How to install new driver on GL-AR300M for EDIMAX EW-7811UTC USB dual band Wifi

rjdcsgroup-com · February 24, 2017, 1:40am

I want to install a hardware driver in OpenWRT, but not sure how to proceed after researching the host and adapter hardware. Is there any hope of finding a pre-compiled binary and using it? I do not have a cross-compilation environment set up, nor do I want to do so.

Having driven myself crazy for the last few hours, it seems just as reasonable to post this request and see what happens. I have an Edimax EW-7811UTC dual band WI-FI adapter plugged into the USB port of my GL-AR300M. The hardware is seen (complete lsusb results below).

If I find the binary drivers, I am also not clear on what to do with them (how to install?). After that I can concentrate on the luxury of config files which seem to be reasonably well documented and examples exist on other threads.

Any help, will be much appreciated.

Hardware/OS Specs

GL-AR300M: MIPS 24K WiSOC, chip QCA9532 (Honey Bee), shared with TP-Link Tl-MR22U, WR810N and WR902AC, and Netgear WNR2000v5

OpenWRT release: Chaos Calmer 15.05 (Release r46767), GLI v2.25, Linux Kernel 3.18

Edimax EW-7811UTC: USB Wifi adapter (600AC 300/300), Model 7392:a811, chip RealTek TRL8811AU, support at

http://us.edimax.com/edimax/download/download/data/edimax/us/download/for_home/wireless_adapters/wireless_adapters_ac600_dual-band/ew-7811utc>

lsusb results as follows:

root@GL-AR300M:~# lsusb
Bus ID 7392:a811 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd
Bus ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus ID 7392:a811 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd
Device bLength bcdUSB idVendor idProduct bcdDevice iProduct iSerial EP 4 IN
 1x 512 bytes
 EP 5 OUT
 1x 512 bytes
 EP 6 OUT
 1x 512 bytes
 EP 7 IN
 1x 64 bytes
 EP 8 OUT
 1x 512 bytes
 EP 9 OUT
 1x 512 bytes
 Binary Descriptor:
 bLength (480Mbps)
 Full Speed (12Mbps)
 Device 001 Device 003:
001 Device 001:

root@GL-AR300M:~ lsusb -vv -s 003

001 Device 003:
Descriptor:
18
bDescriptorType 1
2.10
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
0x7392 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd
0xa811
2.00
iManufacturer 1 Realtek
2 802.11n WLAN Adapter
3 00e04c000001
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 60
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xe0
Self Powered
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 500mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 6
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 2 802.11n WLAN Adapter
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x84
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x05
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x06
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x87
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040
bInterval 3
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x08
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x09
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
bInterval 0
Object Store
5
bDescriptorType 15
wTotalLength 22
bNumDeviceCaps 2
USB 2.0 Extension Device Capability:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 16
bDevCapabilityType 2
bmAttributes 0x00000002
Link Power Management (LPM) Supported
SuperSpeed USB Device Capability:
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 16
bDevCapabilityType 3
bmAttributes 0x00
wSpeedsSupported 0x000e
Device can operate at Full Speed (12Mbps)
Device can operate at High Speed
Device can operate at SuperSpeed (5Gbps)
bFunctionalitySupport 1
Lowest fully-functional device speed is
bU1DevExitLat 10 micro seconds
bU2DevExitLat 1023 micro seconds
Status: 0x0001
Self Powered (lies!)

alzhao · February 25, 2017, 12:05pm

reformat some of your data.

root@GL-AR300M:~# lsusb

Bus 001 Device 003:
ID 7392:a811 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd

Bus 001 Device 001:
ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

root@GL-AR300M:~ lsusb -vv -s 003

Bus 001 Device 003:
ID 7392:a811 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd

Device Descriptor:

bLength 18

bDescriptorType 1

bcdUSB 2.10

bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)

bDeviceSubClass 0

bDeviceProtocol 0

bMaxPacketSize0 64

idVendor 0x7392 Edimax Technology Co., Ltd

idProduct 0xa811

bcdDevice 2.00

iManufacturer 1 Realtek

iProduct 2 802.11n WLAN Adapter

iSerial 3 00e04c000001

bNumConfigurations 1

Configuration Descriptor:

bLength 9

bDescriptorType 2

wTotalLength 60

bNumInterfaces 1

bConfigurationValue 1

iConfiguration 0

bmAttributes 0xe0

Self Powered

Remote Wakeup

MaxPower 500mA

Interface Descriptor:

bLength 9

bDescriptorType 4

bInterfaceNumber 0

bAlternateSetting 0

bNumEndpoints 6

bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class

bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass

bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol

iInterface 2 802.11n WLAN Adapter

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x84
EP 4 IN

bmAttributes 2

Transfer Type Bulk

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
1x 512 bytes

bInterval 0

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x05
EP 5 OUT

bmAttributes 2

Transfer Type Bulk

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
1x 512 bytes

bInterval 0

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x06
EP 6 OUT

bmAttributes 2

Transfer Type Bulk

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
1x 512 bytes

bInterval 0

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x87
EP 7 IN

bmAttributes 3

Transfer Type Interrupt

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0040
1x 64 bytes

bInterval 3

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x08
EP 8 OUT

bmAttributes 2

Transfer Type Bulk

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
1x 512 bytes

bInterval 0

Endpoint Descriptor:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 5

bEndpointAddress 0x09
EP 9 OUT

bmAttributes 2

Transfer Type Bulk

Synch Type None

Usage Type Data

wMaxPacketSize 0x0200
1x 512 bytes

bInterval 0

Binary Object Store
Descriptor:

bLength 5

bDescriptorType 15

wTotalLength 22

bNumDeviceCaps 2

USB 2.0 Extension Device Capability:

bLength 7

bDescriptorType 16

bDevCapabilityType 2

bmAttributes 0x00000002

Link Power Management (LPM) Supported

SuperSpeed USB Device Capability:

bLength 10

bDescriptorType 16

bDevCapabilityType 3

bmAttributes 0x00

wSpeedsSupported 0x000e

Device can operate at Full Speed (12Mbps)

Device can operate at High Speed
(480Mbps)

Device can operate at SuperSpeed (5Gbps)

bFunctionalitySupport 1

Lowest fully-functional device speed is
Full Speed (12Mbps)

bU1DevExitLat 10 micro seconds

bU2DevExitLat 1023 micro seconds

Device Status: 0x0001

Self Powered (lies!)

alzhao · February 25, 2017, 12:08pm

Seems the driver is recognized. Generally when you reboot the router, the wifi config will be added to /etc/config/wireless automatically. Can you try this? Then give the content of /etc/config/wireless

rjdcsgroup-com · February 28, 2017, 1:16am

FYI.

sh -c “iw list;echo;iw dev”

Wiphy phy0
max # scan SSIDs: 4
max scan IEs length: 2257 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
max # match sets: 0
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
Device supports T-DLS.
Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* AP/VLAN
* WDS
* monitor
* mesh point
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
* outside context of a BSS
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x11ef
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (22.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (22.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (22.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (22.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (22.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (22.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (22.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (22.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (22.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (22.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (22.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (disabled)
* 2472 MHz [13] (disabled)
* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed } <= 2048, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 8, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ IBSS } <= 1,
total <= 2048, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar detect widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz }

	 * #{ WDS } &lt;= 2048,
	   total &lt;= 2048, #channels &lt;= 1, STA/AP BI must match
HT Capability overrides:
	 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
	 * maximum A-MSDU length
	 * supported channel width
	 * short GI for 40 MHz
	 * max A-MPDU length exponent
	 * min MPDU start spacing

phy#0
Interface wlan0
ifindex 12
wdev 0x4
addr e4:95:6e:40:be:7f
ssid GL-AR300M-e7f
type AP
channel 11 (2462 MHz), width: 20 MHz, center1: 2462 MHz
txpower 20.00 dBm

alzhao · March 1, 2017, 11:16am

There is only one phy0 so the driver of the USB wifi stick is not installed.

I checked and this stick use rtl8812au driver. The openwrt package is here OpenWRT RTL8812AU Makefile · GitHub

So I think it is required to compile this kernel package and install in the router first.

rjdcsgroup-com · March 2, 2017, 3:16am

In correspondence it was mentioned that experience with using usb for wifi has not shown good performance. I take it that would be a limitation of the Realtek Soc USB adapter.

rjdcsgroup-com · March 4, 2017, 1:57am

Here’s the good part: the Ubuntu wrapper for Windows 10 works amazing well, especially if run in a bash window launched directly from the Window’s menu as oppose to starting cmd and then bash. The build failure does not appear to be a problem with the build environment. Rather it appears to be that several critical URLs are wrong in the makefile. Any help how to fix this would be greatly appreciated:

make -r world: build failed. Please re-run make with -j1 V=s to see what's going on

make[3] -C toolchain/kernel-headers prepare

make -r world: build failed. Please re-run make with -j1 V=s to see what's going on

make: *** [world] Error 1

rjd@ROCKETSHIP:~/openwrt-cc$ make -J1

make: invalid option -- 'J'

make: invalid option -- '1'

Usage: make [options] [target] ...

Options:

-b, -m Ignored for compatibility.

-B, --always-make Unconditionally make all targets.

-C DIRECTORY, --directory=DIRECTORY

Change to DIRECTORY before doing anything.

-d Print lots of debugging information.

--debug[=FLAGS] Print various types of debugging information.

-e, --environment-overrides

Environment variables override makefiles.

-f FILE, --file=FILE, --makefile=FILE

Read FILE as a makefile.

-h, --help Print this message and exit.

-i, --ignore-errors Ignore errors from commands.

-I DIRECTORY, --include-dir=DIRECTORY

Search DIRECTORY for included makefiles.

-j [N], --jobs[=N] Allow N jobs at once; infinite jobs with no arg.

-k, --keep-going Keep going when some targets can't be made.

-l [N], --load-average[=N], --max-load[=N]

Don't start multiple jobs unless load is below N.

-L, --check-symlink-times Use the latest mtime between symlinks and target.

-n, --just-print, --dry-run, --recon

Don't actually run any commands; just print them.

-o FILE, --old-file=FILE, --assume-old=FILE

Consider FILE to be very old and don't remake it.

-p, --print-data-base Print make's internal database.

-q, --question Run no commands; exit status says if up to date.

-r, --no-builtin-rules Disable the built-in implicit rules.

-R, --no-builtin-variables Disable the built-in variable settings.

-s, --silent, --quiet Don't echo commands.

-S, --no-keep-going, --stop

Turns off -k.

-t, --touch Touch targets instead of remaking them.

-v, --version Print the version number of make and exit.

-w, --print-directory Print the current directory.

--no-print-directory Turn off -w, even if it was turned on implicitly.

-W FILE, --what-if=FILE, --new-file=FILE, --assume-new=FILE

Consider FILE to be infinitely new.

--warn-undefined-variables Warn when an undefined variable is referenced.

This program built for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu

Report bugs to <bug-make@gnu.org>

rjd@ROCKETSHIP:~/openwrt-cc$ make -j1 V=s

make[1]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc'

make[2]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc'

+ mkdir -p /home/rjd/openwrt-cc/staging_dir/target-mips_34kc_uClibc-0.9.33.2

+ cd /home/rjd/openwrt-cc/staging_dir/target-mips_34kc_uClibc-0.9.33.2

+ mkdir -p bin lib include stamp

mkdir -p /home/rjd/openwrt-cc/build_dir/target-mips_34kc_uClibc-0.9.33.2/stamp

touch /home/rjd/openwrt-cc/staging_dir/target-mips_34kc_uClibc-0.9.33.2/.prepared

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `prepare'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `compile'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `install'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gdb'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `prepare'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `compile'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `install'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/binutils'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `prepare'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `compile'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Nothing to be done for `install'.

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/gcc/minimal'

make[3]: Entering directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/kernel-headers'

mkdir -p /home/rjd/openwrt-cc/dl

/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/scripts/download.pl "/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/dl" "linux-3.18.27.tar.xz" "015a01bf84e7c6bc9952551b4da45044" "" "@KERNEL/linux/kernel/v3.x"

--2017-03-03 07:12:03-- ftp://ftp.all.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

=> '-'

Resolving ftp.all.kernel.org (ftp.all.kernel.org)... failed: Name or service not known.

wget: unable to resolve host address 'ftp.all.kernel.org'

Download failed.

--2017-03-03 07:12:03-- http://ftp.all.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

Resolving ftp.all.kernel.org (ftp.all.kernel.org)... failed: Name or service not known.

wget: unable to resolve host address 'ftp.all.kernel.org'

Download failed.

--2017-03-03 07:12:03-- ftp://ftp.all.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/longterm/v3.18.27/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

=> '-'

Resolving ftp.all.kernel.org (ftp.all.kernel.org)... failed: Name or service not known.

wget: unable to resolve host address 'ftp.all.kernel.org'

Download failed.

--2017-03-03 07:12:04-- http://ftp.all.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/longterm/v3.18.27/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

Resolving ftp.all.kernel.org (ftp.all.kernel.org)... failed: Name or service not known.

wget: unable to resolve host address 'ftp.all.kernel.org'

Download failed.

--2017-03-03 07:12:04-- http://mirror2.openwrt.org/sources/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

Resolving mirror2.openwrt.org (mirror2.openwrt.org)... 46.4.11.11

Connecting to mirror2.openwrt.org (mirror2.openwrt.org)|46.4.11.11|:80... connected.

HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found

2017-03-03 07:12:04 ERROR 404: Not Found.

Download failed.

--2017-03-03 07:12:04-- http://downloads.openwrt.org/sources/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz

Resolving downloads.openwrt.org (downloads.openwrt.org)... 78.24.191.177

Connecting to downloads.openwrt.org (downloads.openwrt.org)|78.24.191.177|:80... connected.

HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found

2017-03-03 07:12:05 ERROR 404: Not Found.

Download failed.

No more mirrors to try - giving up.

make[3]: *** [/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/dl/linux-3.18.27.tar.xz] Error 2

make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/toolchain/kernel-headers'

make[2]: *** [toolchain/kernel-headers/prepare] Error 2

make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc'

make[1]: *** [/home/rjd/openwrt-cc/staging_dir/toolchain-mips_34kc_gcc-4.8-linaro_uClibc-0.9.33.2/stamp/.toolchain_install] Error 2

make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/rjd/openwrt-cc'

make: *** [world] Error 2

rjd@ROCKETSHIP:~/openwrt-cc$

rjdcsgroup-com · March 5, 2017, 4:15pm

The Configurator appears to be generating out of date repository requests via recently discontinued ftp service (see below). The openwrt.org sources do not include the specific kernel source either. Any suggestions for work around?

Oops…appears that ftp kernel.org service just went away:

Shutting down FTP services

2017-01-27 In Site news.Those of you who have been around for a while may remember a time when you used to be able to mount kernel.org directly as a partition on your system using NFS (or even SMB/CIFS). The Wayback Machine shows that this was still advertised some time in January 1998, but was removed by the time the December 1998 copy was made.

Let’s face it – while kinda neat and convenient, offering a public NFS/CIFS server was a Pretty Bad Idea, not only because both these protocols are pretty terrible over high latency connections, but also because of important security implications.

Well, 19 years later we’re thinking it’s time to terminate another service that has important protocol and security implications – our FTP servers. Our decision is driven by the following considerations:

The protocol is inefficient and requires adding awkward kludges to firewalls and load-balancing daemons
FTP servers have no support for caching or accelerators, which has significant performance impacts
Most software implementations have stagnated and see infrequent updates
All kernel.org FTP services will be shut down by the end of this year. In hopes to minimise the potential disruption, we will be doing it in two stages:

ftp://ftp.kernel.org/ service will be terminated on March 1, 2017
ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/ service will be terminated on December 1, 2017
If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact ftpadmin@kernel.org (ah, the irony).

alzhao · March 6, 2017, 9:20am

I reformatted your post.

are you trying to make the a complete openwrt?

What is the git source you used?

You can just download the missing package (kernel) and put it in your openwrt-cc/dl path and it will not try to download anymore.

rjdcsgroup-com · March 6, 2017, 2:24pm

I am trying to add a driver. But it appears that you have to set up the environment environment first. Don’t git and I don’t want to wade through reverse engineering endless scripts. Might as well do everything and then figure out how to add a driver. Ok, after looking at the what the Makefile tried, I tried a manual http:/ which seems to have worked, the build is rumbling on. Still would like a step by step instruction how to integrate the driver build/files.