Arch Linux

UnderFleX

Member

Registered: 2025-03-28

Posts: 3

WiFi adapter ASUS usb N10 not working

I have a wifi adapter ASUS usb N-10 (not nano). I am using KDE with NetworkManager. In Garuda Linux (arch based distribution) this adapter worked out of the box, but on pure arch I can't get it to work.
I found a site where the chipset of the adapter is indicated:
https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/ASUS_USB-N10
https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/ASUS_USB-N10_v2 (I don't know which version I have)

I tried to install https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/rtl8xxxu-dkms-git, but it didn't work
By the way, I couldn't find drivers for CE (at the end of the chipset name) anywhere - did I understand correctly that CE = CU?
"ip link" does not output the adapter, "nmcli device wifi list" also does not output anything.
"dkms status" output:

nvidia/570.133.07, 6.13.8-arch1-1, x86_64: installed
rtw88/r637.11d2944, 6.13.8-arch1-1, x86_64: installed

I will be very glad if someone helps me. Wifi adapters in Linux are such a headache....

Last edited by UnderFleX (2025-03-28 14:11:11)

Gusar

Member

Registered: 2009-08-25

Posts: 3,607

Re: WiFi adapter ASUS usb N10 not working

If you have the Realtek variant, it uses the r8712u staging driver which was recently removed from the kernel. The LTS kernel still has it, so try the linux-lts package.

UnderFleX

Member

Registered: 2025-03-28

Posts: 3

Re: WiFi adapter ASUS usb N10 not working

Thank you, wifi finally worked! But does this mean that someday this driver will also be removed from the lts version of the kernel? What should I do in this case?

cantabile

Member

Registered: 2010-06-29

Posts: 48

Re: WiFi adapter ASUS usb N10 not working

Someday the linux-lts package will move on from version 6.12. Around when 6.17-6.18 become available, maybe. When that happens, you can tell pacman to stop updating the linux-lts package, but that's not a long term (hehe) solution.

You can look for a different type of distro which ships with an older kernel.

Or you can replace the Asus N10. Adapters with similar dimensions and capabilities (or even with better capabilities) are pretty cheap, especially if you buy from Aliexpress, especially if it's your first purchase there. You can find several options for 2 USD with taxes and shipping.

Edit: I just noticed this part:

I tried to install https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/rtl8xxxu-dkms-git, but it didn't work
By the way, I couldn't find drivers for CE (at the end of the chipset name) anywhere - did I understand correctly that CE = CU?
"ip link" does not output the adapter, "nmcli device wifi list" also does not output anything.

If you tell me the full name of the chip I can tell you what drivers are available.

The first letter at the end is just part of the chip name. It has no useful meaning. The second letter at the end indicates the type of interface the chip uses. E = PCIe, U = USB. So RTL8192CE and RTL8192CU are pretty much the same thing but with different interfaces.

For USB devices the command you need is lsusb. That lists the Vendor ID and Product ID, which will tell us exactly what chip is in there.

Last edited by cantabile (2025-04-16 15:59:53)

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Driver for every Realtek wifi 6 and 7 USB adapter: https://github.com/morrownr/rtw89

UnderFleX

Member

Registered: 2025-03-28

Posts: 3

Re: WiFi adapter ASUS usb N10 not working

Thank you very much for your detailed answer!

lsudb output:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0b05:1786 ASUSTek Computer, Inc. USB-N10 802.11n Network Adapter [Realtek RTL8188SU]