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XazZ

Member

From: Munich, Germany

Registered: 2006-12-30

Posts: 72

HOWTO add rtl8187 drivers into the kernel (with kernel-patches)

Hi everyone..

I thought that it might be useful for some people so I'm writing this little HOWTO

What does this do?
It adds the rtl8187 drivers into your kernel (with a kernel patch)

What do I need?
You need the kernel source code and two patches (links provided below)

Can I use this patch with CK patch or the ARCH patches?
Yes, it should work (I only tried it with the vanilla kernel and a modified ARCH)

So let's stop talking - let's start!

At first you need to get you kernel sources ready (extract them somewhere)
After that you'll need to download two patches: one for the rtl8187 driver and one for EEPROM_93CX6 (rtl8187 requieres EEPROM_93CX6)
EEPROM_93CX6: http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux%2Fkernel … 42d09fe05c OR http://phpfi.com/255752
rtl8187: http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux%2Fkernel … 73a14ba9d2 OR http://phpfi.com/255753

Then apply both patches with patch -Np1 -i _patch_
After that you are ready to activate the rtl8187 driver in your kernelconfig
Open menuconfig (with make menuconfig): Device Drivers  ---> Misc devices  ---> EEPROM 93CX6 support <-enable this (I don't know if this also works as module [m], I compiled it directly into the kernel with [*])
then go to: Device Drivers  ---> Network device support  ---> Wireless LAN  ---> [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) -> Realtek 8187 USB support (I compiled this as module [m])

I can't find "Realtek 8187 USB support" in the kernel config menu
Make sure you activated EEPROM 93CX6 support and the Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211) (Networking  ---> Wireless  ---> Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211))

Now you can start compiling your kernel
If you want to add rtl8187 support 'The Arch-Way' make sure to add "patch -Np1 -i ../foo.bar" to your PKGBUILD (just take a look at the PKGBUILD of kernel26)

If you have questions: just ask

NOTE: The rtl8187 driver will be included in vanilla 2.6.23 - patching the kernel isn't a good idea, so please keep in mind that this is EXPERIMENTAL (but I couldn't find any bugs yet)

Have a nice day..
XazZ

dninja

Member

From: Sheffield, UK

Registered: 2006-04-29

Posts: 374

Website

Re: HOWTO add rtl8187 drivers into the kernel (with kernel-patches)

A couple of questions, do you know if this patch supports Master mode and do you know when 2.6.23 is likely to be coming out?

Dusty

Schwag Merchant

From: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Registered: 2004-01-18

Posts: 5,986

Website

Re: HOWTO add rtl8187 drivers into the kernel (with kernel-patches)

It would be great to put this in the wiki.

Dusty

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XazZ

Member

From: Munich, Germany

Registered: 2006-12-30

Posts: 72

Re: HOWTO add rtl8187 drivers into the kernel (with kernel-patches)

Hi

A couple of questions, do you know if this patch supports Master mode and do you know when 2.6.23 is likely to be coming out?

Sorry, I can't answer those questions...
But Linus usually releases a new kernel after 70 to 100 days after the latest release

@Dusty: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Rtl8187_wireless

XazZ

Last edited by XazZ (2007-08-18 22:17:25)