ $ dmesg | grep 819
[ 0.181900] pci 0000:00:0a.1: PME# supported from D3hot D3cold
[ 0.181907] pci 0000:00:0a.1: PME# disabled
[ 0.181933] pci 0000:00:0a.3: [10de:0271] type 0 class 0x000b40
[ 0.181953] pci 0000:00:0a.3: reg 10: [mem 0xb0040000-0xb007ffff]
[ 2.618199] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 28.293272] rtl8192cu: MAC address: c4:3d:c7:76:6e:b8
[ 28.293282] rtl8192cu: Board Type 0
[ 28.492000] usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8192cu
[ 28.673630] rtl8192cu: MAC auto ON okay!
[ 28.716885] rtl8192cu: Tx queue select: 0x05
[ 28.717898] rtl8192c_common: Loading firmware file rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[ 28.819769] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LAZA] enabled at IRQ 21
[ 28.819794] HDA Intel 0000:00:10.1: PCI INT B -> Link[LAZA] -> GSI 21 (level, high) -> IRQ 21
[ 28.819799] hda_intel: Disable MSI for Nvidia chipset
[ 28.819858] HDA Intel 0000:00:10.1: setting latency timer to 64

mint@mint ~ $ sudo iwlist wlan0 scan
wlan0 Interface doesn't support scanning.

Hope that means something to you...I'm definitely stumped.

PH

[chili555]

It means the firmware is properly loading. There may be several sizes. Let's see what you have:

ls -al /lib/firmware/rtlwifi

Let's see what Network Manager is doing all this time. Try to connect and do:

sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep etwork | tail -n25

[pruitthall]

Alrighty! Here it is:

mint@mint ~ $ ls -al /lib/firmware/rtlwifi
total 257
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 126 Apr 25 18:59 .
drwxr-xr-x 57 root root 3304 Apr 25 18:59 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13540 Nov 18 2010 rtl8192cfw.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16014 Dec 13 2010 rtl8192cufw.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 20526 Feb 11 09:07 rtl8192defw.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 88856 Jan 24 2011 rtl8192sefw.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 122328 Nov 18 2010 rtl8712u.bin
mint@mint ~ $

mint@mint ~ $ sudo cat /var/log/syslog | grep etwork | tail -n25
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> (wlan1): device state change: 4 -> 5 (reason 0)
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1/wireless): access point 'Auto Cana' has security, but secrets are required.
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> (wlan1): device state change: 5 -> 6 (reason 0)
Aug 5 19:08:45 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> (wlan1): device state change: 6 -> 4 (reason 0)
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> (wlan1): device state change: 4 -> 5 (reason 0)
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1/wireless): connection 'Auto Cana' has security, and secrets exist. No new secrets needed.
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'ssid' value 'Cana'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'NONE'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'auth_alg' value 'OPEN'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'wep_key0' value '<omitted>'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: added 'wep_tx_keyidx' value '0'
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: nm_setting_802_1x_get_pkcs11_engine_path: assertion `NM_IS_SETTING_802_1X (setting)' failed
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: nm_setting_802_1x_get_pkcs11_module_path: assertion `NM_IS_SETTING_802_1X (setting)' failed
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Activation (wlan1) Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> Config: set interface ap_scan to 1
Aug 5 19:09:51 mint NetworkManager[3161]: <info> (wlan1): supplicant connection state: disconnected -> scanning

[pruitthall]

Chili,

I'm back online. Don't know if you got my last posting, as I'm writing this, it doesn't show up.

It *does* connect! Found out if I got really, really close to the router, it does finally connect. Doesn't stay connect *long* or *far* but think we're making progress.

PH

[pruitthall]

Well, wouldn't you know it. Problem! All the steps went fine this go around except the last command:

mint@mint ~/Desktop/compat-wireless-2011-08-04-p $ sudo modprobe rtl8192cu
WARNING: Error inserting rtl8192c_common (/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/updates/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192c/rtl8192c-common.ko): Invalid argument
FATAL: Error inserting rtl8192cu (/lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/updates/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/rtl8192cu.ko): Invalid argument


I'm stuck!

[pruitthall]

chili,

Follow up with where the system is at today.

>Upon reboot, the wireless light came on. So the last command not running, apparently cleared itself up.

>Downed the machine over the evening; today, when booted, card's light came on and it did connect with router.

>It's pretty flaky, overall, with it's communication. I'm about 15 feet from the router and only one room over. The laptop hits the internet slowly and haphazardly. You can be on Firefox and some screens will load quickly, sometimes they load as slow as if you were back on dial-up.

Overall, we're *definitely* making progress. It's talking to the kernel, it hits the router, but it seems like there are definitely *tweaks* in store, perhaps from the authors of the actual driver itself.

But it does work!

[chili555]

Please run and post:

lsmod
modinfo rtl8192cu

You should have rtl8192cu, rtlwifi, mac80211 and rtl8192c-common only loaded. Let's make sure there are no other wireless modules loaded that are conflicting. Also. is your network set to WPA and WPA2 mixed mode, which is often troublesome? WPA2 only is preferred.

[pruitthall]

Chili,

Further update on today's happenings with the Netgear.

Let the laptop go to sleep today, was out of the house a few hours. Upon returning, it awoke normal enough but the wireless option in networking is gone; i.e. only the 'wired network' option under the network dialogue box. So that's another issue, but I do know this: When you reboot and when you're close it does work, so that's some consolation.

Output you requested:

mint@mint ~ $ lsmod
Module Size Used by
binfmt_misc 13213 1
parport_pc 32111 0
ppdev 12849 0
dm_crypt 22463 0
lp 13349 0
parport 36746 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
snd_hda_codec_conexant 43782 1
joydev 17322 0
snd_hda_intel 24140 2
snd_hda_codec 90901 2 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13274 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 80244 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
arc4 12473 0
snd_rawmidi 25269 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 51291 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 28659 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
r852 17878 0
snd_seq_device 14110 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
sm_common 16737 1 r852
nand 49822 2 r852,sm_common
snd 55295 13 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec ,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,s nd_seq_device
uvcvideo 66851 0
hp_wmi 13418 0
nand_ids 8547 1 nand
rtl8192cu 96574 0
rtl8192c_common 72798 1 rtl8192cu
sparse_keymap 13666 1 hp_wmi
nv_tco 13331 0
rtlwifi 94463 1 rtl8192cu
nand_ecc 13070 1 nand
psmouse 73312 0
videodev 75143 1 uvcvideo
soundcore 12600 1 snd
mtd 26720 2 sm_common,nand
mac80211 271190 3 rtl8192cu,rtl8192c_common,rtlwifi
snd_page_alloc 14073 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
k8temp 12872 0
serio_raw 12990 0
i2c_nforce2 12906 0
cfg80211 165937 2 rtlwifi,mac80211
squashfs 35973 1
aufs 159344 3730
nls_iso8859_1 12617 1
nls_cp437 12751 1
vfat 17335 1
fat 55505 1 vfat
dm_raid45 88410 0
xor 21860 1 dm_raid45
btrfs 527341 0
zlib_deflate 26594 1 btrfs
libcrc32c 12543 1 btrfs
nouveau 621970 2
ttm 65184 1 nouveau
drm_kms_helper 40745 1 nouveau
drm 180037 4 nouveau,ttm,drm_kms_helper
firewire_ohci 31504 0
firewire_core 56138 1 firewire_ohci
usb_storage 43946 1
i2c_algo_bit 13184 1 nouveau
sdhci_pci 13623 0
uas 17676 0
ssb 45942 0
video 18951 1 nouveau
sdhci 22720 1 sdhci_pci
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core
pata_amd 13762 0
forcedeth 58190 0
sata_nv 23176 0

mint@mint ~ $ modinfo rtl8192cu
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.38-8-generic/updates/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/rtl8192cu.ko
firmware: rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
description: Realtek 8192C/8188C 802.11n USB wireless
license: GPL
author: Larry Finger <Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net>
author: Ziv Huang <ziv_huang@realtek.com>
author: Georgia <georgia@realtek.com>
srcversion: C697AD67A99D3C4F97DA95C
alias: usb:v7392p7822d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2019pAB2Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2001p330Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2001p3309d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2001p3307d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v07B8p8178d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v07B8p8178d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v07AAp0056d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0586p341Fd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v3359p13D3d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v3358p13D3d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v7392p7811d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v20F4p648Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2019pED17d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2019pAB2Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v2001p3308d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v103Cp1629d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0EB0p9071d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0DF6p0052d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0846p9041d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v07B8p8189d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v07B8p8188d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v06F8pE033d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v050Dp1102d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Cd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8177d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8754d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp817Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8177d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8176d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8170d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v0BDAp8191d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
depends: rtlwifi,mac80211,rtl8192c-common
vermagic: 2.6.38-8-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 686

Hope this helps!

PH

[pruitthall]

Chili,

Been running this, very stable, for 3 days. A few findings:

When you reboot, all is well. It fires up the Netgear USB card, light is on and it connects.

When the laptop goes to sleep (sleep, not hibernate) it doesn't come back. Light is off the Netgear, no getting it back.

Anytime you're connected, and even when you're fairly close, it's a 'hit-or-miss' type of connection. It shows good connection in the dialogue box, but it may / may not always hit. Some web sites connect everytime, some do not.

Still...it's getting somewhere at least.

PH