Need wifi driver for TP-Link AC600 T2E or workaround [SOLVED]

[Pjotr]

the support ends in August

Just for the sake of completeness, that fact doesn't need to bother you:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... .html#ID16
(item 16)

Not that it matters much in this case, of course....

[seasons]

You'll need this PPA if you want to use a 6.5 kernel with nvidia 390: https://launchpad.net/~dtl131/+archive/ubuntu/nvidiaexp

8812au/5.6.4.2_35491.20191025, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed

You have 8812au installed. Remove that. You need 8821au: https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708/tree/main

[chime]

I have installed and uninstalled a few different drivers. The 8812au is running the T2U TP-Link dongle. Most information I found on the internet concerned that. The T2E card is less common. For that I have already installed the rtl8821au, but also removed the rtl8821ce. "sudo dkms status" shows me this:

8812au/5.6.4.2_35491.20191025, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed
nvidia/390.157, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed
nvidia/390.157, 5.15.0-91-generic, x86_64: installed
rtl8812au/4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed (WARNING! Diff between built and installed module!)
rtl8812au/5.13.6-23, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: built
rtl8812au/5.6.4.2: added
rtl8821au/5.12.5.2, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed
virtualbox/6.1.50, 5.15.0-101-generic, x86_64: installed

The warning is obviously a concern, but the dongle works and the card does not.

[sleeper12]

Too many different drivers installed. I would remove all the 8812au ones, then see if the installed 8821au works after a reboot.

[JeremyB]

Too many different drivers installed. I would remove all the 8812au ones, then see if the installed 8821au works after a reboot.

The USB wifi is the one that works, it is a PCI device that doesn't

[sleeper12]

Too many different drivers installed. I would remove all the 8812au ones, then see if the installed 8821au works after a reboot.

The USB wifi is the one that works, it is a PCI device that doesn't

Ok, I see my confusion now , but I might not be alone.

[seasons]

I feel your pain. Realtek sucks at Linux.

[chime]

I tried a couple experiments. As I said this new computer was a bargain, so I also bought one for my wife. It also does not work, though both work on the pre-installed Windows 11 (so my card is not defective).

Next I created live USBs of Xubuntu 20.04.5 (does not work), Zorin 17.1 (works out of the box), and Ubuntu Cinnamon 23.10 (works out of the box).

Since I have only just started setting up I think I am going to install Ubuntu Cinnamon for now, and then try Mint 22 when it comes out in June or July. I will try it on another partition first, and maybe I will stick with the dongle using Mint.

Thanks for all your help.

[sleeper12]

So, if you mean the T2E works there, which driver does Ubuntu use?

[JeremyB]

So, which driver does Ubuntu use for the T2E?

alias pci:v000010ECd0000B821sv*sd*bc*sc*i* rtw88_8821ce in kernel 6.5

[sleeper12]

So, why won't that also work in Mint? Strange.

[JeremyB]

So, why won't that also work in Mint? Strange.

They said something about graphic issues using kernel 6.5 and somehow the wifi still didn't work

This might work

Code: Select all

sudo apt install git dkms
git clone https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce.git
cd rtl8821ce
sudo ./dkms-install.sh

It shows a commit
Add PCI ID 10ec:b821 (TP-Link AC600 Archer T2E) and that is not in rtl8821ce-dkms that I can see

[MintMagoo]

Have you tried Mint Edge?

https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=314

Cinnamon Edition - "EDGE" ISO

It has the 6.5 kernal. I might of missed it but it seems you have the standard Mint Cinnamon installed and no one suggested Edge.

[sleeper12]

It's the same 6.5 kernel there, but it would be interesting just to see if it somehow works.

[chime]

It's the same 6.5 kernel there, but it would be interesting just to see if it works without all the other drivers he has installed in his current Mint.

I am on the Ubuntu Cinnamon installation now. It is using the 6.5.0,26 kernel JeremyB recommended, though that did not help me in Mint. I am not sure which driver was installed when I loaded 6.5 (8821au or 8821ce).

lspci -nnk|grep -iA3 net
00:1f.6 Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (2) I219-LM [8086:15b7]
Subsystem: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Ethernet Connection (2) I219-LM [1734:121f]
Kernel driver in use: e1000e
Kernel modules: e1000e
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation GF119 [GeForce GT 610] [10de:104a] (rev a1)
--
02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:b821]
Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:b821]
Kernel driver in use: rtw_8821ce
Kernel modules: rtw88_8821ce

The 6.5 kernel distorted my screen though, and still wouldn't connect. I can try experimenting more tomorrow, perhaps.

[JeremyB]

Can you run the wireless script from the 6.5 kernel and post results as the driver shows as being in use?

[chime]

Can you run the wireless script from the 6.5 kernel and post results as the driver shows as being in use?

Code: Select all

Distributor ID:	Ubuntu
Description:	Ubuntu 23.10
Release:	23.10
Codename:	mantic

##### kernel ############################

Linux 6.5.0-26-generic #26-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Tue Mar  5 21:19:28 UTC 2024 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Parameters: ro, quiet, splash, vt.handoff=7

##### desktop ###########################

Cinnamon

##### lspci #############################

00:1f.6 Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (2) I219-LM [8086:15b7]
	Subsystem: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Ethernet Connection (2) I219-LM [1734:121f]
	Kernel driver in use: e1000e

02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:b821]
	Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:b821]
	Kernel driver in use: rtw_8821ce

##### lsusb #############################

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 24ae:1100 Shenzhen Rapoo Technology Co., Ltd. Rapoo 2.4G Wireless Device
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 24ae:2000 Shenzhen Rapoo Technology Co., Ltd. 2.4G Wireless Device Serial
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 14cd:168a Super Top Elecom Co., Ltd MR-K013 Multicard Reader
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

##### PCMCIA card info ##################

##### rfkill ############################

0: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

##### secure boot #######################

SecureBoot disabled

##### lsmod #############################

mac80211             1724416  2 rtw88_pci,rtw88_core
mxm_wmi                12288  1 nouveau
cfg80211             1318912  2 rtw88_core,mac80211
libarc4                12288  1 mac80211
wmi                    40960  3 video,mxm_wmi,nouveau

##### interfaces ########################

##### ifconfig ##########################

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback <MAC address> brd <MAC address>
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: enp0s31f6: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state DOWN group default qlen

https://termbin.com/4e5n

[chime]

My further searches tell me the rtl8821ce should work, except for the ones that tell me rtl8821au should, and using this 5.15 kernel. Neither work with Mint for me. Something is missing, but I can't begin to imagine what. It will have to wait until tomorrow. Thank you to everyone.

[sleeper12]

It shows a commit
Add PCI ID 10ec:b821 (TP-Link AC600 Archer T2E) and that is not in rtl8821ce-dkms that I can see

It's over my head, but I wonder if something like this needs to be done:
https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce/issues/273
https://github.com/tomaspinho/rtl8821ce/pull/285

[seasons]

Description: Ubuntu 23.10

Then why are you posting in these Mint forums?