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This portal deals with the installation and configuration of WiFi devices. Device installation is essentially a two-part process: 1) installing the driver (also called a module) and 2) setting up your WiFi interface.
Contents
- Install Driver
Introduction
A WiFi device operates on an electronic chip called a 'chipset'. We can find the same chipset in several different devices. Consequently, the driver/module for one chipset will work for all wireless devices using that chipset.
Free software based systems such as Debian depend on the cooperation between manufacturers and developers to produce and maintain quality drivers and firmware. Drivers and firmware are what determine if, and how well, your hardware works.
Debian's Social Contract mandates the freeing of the distribution. In practice this means manufacturers are required to cooperate by releasing specifications and free drivers that can be worked on by the community. Newer versions of Debian (6+) do not include non-free drivers or firmware.
Non-free drivers and firmware are produced by entities refusing or unable to cooperate with the free software community. With non-free drivers and firmware support is often unavailable or severely constrained. For instance features are often left out, bugs go unfixed, and what support does exist from the manufacture may be fleeting.
By encouraging good social practices the community is able to support end-users. Complex installation procedures are no longer required and support may continue long after a product has been discontinued.
Availability of compatible WiFi chipsets
Currently there are only a few modern wifi chipsets readily available that work with free software systems. For USB wifi devices this list includes the Realtek RTL8187B chipset (802.11G) and the Atheros AR9170 chipset (802.11N). For Mini PCIe all cards with an Atheros chipset are supported.
Wifi has always been a problem for free software users. USB Wifi cards are becoming less free. With the older 802.11G standard many USB wifi cards had free drivers and did not require non-free firmware. With 802.11N there is only one chipset on the market, from Atheros, which is completely free.
One company which specializes in free software and sells 802.11N USB wifi cards, ThinkPenguin.com, has indicated the availability of free software supported 802.11N USB wifi cards is disappearing. Solving this problem will require more demand than currently exists. Next time you purchase a piece of hardware ask yourself if it is free software compatible.
Simple guide
The following devices have been tested and are confirmed to work with FOSS software only with the latest Debian:
Device | Confirmed | Drawbacks/Comments | Guide |
TP-Link TL WN821N | - The original code of the driver is copyrighted and later contributors don't know by whom. | 1. Update: sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade && && apt-get dist-upgrade and reboot if you updated the kernel |
Devices that might work
According to some users/reviewers these devices might possibly work with the latest Debian. They need to be confirmed and need specific guides. Furthermore, they might only work with proprietary firmware (FOSS-column).
In the Count reviewers (date/Debian version)-column the Debian version used by the reviewer, the name of the Debian-based distribution, and/or the year of the review is given in brackets. [PP] stands for a review that says it's working Plug&Play, [nPP] for one explicitly saying that it's not working Plug&Play or describing a guide that's not Plug&Play. [B] stands for a review that says it's buggy. The number curly brackets show how many users rated a review helpful / voted it up. Additional types could get added to the type-column. (with antenna) refers antennas attached by wire.
Device | Type | Count reviewers (date/Debian version) | Draft guide and notes | FOSS |
Panda Wireless PAU06 | USB adapter | 'install ralink driver in Debian repository', 'set wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no' | ||
Atheros 9280 | PCI card (half-size) | |||
Airlink101 AWLL5088V2 | USB adapter | According to some it does not have WPA2. | ||
TP-Link Archer T6E AC1300 | PCI card | |||
Alfa AWUS036NHA | USB adapter | |||
Panda N600 | USB adapter | |||
TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 N900 | PCI card | |||
Glam Hobby OURLINK AC600 | USB adapter | github Realtek rtl8812AU/8821AU driver | ? | |
Buffalo ?AirStation N150 | USB adapter | 1 (7,[PP]), 1 (7) | ||
Edimax EW-7811Un | USB adapter | For a guide see multiple in the Amazon reviews. There seems to be a problem with this dongle's range. | ||
Protronix 802.11N/G USB | USB adapter | 'install the driver from the 'non-free' repo' | ||
iKross AC1200 | USB adapter | |||
Broadcom BCM94352HMB | 1 (2016,[nPP(?)] | |||
TOMTOP 300Mbps USB | USB adapter | |||
TP-Link TL-WN851ND | PCI card | [PP]? | ||
Atheros AR5B95 AR9285 | PCI-E Card | |||
Blurex Long Range Wireless-N | USB adapter (with antenna) | 'Ralink rt2870/rt3070'. 'OpenWRT has a driver in their latest version, so if you have installed OpenWRT on your router and it has a USB port, plug this in and restart your router and it will come up with an extra WiFi interface: now it's a WiFi repeater or an access point with an outdoor antenna' | ||
Alfa 2000mW 2W | USB adapter (with antenna) | |||
CSL Wireless LAN USB 2.0 Dongle | USB adapter (with attached antenna) | around 20, confirmed for 2,5 years by wiki.debianforum.de user/s | 'apt-get install firmware-realtek' |
Prerequisites
A WiFi interface is an Ethernet interface which also provides WiFi-specific configuration parameters. These parameters are controlled using the iwconfig program.
www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ch05 - Debian Reference Chapter 5 - Network setup
- For basic command line usage:
iw tool for manipulating Linux Wireless stack via cfg80211/nl80211.
wireless-tools, tools for manipulating Linux Wireless Extensions (installed by default on Desktop & Laptop installations)
- For GUI systems:
NetworkManager A wired and wireless manager, installed by default on Gnome-Desktop & Laptop installation, configuration access via nm-applet
wicd, a wired and wireless manager, is recommended for other environments without GNOME dependencies such as XFCE, Fluxbox, Openbox, Enlightenment.
- Other related packages:
wpasupplicant, client support for WPA and WPA2 networks
rfkill, simple tool used to enable and disable wireless networking devices, typically WLAN, Bluetooth and mobile broadband.
iwd, aims to potentially replace wpasupplicant in the future by utilizing modern Linux features via nl80211
If these are missing, you can install these via:
… and similar
Use lsusb to see information about which USB WiFi adapter is connected
Use lspci to see information about which PCI cards is connected
Install Driver
Before you buy, verify your intended device is supported by an available Linux driver. A good indication of support is Tux being displayed on the product's packaging. Better, perhaps, is using a web search engine to find reports from others using it with Debian stable attesting to its performance and usability.
This section presents general lists of WiFi devices (grouped by host interface) and sorted by driver/module name. Each list has two main elements: the module name and the chipset(s) it supports. Known unsupported chipsets are at the end of each list.
If available, a help page link will provide you with further information. We recommend you read the associated help page, as some devices may require to be supplied with microcode (aka 'firmware') before they can be used.
For an indication of support with a specific device, see the Wireless Adapter Chipset Directory.
PCI Devices
See HowToIdentifyADevice/PCI for more information
Module | Device name(s) | help page | free (?) |
acx-mac80211 | Texas Instruments chipsets (ACX100/TNETW1100, ACX111/TNETW1130) | ||
adm8211 | ADMtek ADM8211 chipset | ||
airo | ?airo | ? | |
arlan | ?arlan | ? | |
ath5k | Atheros Communications chipsets (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414, AR2413, AR242x) | ||
ath9k | Atheros Communications 802.11n chipsets | ||
atmel_pci | Atmel at76c506 chipset | ||
b43 | Broadcom chipsets | ||
brcm80211 | Broadcom chipsets (BCM4313, BCM43224, BCM43225) | ||
hostap_pci | Intersil Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets | / 1 | |
ipw2100 | Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 | ||
iwl3945 | Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 | ||
iwlagn | Intel Wireless WiFi Link | ||
mwl8k | Marvell chipsets (88W8363, 88W8366, 88W8687) | ||
orinoco_nortel | Lucent/Agere Hermes and Intersil Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets | / 2 | |
p54pci | Intersil Prism54 chipsets (ISL3877, ISL3880, ISL3886, ISL3890) | ||
r8192_pci | Realtek RTL8192E chipset | ||
rt2400pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2400/RT2460, RT2401/RT2460) | ||
rt2500pci | Ralink RT2500/RT2560 chipset | ||
rt2800pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2760, RT2790, RT2860, RT2890, RT3060, RT3062, RT3090, RT3091, RT3092, RT3390, RT3562, RT3592, RT5390) | ||
rt2860sta | Ralink chipsets (RT2760/RT2790/RT2860/RT2890, RT3090/RT3091/RT3092) | ||
rt61pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2501/2561, RT2600/RT2661) | ||
rtl8180 | Realtek chipsets (RTL8180, RTL8185) | ||
r8187se | Realtek RTL8187SE chipset | ||
rtl8192ce | Realtek chipsets (RTL8188CE, RTL8192CE) | ||
rtl8192de | Realtek chipsets (RTL8188DE, RTL8192DE) | ||
rtl8192se | Realtek chipsets (RTL8191SE, RTL8192SE) | ||
strip | ?strip | ? | |
wavelan | ?wavelan | ? | |
wl | Broadcom chipsets (BCM4311, BCM4312, BCM4313, BCM4321, BCM4322, BCM43224, BCM43225, BCM43227, BCM43228) | ||
Atheros Communications AR5005VL (AR5513) chipset [168c:0020] | |||
InProComm IPN 2120 chipset [17fe:2120] | |||
InProComm IPN 2220 chipset [17fe:2220] | |||
Marvell Libertas 88W8335 chipset [11ab:1faa] | |||
WavePlus WP1200 chipset [17f7:0001] |
Legend :
= OK ; Unsupported(No Driver) ; = Error (Couldn't get it working); [?] Unknown, Not Test ; [-] Not-applicable
= Configuration Required; = Only works with a proprietary driver and/or firmware
An extended list of PCI-IDs to kernel-module mapping is available at DeviceDatabase/PCI.
USB Devices
See HowToIdentifyADevice/USB for more information
Module name | Device name(s) | help page | free (?) |
acx-mac80211 | Texas Instruments chipsets (ACX100USB, TNETW1450) | ||
ar5523 | Atheros Communications chipsets (AR5005UG, AR5005UX) | ||
ar9170usb | Atheros Communications AR9170 chipset | / 3 | |
at76c50x-usb | Atmel chipsets (at76c503, at76c505, at76c505a) | ||
ath9k_htc | Atheros Communications chipsets (AR9271, AR7010) | 4 / | |
carl9170 | Atheros Communications AR9170 chipset | ||
orinoco_usb | Lucent/Agere Hermes chipset | ||
p54usb | Intersil Prism54 chipsets (ISL3886, ISL3887) | ||
prism2_usb | Intersil Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets | ||
r8712u | Realtek chipsets (RTL8188SU, RTL8191SU, RTL8192SU) | ||
r8192u_usb | Realtek RTL8192U chipset | ||
rndis_wlan | Broadcom BCM4320 chipset | ||
rt2500usb | Ralink RT2500USB/RT2571 chipset | ||
rt2800usb | Ralink chipsets (RT2070, RT2770, RT2870, RT3070, RT3071, RT3072, RT3370, RT3572, RT5370) | ||
rt2870sta | Ralink chipsets (RT2770/RT2870, RT3070/RT3071/RT3072) | ||
rt73usb | Ralink RT2501USB/RT2571W chipset | ||
rtl8187 | Realtek chipsets (RTL8187, RTL8187B) | ||
rtl8192cu | Realtek chipsets (RTL8188CE-VAU, RTL8188CUS, RTL8192CU) | ||
usb8xxx | Marvell Libertas 88W8388 chipset | ||
vt6656_stage | VIA VT6656 chipset | ||
zd1201 | ZyDAS ZD1201 chipset | ||
zd1211rw | ZyDAS ZD1211/1211B and Atheros AR5007UG chipsets | ||
Netgear MA111v2 [0846:4230] | |||
Netgear WN111v1 [0846:9000] | |||
TRENDware TEW-424UB v2 [0457:0163] |
An extended list of USB-IDs to kernel-module mapping is available at DeviceDatabase/USB.
PC Card (PCMCIA) Devices
See HowToIdentifyADevice/PC_Card for more information
module name | Device name(s) | help page | free (?) |
acx-mac80211 | Texas Instruments chipsets (ACX100/TNETW1100, ACX111/TNETW1130) | ||
adm8211 | ADMtek ADM8211 chipset | ||
airo_cs | ?airo_cs | ? | |
ath5k | Atheros Communications chipsets (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, AR5213, AR5414) | ||
ath9k | Atheros Communications 802.11n chipsets | ||
atmel_cs | Atmel chipsets (at76c502x, at76c504x) | ||
b43 | Broadcom chipsets | ||
hostap_cs | Intersil Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets | / 1 | |
netwave_cs | ?netwave cs | ? | |
orinoco_cs | Lucent/Agere Hermes and Intersil Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets | / 2 | |
p54pci | Intersil Prism54 chipsets (ISL3877, ISL3880, ISL3886, ISL3890) | ||
ray_cs | ?ray cs | ? | |
rt2400pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2400/RT2460, RT2401/RT2460) | ||
rt2500pci | Ralink RT2500/RT2560 chipset | ||
rt2800pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2760, RT2790, RT2860, RT2890, RT3060, RT3062, RT3090, RT3091, RT3092, RT3390, RT3562, RT3592, RT5390) | ||
rt2860sta | Ralink chipsets (RT2760/RT2790/RT2860/RT2890, RT3090/RT3091/RT3092) | ||
rt61pci | Ralink chipsets (RT2501/2561, RT2600/RT2661) | ||
rtl8180 | Realtek chipsets (RTL8180, RTL8185) | ||
spectrum_cs | Symbol Spectrum24 Trilogy chipsets | / 5 | |
wavelan_cs | ?wavelan/cs | ? | |
wl | Broadcom chipsets (BCM4311, BCM4312, BCM4313, BCM4321, BCM4322) | ||
wl3501_cs | ?wl3501/cs | ? | |
Atheros Communications AR5005VL (AR5513) chipset [168c:0020] | |||
InProComm IPN 2120 chipset [17fe:2120] | |||
Marvell Libertas 88W8335 chipset [11ab:1faa] | |||
WavePlus WP1200 chipset [17f7:0002] | |||
ZyDAS ZD1201 chipset (16-bit PC Cards) | n/a |
Routers
Waveplus Network & Wireless Cards Driver Downloads
module name | Device name(s) | help page | free (?) |
Linksys WRT54GC | Wikipedia; it isn't similar to the WRT54G; The WRT54GC is based on the Sercomm IP806SM reference design the same chipset as the current Linksys WTY54G the Airlink101 AR315W, Alloy WRT2454AP, and Hawking HWR54G. You also can use NdisWrapper |
http://hostap.epitest.fi/, hostapd is a daemon to turn a computer into an access point.
Configure Interface
Your wireless network interface can be configured using a connection manager or Debian's network interface configuration file (/etc/network/interfaces).
Graphical Network Connection Tools:
Network Manager for GNOME (network-manager) or wicd
For more information, please see WiFi/HowToUse.
Troubleshooting
My Wifi card doesn't work/is not detected: many Wifi network interfaces require proprietary Firmware to function. For these cards to work, you will need to either install Debian from the unofficial CD image with included non-free firmwares, or edit your package sources to include the non-free section, and install the firmware-linux-nonfree package (and/or other firmware-* packages).
Resources
WiFi/HowToUse
WiFi/AdHoc
WifiRadar
Network
Waveplus Network & Wireless Cards Driver Download
External Links
Wi-Fi - Wikipedia
Comparison of open-source wireless drivers - Wikipedia
http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/#howto The Linux Wireless Compatibility and HowTo (2007)
Linux home networking wiki page about wireless networking.
http://linux-wless.passys.nl/ Wireless Adapter Chipset Directory
CategoryPortal | CategoryNetwork | CategoryWifi | CategoryHardware
Prism3 SSF devices require non-free firmware from userspace. (12)
For WPA support on Hermes-based devices, non-free firmware from userspace is required. Non-WPA usage and Prism chipsets (except Prism 3 SSF) use firmware stored in flash memory. (34)
Binary-only and GPL firmware available. (5)
Binary-only and BSD/MIT firmware available. (6)
For devices without flash memory (eg. Intel WPC2011BWW), non-free firmware from userspace is required. (7)