Building Wireless Drivers for Edimax Wireless USB: EW-7811UN

Question

I've been trying on and off for days to build the module for my USB wireless device.

I've found several resources on building modules for Debian, but none for Arch. Currently I am attempting to cross-compile using the ToolChain found on the Raspberry Pi GitHub. These are the steps I've taken:

Downloaded the driver sources from the Edimax website.
Downloaded the kernel sources from GitHub.
Created a specific make rule (as per the Edimax documentation) in the Edimax MakeFile:

ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_PI), y)
  EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN
  ARCH := arm
  CROSS_COMPILE := arm-bcm2708-linux-gnueabi-
  KVER  := 3.1.9-30-ARCH+
  KSRC := /pi-sources/lib/modules/3.1.9-30-ARCH+/build 
  MODDESTDIR := /pi-sources/lib/modules/3.1.9-30-ARCH+/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
  INSTALL_PREFIX :=
endif

KSRC is the directory containing the kernel sources.
MODDESTDIR is the directory you wish the module to end up.
CROSS_COMPILE is my toolchain (which has been added to PATH)

First attempt at make gives this error:

fatal error: linux/smp_lock.h: No such file or directory

I found that this is an outdated header, and symlinking it to smp.h should fix the issue. However, the build still fails with source errors, that look like this:

error: field 'recv_tasklet' has incomplete type

I've done enough compiling to know this looks as if the build doesn't support the latest kernel version, but if this is so then how has it been built for Debian?

Extra information:

The full output here.

I have the same adapter, though not yet got around to trying it! — Shane Hudson, Jun 13 '12 at 17:56
Please let me know how you get on with it and add your experience afterward, even if its negative. — Jivings, Jun 13 '12 at 18:05
@Tomas, more bounty! Make sure Alex doesn't get it this time :) — Jivings, Jul 30 '12 at 12:36
For anyone coming across this who has a V2, it will require a different driver from http://downloads.fars-robotics.net/wifi-drivers/8188eu-drivers/ — Isaac Middlemiss, Feb 19 '21 at 02:43

score 13 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 28 '12 at 17:32

13

Instructions for cross-compiling

Downloaded the driver sources from the Edimax website.
Clone the kernel sources from GitHub.
cd into your kernel source and cd into include/linux. Run
```
ln -s smp.h smp_lock.h`.
```
unzip the Edimax download and tar -xzf the driver package. cd into the driver/rtl... subdirectory.
Edit include/rtw_xmit.h and add #include <linux/interrupt.h> under the other includes.

Edit os_dep/osdep_service.c and add

#include <linux/semaphore.h>
#define init_MUTEX(sem)         sema_init(sem, 1)

under the other includes.

Edit the Makefile adding

ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLATFORM_PI), y)
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_LITTLE_ENDIAN
ARCH := arm
CROSS_COMPILE := arm-bcm2708-linux-gnueabi-
KVER  := 3.1.9-30-ARCH+
KSRC := ~/pi-sources
MODDESTDIR := ~/pi-sources/lib/modules/3.1.9-30-ARCH+/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/
INSTALL_PREFIX :=
endif

under similar sections.

Assuming arm-bcm2708-linux-gnueabi-{gcc|ld} is in your path, run make CONFIG_PLATFORM_PI=y modules.

The module should now be compiled.

edited Jul 28 '12 at 17:32

answered Jul 19 '12 at 11:43

Alex Chamberlain

15,530
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Build is successful! But where does the module get built to? So I can copy it onto the Pi. – Jivings Jul 19 '12 at 12:12
The root of the driver package I think. – Alex Chamberlain Jul 19 '12 at 12:19
1

Hm, seems to be there. Weird. What's the point in MODDESTDIR then? – Jivings Jul 19 '12 at 12:20
No idea!!!!!!!!! – Alex Chamberlain Jul 19 '12 at 12:20
In order to get this to build on the Raspberry Pi I also had to symlink the /lib/modules/3.1.9-30-ARCH+/build directory to the kernel sources. – Jivings Jul 24 '12 at 17:42
Although it is still not actually working, this post helped me to actually build the module successfully. Thus I am awarding the bounty! – Jivings Jul 25 '12 at 19:47
@Jivings please let us know if you can make it work! – Tomas Jul 30 '12 at 00:24
@Tomas: So far the module builds, and I can load it. I can see wlan0, but can't scan on the interface, so it still doesn't actually work. – Jivings Jul 30 '12 at 07:29
Are you bringing the interface up first? – Alex Chamberlain Jul 30 '12 at 08:02
I get a compilation warning in the rtl8192CU_linux_v2.0.939.20100726/os_dep/linux/usb_intf.c file, line 849. "THIS_MODULE is not declared. Help anyone? – SkaveRat Oct 16 '12 at 21:21
I used the tarball linked in this article to compile the driver sucessfully: http://tamcore.eu/raspberry-pi-archlinux-und-der-rtl8188cus-chipsatz/ – SkaveRat Oct 16 '12 at 22:17

score -1 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 19 '17 at 05:33

-1

Try copying the config.gz from /proc/config.gz on your RPi. Then gunzip it and rename it to .config and make as above.

edited Feb 19 '17 at 05:33

tlhIngan

3,372
5
19
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answered Jul 19 '12 at 12:28

Felix Furak

11

3

Can you state why this is useful in your answer? – Jivings Jul 19 '12 at 12:34

Building Wireless Drivers for Edimax Wireless USB: EW-7811UN

Extra information:

2 Answers2

Instructions for cross-compiling

Linked