Arch Linux

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

Hello,

I'm interested in maintaining a package based upon the rt2x00-cvs hourly tarball supplied by serialmonkey, but more so focussing on the rt2500/2570usb adapter as that is what I currently own and I can test to make sure it works.

However I've noticed that the current rt2x00 in [unstable] has been abandoned with no maintainer, and when checking the archWiki on packages it states that I shouldn't submit a package to AUR because it's contents, or similar, are already in [Unstable] and I cannot take over the project as a maintainer because of where the package resides.

What can I do about it because currently the rt2x00 package seems to be outdated and flawed especially with regards to the the rt2500/2570usb adapters?

Also, the latest rt2x00 drivers which are still very unstable and in development require modification to the code to get them to compile in archLinux because a) it doesn't support debugfs in default kernel and b) there're some parameters to a ieee/mac80211 function which isn't included in the current version of the dscape stack in the archLinux kernel.

I admit I'm still learning how to make packages (I find the wiki a bit unclear how to achieve what I want to at present) but I'm very interested in helping out with what seems to be a sporadic and 'jumped ship' driver support.

I had already posted something similar to this in the mailing list but got no reply, and on IRC I had confused responses.

Regards.

Last edited by Stanto (2007-08-15 15:26:56)

Lone_Wolf

Forum Moderator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,928

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

For the rt2500 there is a separate package in extra.

There are some packages in the repos (current/extra/community) that have no maintainer listed usually because the one who maintained it has left the dev/TU team and it hasn't been taken over yet by another.
If the dev/TU team feels it's an important poackage , it stays in the official repos and when a new version comes out any dev/tu can udate it.

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

That's the legacy serialmonkey rt2500pci adapter, not the rt2570/2500usb adapter. I believe they're also not based on the dscape stack and may not work properly with the latest archLinux kernel anyway because of the changes to the wireless component in the kernel.

So I am still unsure about the usb adapter situation.

Last edited by Stanto (2007-08-15 18:56:50)

rockinchado

Member

Registered: 2007-07-11

Posts: 10

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

Hello Stato,

I also am using a wireless card that uses the rt2500usb and legacy rt2570.  The unstable rt2500usb is being maintained by whomever is releasing rt2x00-cvs in unstable.  The legacy rt2570 driver as far as I know isn't being maintained anywhere.  If I'm remembering right it is not in the rt2500 package in extra.  It is also not in the aur.  So if that is what you are looking to maintain then I don't see why you couldn't do that.

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

The unstable rt2500usb is being maintained by whomever is releasing rt2x00-cvs in unstable

I haven't seen an unstable rt2500usb package o.0 but the rt2x00-cvs is no longer being maintained.

Xherziu

Member

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 58

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

Hey Stanto, could you share with me how you got the rt2570 to work?

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

Hey Stanto, could you share with me how you got the rt2570 to work?

At the time of writing of this thread I was looking into native linux support for the usb adapter, and I managed to get the rt2570 to work by compiling the wireless-dev git tree kernel of the rt2x00 serialmonkey driver and using the latest possible driver available.

This developed strange results every time the driver was updated and I had to post about it on the serialmonkey forums as I experienced mixed problems ranging from a driver that worked; to one that sporadically worked and one which didn't work at all.

Suffice to say the best way to get the USB adapter working is to work with the rt2x00 devs and give constant feedback and as much detail into any problems you experience to help them develop a better driver.

I've since lost the 'stable' rt2570usb/rt2500usb driver due to a system wipe on my laptop. My main problems with the driver started here as evidenced in the post on their forums:
http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/phpBB/vi … f=5&t=4151

The latest cvs of the rt2x00 drivers may be able to compile on the ArchLinux kernel (removing the need for the wireless-dev git tree kernel being compiled on your system) due to recent updates in the wireless networking stack being moved over to use mac80211 (or from that I can't entirely remember right now).

So in summary, if you can't get the cvs hourly tarball to compile (or work) from rt2x00.serialmonkey.com then you should look into using the wireless-dev kernel they link to. If you still have problems with the adapter; you can talk with the devs on their forums to get it to work.

Alternatively just 'pacman -S ndiswrapper' and download the windows drivers from RaLink (you only need the .sys and .inf files from the executables). More information on ndiswrapper's in the wiki (it's quite straightforward). I had to install the driver on a windows PC and grab them from the install directory; they're at home at the moment and I'll upload and link to them later if needed.

Last edited by Stanto (2008-06-01 09:46:35)

Xherziu

Member

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 58

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

I downloaded the drivers from the linksys website cuz that's what the ndiswrapper wiki said to use but still they do not work.  If you can Stanto could you upload the drivers that worked for you?

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

Taken from Ralink's site you'll find the .inf and .sys here (44kB)

Last edited by Stanto (2008-06-01 23:20:23)

Xherziu

Member

Registered: 2008-04-16

Posts: 58

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

These drivers give me this..

bash-3.2# ndiswrapper -l
rt2500usb : driver installed

Thanks for your help Stanto, but I just can't for the life of me get this adapter to work.  God I hate networking...

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

The in-kernel driver works fine for me - module rt73usb, device's USB ID 148f:2573. HTH.

Stanto

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2007-07-17

Posts: 8

Website

Re: rt2x00 Package in [Unstable]

These drivers give me this..

bash-3.2# ndiswrapper -l
rt2500usb : driver installed

Thanks for your help Stanto, but I just can't for the life of me get this adapter to work.  God I hate networking...

That would suggest to me that your USB wifi adapter may not be an rt2500/rt2570; try as tomk suggested or do a google search/post your device's USB ID which'll make it easier to ascertain what it is.