Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

system5 · 2017-11-27 23:18

One of my biggest problems, after installing Orion earlier in the year and Scorpion over the weekend, was installing the linux drivers for my wireless adaptor.

The linux drivers supplied by the manufacturer did not appear to work and/or the installation instructions were not particularly helpful. However, after carrying out some research, I managed to locate a driver and some instructions, which I set out below:

Install and configure rtl8812au in Debian:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential git

git clone https://github.com/scrivy/rtl8812AU_8...

cd rtl8812AU_8821AU_linux

make

sudo make install

sudo modprobe rtl8812au

reboot

The instructions worked to the extent that I managed to get my adaptor working. However it would aid my understanding if somebody could comment on whether all the steps were actually required because step one appeared to do something useful but steps two and three seemed to achieve nothing as the repository seems to have been removed.

I managed to install the drivers after steps one to three by right-clicking on my folder containing the drivers and opening the terminal and then executing steps four to seven. I believe that I may have simply substituted steps two and three by obtaining the drivers separately but I would welcome some confirmation because it will make it easier for me if I ever have to completely reinstall my operating system again in the future.

Dai_trying · 2017-11-27 23:49

I can tell you what all the commands do, and afterwards you would probably understand better why you need to use them.

system5 wrote:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential git

This installs some required dependencies for building (compiling) packages from source code, although I think the headers are usually pulled in with build essential so wouldn't need to be specified separately but I'm not 100% certain.

system5 wrote:

git clone https://github.com/scrivy/rtl8812AU_8...

This downloads (or clones) the source code from github (online repository)

system5 wrote:

cd rtl8812AU_8821AU_linux

This simply changes to the directory of the source code

system5 wrote:

make

This compiles the source code

system5 wrote:

sudo make install

this installs the compiled package

system5 wrote:

sudo modprobe rtl8812au

this starts the module you just installed, this is one step that could be bypassed if you do not need a connection before reboot

system5 wrote:

reboot

forces a reload of all system components including the newly installed one.

There is one step that is usually included but is not here, that would be ./configure which would be run before make but if it has worked ok then maybe there was nothing to be configured.

I hope this helps you understand the procedures you went through and if anything is still unclear just ask and I will try to help.

q4osteam · 2017-11-27 23:50

In short:
step 2 - 'git clone ...' - download source codes
step 3 - 'cd rtl8812...' - change directory to the source code tree

system5 · 2017-11-28 00:25

Thank you both for your replies although I am just not sure that anything was downloaded at step two because I was asked to login to GitHub before proceeding and then it seemed to fail. Could it be that the source codes were actually in my folder but I still needed to execute step one before moving to step four and missing out steps two and three?

Dai_trying · 2017-11-28 01:04

You would have needed some source to be able to compile the package, if you downloaded it before trying to follow the instructions then it is possible it was already there and you could have missed the step of cloning the github repository.
You would definitely need to install the build-essential package before trying to compile code, and change to the correct directory so it would only really be step two that you miss (or rather replace with download and extract).

system5 · 2017-11-28 09:43

Assuming I had previously downloaded the source, would I have required internet access to execute step one with a wired connection or is internet access only required for step two to clone the github repository?

Dai_trying · 2017-11-28 09:52

Both step 1 and 2 would require internet access, although step 1 would only need access if you needed to install the packages, if you already had them it wouldn't need to download anything.

system5 · 2017-11-28 10:24

To be clear and assuming that I have the package on a memory stick, are you saying that I would still need internet access for step one?

Dai_trying · 2017-11-28 10:31

Step 1 (sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential git) would require internet access if those packages are not already installed as it will attempt to install them to your system from the on-line repository.
If you have "the package" (assuming source code??) on usb stick then step 2 (git clone https://github.com/scrivy/rtl8812AU_8...) is not required.

system5 · 2017-11-28 10:44

It will all make sense to me if you can confirm that the online repository mentioned in step one is not the same as the repository on github?

Dai_trying · 2017-11-28 10:51

The online repository for step 1 are the ones set up for your OS, which in this case would be Q4OS and sources can be found by typing

apt policy

in a terminal, these are where all your OS packages will come from when installing from synaptic package manager or using apt-get.

As you would see from the terminal output they are Debian and Q4OS repositories and not GitHub.

system5 · 2017-12-01 08:25

Thank you for confirming my basic understanding of the steps for installing the drivers. I certainly feel more confident about reinstalling my system in the future and re-establishing internet access but hopefully "Scorpion" will be around for many years!

Dai_trying · 2017-12-01 09:03

You are welcome and Scorpion will be around for quite a while so you should have no worries there.

system5 · 2017-12-10 06:25

Just when I thought everything was sorted, I used the "dependency tool" last night which seemed to prompt Scorpion to be upgraded. This seemed to work fine but when I rebooted I noted that my wireless adaptor was no longer working. No problem I thought as I could simply reinstall it but the instruction that had worked before without a problem no longer seems to work.

The output from the terminal is shown below and I shall welcome any advice:

system5@q4osdesktop:~$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential git
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
git is already the newest version (1:2.15.1-1).
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
build-essential : Depends: gcc (>= 4:7.2) but it is not going to be installed
Depends: g++ (>= 4:7.2) but it is not going to be installed
linux-headers-4.14.0-1-686-pae : Depends: linux-compiler-gcc-7-x86 but it is not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

Do I simply need to completely reinstall Scorpion as something does not seem right?

tlmiller76 · 2017-12-10 08:05

You have the unstable (sid) kernel installed.

Did you purposely add sid/unstable sources? Or do you even know how they got added?

You SHOULD still have the original kernel. On booting, if you choose the "options" or such menu item, do you have the 4.9 kernel listed to boot? If so, boot to that and your wireless should work.

Last edited by tlmiller76 (2017-12-10 08:07)

system5 · 2017-12-10 23:37

I think I must have unintentionally added the unstable kernal whilst using the dependency tool.

I cannot say whether I have the option to select the stable kernal at this stage but will check it out tomorrow.

Assuming it is not available for selection, is there another way back short of reinstalling Scorpion?

Dai_trying · 2017-12-11 00:30

Can I just ask what is the "Q4OS dependency tool" you used?

crosscourt · 2017-12-11 00:43

You beat me to it Dai as I had the same reaction when i read that last post. Dependency tool?

Dai_trying · 2017-12-11 00:45

I don't recall seeing a dependency tool, but that doesn't mean it isn't available I just hadn't seen or heard of it.

crosscourt · 2017-12-11 00:47

There isnt one Im aware of except for the Q4OS updater, Synaptic, and of course updating thru command line.

crosscourt · 2017-12-11 01:13

There is the Q4OS dependency autofix in the FAQ,

sudo sh /usr/share/apps/q4os_system/bin/qapt_fix.sh
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

section 3 of the FAQ

bin · 2017-12-11 07:27

Reading the manual????? Whatever next!

crosscourt · 2017-12-11 23:14

Lol! With my bad vision I hate reading manuals.

Last edited by crosscourt (2017-12-11 23:14)

system5 · 2018-01-12 00:45

This afternoon I was prompted by the updater to install several new and updated packages and duly obliged. However, after rebooting my system, I was surprised to see that I had lost my internet connection.

Can anybody suggest a reason as to why the system update would delete my adaptor drivers?

crosscourt · 2018-01-12 00:51

Not sure what updates were installed but given the patches for the meltdown/spectre issues and newer kernel there may have been a problem. I havent had any issues but have you tried turning off your modem/router/wifi then back on to reset it?

Q4OS Forum

#1 2017-11-27 23:18

Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#2 2017-11-27 23:49

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#3 2017-11-27 23:50

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#4 2017-11-28 00:25

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#5 2017-11-28 01:04

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#6 2017-11-28 09:43

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#7 2017-11-28 09:52

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#8 2017-11-28 10:24

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#9 2017-11-28 10:31

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#10 2017-11-28 10:44

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#11 2017-11-28 10:51

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#12 2017-12-01 08:25

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#13 2017-12-01 09:03

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#14 2017-12-10 06:25

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#15 2017-12-10 08:05

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#16 2017-12-10 23:37

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#17 2017-12-11 00:30

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#18 2017-12-11 00:43

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#19 2017-12-11 00:45

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#20 2017-12-11 00:47

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#21 2017-12-11 01:13

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#22 2017-12-11 07:27

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#23 2017-12-11 23:14

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#24 2018-01-12 00:45

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

#25 2018-01-12 00:51

Re: Installing drivers for TP-Link Dual Band USB Wireless Adaptor

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