Arch Linux

san2222

Member

Registered: 2023-07-03

Posts: 29

Compiling module after a kernel update

Hi,

I just installed a driver for my USB WiFi adapter following instructions from here (https://github.com/lwfinger/rtw88). In there it gives steps to take after a new kernel is installed. I can't seem to follow it. Can someone explain how to do it. It says:

 cd ~/rtw88 

But where can I find the above path? My home directory has a folder named "rtw88-dkms-git" and below is its contents tree. There are two "rtw88" folders (see bolded below). Which one should i cd into? The one outside or inside "src"? Thanks

[san@archy rtw88-dkms-git]$ tree -d
.
├── pkg
│   ├── rtw88-dkms-git
│   │   ├── etc
│   │   │   └── modprobe.d
│   │   └── usr
│   │       ├── lib
│   │       │   └── firmware
│   │       │       └── rtw88
│   │       └── src
│   │           └── rtw88-r597.2f5b4cb
│   └── rtw88-dkms-git-debug
│       └── usr
│           ├── lib
│           │   └── debug
│           └── src
│               └── debug
│                   └── rtw88-dkms-git
├── rtw88
│   ├── hooks
│   ├── info
│   ├── objects
│   │   ├── info
│   │   └── pack
│   └── refs
│       ├── heads
│       └── tags
└── src
    └── rtw88
        ├── alt_rtl8821ce
        │   ├── core
        │   │   ├── crypto
        │   │   ├── efuse
        │   │   ├── mesh
        │   │   ├── monitor
        │   │   └── wds
        │   ├── hal
        │   │   ├── btc
        │   │   ├── efuse
        │   │   │   └── rtl8821c
        │   │   ├── hal_hci
        │   │   ├── halmac
        │   │   │   └── halmac_88xx
        │   │   │       └── halmac_8821c
        │   │   ├── led
        │   │   ├── phydm
        │   │   │   ├── halrf
        │   │   │   │   └── rtl8821c
        │   │   │   ├── rtl8821c
        │   │   │   └── txbf
        │   │   └── rtl8821c
        │   │       └── pci
        │   ├── include
        │   │   ├── byteorder
        │   │   ├── cmn_info
        │   │   └── linux
        │   ├── os_dep
        │   │   └── linux
        │   └── platform
        ├── dkms
        └── firmware

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,359

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dynami … le_Support

mackin_cheese

Member

Registered: 2025-01-07

Posts: 475

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

the instructions in the page only say

 cd rtw88-dkms-git 

if you did that then you are already in the folder, proceed to the next step

san2222

Member

Registered: 2023-07-03

Posts: 29

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

the instructions in the page only say

 cd rtw88-dkms-git 

if you did that then you are already in the folder, proceed to the next step

Sorry but I am referring to the 4th point "Kernel Updates" further below under "Important Information".

Thank you

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,359

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

Ignore everything in that readme. Read the wiki links.

san2222

Member

Registered: 2023-07-03

Posts: 29

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

I read the AUR Wiki specifically "2.6 Upgrading packages". It says to use "git pull" in the "directory containing the package's PKGBUILD". So in my case that would be the "rtw88-dkms-git" parent directory. See below for it's contents:

[san@archy rtw88-dkms-git]$ tree -L 1
.
├── dkms.conf
├── pkg
├── PKGBUILD
├── rtw88
├── rtw88-dkms-git-r597.2f5b4cb-1-any.pkg.tar.zst
└── src

So when the kernel gets updated, I have to:

cd ~/rtw88-dkms-git
git pull

(assuming I have network after the kernel update)
Then

make
sudo make install

Am I right? Thanks  for being patient while I get this.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,359

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

No, none of that at all.

san2222

Member

Registered: 2023-07-03

Posts: 29

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

I am sorry, I am lost at this point. Can you provide the actual commands that needs to be given? If I can't understand any of it, I'll get back. Thanks

frank604

Member

From: BC, Canada

Registered: 2011-04-20

Posts: 1,219

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

Hi san2222, Scimmia provided two very useful links.  No need to be lost, read the wiki links, they hold the answers plus more.

1. If you want to rebuild modules for new kernels, the DKMS system (2nd link) will help you understand how that works and save yourself the hassle every upgrade.
2. If you want to build the module, there's already a PKGBUILD on AUR (1st link) will help you.  Go for the DKMS (see above).

AUR is also found here https://aur.archlinux.org/ and the wiki is: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository

san2222

Member

Registered: 2023-07-03

Posts: 29

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

Ok from DKMS Wiki, I only need to:

dkms autoinstall

Is my reasoning correct? I will try this when I have updated. If I error, I'll consider it as part of the learning process. Thanks

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,359

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

From the DKMS page: "Since the introduction of pacman hooks, the rebuild of the modules is handled automatically when a kernel is upgraded."

WorMzy

Administrator

From: Scotland

Registered: 2010-06-16

Posts: 13,188

Website

Re: Compiling module after a kernel update

Mod note: moving to AUR Issues.

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