RTL8814 driver won't build against kernel 5.15 and above

[siamhie]

This is more of a heads-up than an issue as I will explain.


The current driver that is in the repos was built using aircrack-ng's code but they haven't updated it for awhile and it won't build against kernel 5.15 without a patch provided in the issues section of their GitHub page.


Morrownr however has picked up the slack and provides a driver that will work up to kernel 5.17 without the need of any patches.

If you plan on upgrading your kernel past 5.14 and use this wifi driver, I suggest you do the following.


First, download morrownr's driver here.

https://github.com/morrownr/8814au


Now remove the current driver rtl8814au-dkms [5.8.5.1-1~mx21+1] from the repos.

Change to the directory that you downloaded the 8814au-main.zip file and extract it.

Change into the 8814au-main directory and run "sudo ./install.sh" (pretty straight forward).

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Building module:
cleaning build area...
make -j16 KERNELRELEASE=5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64 KVER=5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64...(bad exit status: 2)
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64 (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more information.

Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel.  Skipping...

Building module:
cleaning build area...
'make' -j16 KVER=5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64 KSRC=/lib/modules/5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64/build....
cleaning build area...

DKMS: build completed.

8814au.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - No original module exists within this kernel
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/

depmod...

DKMS: install completed.

Reboot into your new kernel when done.

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siamhie@mxflux:~
$ inxi -nS
System:    Host: mxflux Kernel: 5.17.0-2.3-liquorix-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Fluxbox 1.3.7 
           Distro: MX-21.1_fluxbox_x64 Wildflower Oct 20  2021 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet driver: r8169 
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: d8:bb:c1:44:16:b9 
           Device-2: NetGear Nighthawk A7000 802.11ac Wireless Adapter AC1900 [Realtek 8814AU] 
           type: USB driver: rtl8814au 
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: 8c:3b:ad:22:90:fc

[Adrian]

Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more information.

That might provide more info... however if the driver is not tested on newer kernels it might take some time for whoever release the driver to catch up and fix the issues. That's one of the problems with out-of-kernel drivers and proprietary hardware.

[dolphin_oracle]

I think we have updated driver in Ahs repo.

[timkb4cq]

The updated driver in AHS [5.8.5.1-1~mx21+2] has support for 5.15 & 5.16 but it looks like morrownr had to patch it again for 5.17.
Looks like another AHS update is needed...

[siamhie]

Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more information.

That might provide more info... however if the driver is not tested on newer kernels it might take some time for whoever release the driver to catch up and fix the issues. That's one of the problems with out-of-kernel drivers and proprietary hardware.

I'm not running any Broadcom devices. I just happen to still have the firmware installed which I suspect the 8814 driver installation picked up on.

[siamhie]

I think we have updated driver in Ahs repo.

I'll take a look. I've been following morrownr's GitHub page for several months now as to the status of the 8814 driver and they are in need of a newer source code.

Code: Select all

All-Points Bulletin

I need your help. We need to find a newer version of the source code for this driver. While working on source code for other recently available drivers I have noticed 
indications that Realtek is still working on this 8814au driver. I have not been able to locate a newer version that is available. This driver is v5.8.5.1 dated 20191029. 
It is getting hard to maintain and has many problems. The newer drivers that I have been able to bring online are for the 8812au, 8811au and 8812bu chipsets and they are 
the best Realtek drivers I have seen, even if they are out-of-kernel and based on the wrong technology. If we can find a driver for the 8814au that is up to date then we 
can make better use of our 8814au adapters. The newer drivers have version numbers of 5.12.x and 5.13.x so please search all locations that might have a new version 
available. Ask retailers. Please help.

[siamhie]

The updated driver in AHS [5.8.5.1-1~mx21+1] has support for 5.15 & 5.16 but it looks like morrownr had to patch it again for 5.17.
Looks like another AHS update is needed...

Thanks @timkb4cq for pointing this out.


I really appreciate you guys for including this driver in the MX21 release (kudos to @SwampRabbit for getting it started). MX is the ONLY distribution that has this driver OOTB.

[timkb4cq]

rtl8814au-dkms_5.8.5.1-1~mx21+3 is now available in the MX-21 Test repo
I cherry-picked the 5.17 support patch from morrownr to apply to our aircrack-ng based package (We previously had trouble building a working package from his tree although installing from terminal always worked).
But I don't have an rtl8814au chipset device to test it with.
Mind giving it a try @slamhie?

[siamhie]

rtl8814au-dkms_5.8.5.1-1~mx21+3 is now available in the MX-21 Test repo
I cherry-picked the 5.17 support patch from morrownr to apply to our aircrack-ng based package (We previously had trouble building a working package from his tree although installing from terminal always worked).
But I don't have an rtl8814au chipset device to test it with.
Mind giving it a try @slamhie?

Sure thing @timkb4cq . I'll get back to you with my results.

[siamhie]

@timkb4cq

Even tho +3 shows in the repo



it tries to install +1 instead



which obviously fails




I did run sudo apt update prior to opening MXPI.